Site specific dance in City Hall; LA street dance takeover in Mid-City stage; traditional dancers welcome Japanese guests in Little Tokyo; iconic LA choreographer celebrated in West LA; museum dance in Westwood; healing moves in University Park; movie ranches, rehearsal mishaps, devotion, and musical explorations in West LA dance fest; new choreography in Santa Monica; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week (thru January 22)
Taking it from the street
Street dance captures the stage as Versa-Style Street Dance Company brings Versa-Style and Friends – Celebrating the LA Street Dance Community. For two decades, Jackie Lopez aka Miss Funk and Leigh Foaad aka Breeze-lee, have championed street dance and its proponents, while providing an environment that encouraged finishing school while honing dance skills. Many Versa-Style dancers and Versa-Style Next Generation dancers have gone on to prove their worth professionally and an impressive number go on to college, both evidence of Versa-Style’s success. This concert welcomes the company, the Next Generation, and Legacy dancers. Other LA friends taking the stage include Boogie Frantick, Fantaye, Toyin, Femme Fatale, Gbari & Shantel, and Whacking Los Angeles. Having set the standard for staying current on the street while also translating street movement to a stage setting, Versa Style can take a deserved bow when they take the stage. Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., Mid-City; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 16-17, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 18, 3:30 pm, $30. Versa-Style & Friends
Versa Style Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Opening with an LA master
Regarded by many as the premiere West Coast dance film festival, Dance Camera West opens its 2026 Festival with six selected short dance films from the US and the UK, but the real focus of the opening is a celebration of LA-based choreographer David Roussève. Four films he directed will screen, followed by a Q&A, then a separately ticketed, gala celebration honoring Roussève. The website Dance Camera West has full details on the jam-packed DCW festival that moves among three venues in West LA, Downtown LA, and Los Feliz over a jam-packed four days. Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, Thurs.-Fri., Jan. 22-23, 7:30 pm, Sat., Jan. 24, 2 pm, $27.10 (w/fees), Gala honoring David Roussève-Thurs., Jan. 22, 8:45 pm, $158.35 (w/fees) Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz. Also at Colburn Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat., Jan. 24, 7 pm, $25. Colburn. Also workshop and films at Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz; Sun., Jan. 25, Dance Camera West
David Roussève. Photo by Rachel Keane
Behind the movie set
A former movie ranch, now a public park, inspired Corrigan, Hunter Wayne Foster’s contemplation of what happens behind the scenes of a movie set. Foster’s world premiere shares the Dance at the Odyssey stage with For Better or For Worse, Camila Arana’s consideration of devotion from its tenderness to its brutality. Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 15-17, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 18, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Hunter Wayne Foster. Photo courtesy of the artist
The ‘B’s have it
LA-based Kevin Williamson + Company team with pianist Hao Huang to bring two new works to Dance at the Odyssey. Lester Horton Award-winning Williamson summons an array of characters in blue to explore Huang’s evocation of compositions by Ryuichi Sakomoto. The second premiere, beasts, finds Divya Ahuja, Rian Alcid, and Sasha Marlan-Librett surveying movement that veers from ferocious to frightened. Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 15-17, 8 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Hao Huang and Kevin Williamson – blue and beast – Photo by Taso Papadakis
In rehearsal
This week’s addition to the Dance at the Odyssey festival is dance theater ensemble TAQ Dance led by Sasha Marlan-Librett. She’s a busy woman at this festival, returning with her own work Cue, just days after performing in choreographer Kevin Williamson’s festival entry. Cue takes the audience inside a rehearsal room where four dancers capture the ups and downs of a sometimes fraught process that precedes performance. Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 22-24, 8 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Sasha Marlan/Librett – TAQ Dance Theatre – Cue – Photo by Sasha-Marian-Librett
City connections
A live site-specific performance is the culminating event in the landmark exhibition encapsulating the four decades-long connection of Heidi Duckler Dance with LA architecture, communities, and cultural landscape. Choreographed by HDD Artistic Director Raymond Ejiofor, Vortex showcases HDD’s dancers, musicians, and performers. The full schedule of activities and performance is at the website. LA City Hall, P. Rio Bridge Gallery, 200 N. Spring St., Downtown LA; Fri., Jan 16, 6-8 pm, $40. Heidi Duckler Dance
Raymond Ejiofor of Heidi Duckler Dance. Photo courtesy of the artist
Centering
Adaptation and endurance are embodied by the dancers of Centerline Collective in choreographer Jade Lelievre’s new work, After Ashes. Composer/musician Louis Nova provided the score. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 16-17, 8 pm, $25, $20 students/seniors. https://www.highwaysperformance.org/
Japanese guests/LA natives
Special guests from Japan join 26 students of Wai no Kai for Yuubi: Elegance and Grace of Nihon Buyo. A dozen visiting masters of various elements of Nihon Buyo, Japan’s traditional dance are led by Madame Bando Hideko, the daughter of the late Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro IX and master teacher of Bando Hidesomi, an LA native who heads the school of traditional Japanese dance. This concert celebrates the 30th anniversary of Hidesomi’s school and includes performances by four of her students who have been awarded their professional stage names by the Headmaster of the Bando-ryu (School) in Japan. JACCC Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo; Sun., Jan. 18, 1:30-5:30 pm, $50-$100. JACCC Aratani Theatre
Wai No Kai. Photo by Toyo Miyatake Studio
How she healed
The three part series How Healing Happens, an exploration of healing through the arts, is also a first time collaboration of Patrisse Cullors and Rashida Bumbray. The series includes a workshop, a panel discussion and A Lineage of (F)Light, an al fresco performance employing movement, voice, ritual, and sonic textures to celebrate the history and healing heritage of LA’s Biddy Mason. A nurse, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mason has a downtown park named after her at 333 Spring St. The performance acknowledging her is nearby at USC, Fisher Courtyard, Fisher Museum of Art (HAR), USC, 823 W. Exposition Blvd., University Park; Tues., Jan. 20, 6:30 pm, free w/RSVP at Patrisse Cullors & Rashida Bumbray
Will Rawls. Photo by Sarah M Golonka
Made where?
As part of the biennial Made in LA, choreographer Will Rawls stages mostly monthly site-specific performances under the banner Unmade. The work draws visitors into, around, and outside the museum’s galleries. Dancers include Gurmukhi Bevli, Maya Billig, Ajani Brannum, Jeremy De’jon Guyton, Tiara Jackson, and Kensaku Shinohara. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Jan. 17, Sat., Feb. 7 & 28, noon to 4 pm, free. Hammer Museum
More new year
For its Lunar New Year celebration, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts offers two family friendly options. Outside, a free festival that includes a dragon dance, while inside, two ticketed performances of The Great Race (The Story of the Chinese Zodiac) by the Honolulu Theatre for Youth at the Wallis, Lovelace Theatre, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, Sat., Jan. 17, 11 am & 2 pm, $20. The Great Race. Family Fest Lunar New Year (with dragon dance) at the Wallis, outdoor grounds, Sat.. Jan. 17, 11 am-2 pm, free w/reservation at Family Fest
The Peking Acrobats. Tom Meinhold Photography
On balance
The visiting Peking Acrobats bring their artistic gymnastics and breathtaking athletics to town in a show evoking a carnival. Carpenter Center, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Jan. 17, 8 p.m., $38.75-$58.75. Peking Acrobats
Shen Yun. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Cautionary return
Presenting itself as “China before communism,” the touring company Shen Yun built its reputation on the athleticism, flexibility, and group precision of its dancers, but dodged questions about its connections with China’s banned Falun Gong. More recently, the organization has faced accusations of dancer abuse and a lawsuit alleging child labor violations. In that context, the company tours local venues from now through early February. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Thurs., Jan 15, 2 pm, Fri, Jan. 16, 7 pm, Sat.-Sun., Jan. 17-18, 1 pm, $86-$186. Also at The Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Thurs., Jan. 22, 2 pm, Fri., Jan., 23, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Jan. 24-25, 1 pm, $91-$231. Also at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Fri., Jan. 30, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 1 pm, $94.40-$196.95. Also at Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; Fri., Feb. 6, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 7-8, 1 pm, $89-$218. Shen Yun
The Wiz. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
Ease on down the road
Before the cottage industry surrounding the musical and now two film versions of Wicked, Frank Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz fueled the musical and film version of The Wiz. The musical theater revival of The Wiz arrives at the only SoCal stop on its North American tour. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues.-Fri., Jan. 13-16 & 20-23, Sat., Jan. 17 & 24, 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., Jan. 18 & 25, 1 & 6:30 pm, $44-$159. The Wiz
A Peek at Next Week (January 23-29)
Dare to Dance in Public – Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 23-24, 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 25, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey
Los Angeles Ballet – Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future: 20 Years of Los Angeles Ballet at The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts, 390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 29-31, 7:30 pm, $64.90-$119.90. Los Angeles Ballet
Los Angeles Ballet. Photo by Reed Hutchinson
Benita Bike DanceArt at The Discovery Cube LA, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar; Sat.,-Sun., Jan. 24-25, 1 pm, free with reservation at benita@danceart.org.
Sa Dance Company – Rise at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 216 N. Glassell, Orange; Sat., Jan. 24, 7 pm, $25-$253. Sa Dance Company
Featured image: Versa-Style Street Dance Company – Courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
