Compassionate dance celebrated in Crenshaw; contemporary anniversary danced at a Lincoln Heights brewery; new choreography fest finale in DowntownLA Arts District; flamenco fest hosted in Santa Barbara; an eclectic line-up of street, contemporary and Chinese dance fill a Laguna Beach fest; more SoCal dance this week, a peek at next week, plus some dance news of note.
Live Performance This Week (ending August 13)
Seeing RED
Certainly well known for her many credits as a producer with programs showcasing new choreography, choreography incubators, workshops for dancers, and directing the LA Dance Festival, Deborah Brockus is also artistic director of the contemporary company BrockusRED. As the company celebrates its 35th anniversary, it offers Every Scrap of Grace, with 20 dancers in Brockus’ choreography. At BPStudios, Brewery Arts District, 618 B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 7-8, 7:30 pm, Sun., Aug. 9, 6:30 pm, $20. Zelle: 562-412-7429; Venmo: @Brockusprojectstudios.
BrockusRED – “Extractions” – Photo by Denise Leitner.
Connecting
With a goal of cultivating dance connections in the spaces where training, creation, and performance happen, MovementFest LA brought its second season of classes, workshops, community events, two performance labs, and last weekend, the first of two weekends of performance. The fest’s culmination show, Body of Work brings work by the Performance Lab’s resident choreographers Dolly Sfeir, Mike Tyus, Diego Vega Solorza, along with curated works by LA-based artists. At LA Dance Project Studios, 3325 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown LA Arts District; Fri.-Sat. Aug. 7-8, Sun., Aug. 9, 5 pm, $40-$75. LA Dance Project – Performance Lab Culmination Show.
Performance Lab – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Getting site-specific
Part performance, part celebration, part remembrance, and part parade, Angels on Crenshaw-August Quarterly is a new site-specific event from Lula Washington Dance Theatre. An annual gathering important to the Underground Railroad, the August Quarterly was initiated in 1814 by Peter Spencer, who had escaped enslavement and founded the Union Church of Africans, the first independent Black church in the United States. The event honors those who voluntarily perform deeds of compassion and empathy without expectation of reward. Guests are encouraged to wear white and join the pre-event procession. At Lula Washington Dance Theatre Studios, 3773 Crenshaw Blvd., Crenshaw; Sun., Aug. 9, 2-5 pm, $33.85-$108.55. LWDT-Angels on Crenshaw.
Lula Washington Dance Theatre – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Summer stage
Since 2005, the summer festival sponsored by Laguna Dance has filled the beachside enclave with internationally renowned dance and over the years, expanded the festival with workshops and community events throughout the year as well as during the summer fest. Founder Jodie Gates does double duty this year overseeing the festival and as a choreographer. Full details on this and other festival performances, workshops, conversations, and more at the website. Here’s the performance line-up:
Festival #1
SoCal’s Versa Style Street Dance Company takes street dance to the sand, opening this summer’s Laguna Dance Festival at Main Beach Cobblestone, Laguna Canyon Rd & Beach St., Laguna Beach; Thurs., Aug. 6, 5 pm, free. Versa Style Street Dance Company.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Festival #2
The first day of the Laguna Dance Festival continues as Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance brings its artistry inside the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach; Thurs., Aug. 6, 7 pm, free. Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance.
Festival #3
An acknowledged grand master of bringing street dance to the concert stage, Rennie Harris arrives with his Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. The festival website has info about an optional, ticketed workshop conducted by Harris before two performances of Nuttin’ But a Word at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 7-8, 7 pm, $78, $25 (+fees) Rennie Harris.
Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Festival #4
The festival finale titled Voices Unbound pairs choreography by Peter Chu and festival director Jodie Gates. Gates premieres a new contemporary ballet that features film excerpts from Laguna Beach filmmaker Greg MacGillivray. Florida-based choreographer Chu has credits ranging from Hubbard Street and Paul Taylor Dance Company to Cirque du Soleil and singer Celine Dion. At the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; Sun., Aug. 9, 7 pm, $78, $25 student (+fees). Jodie Gates/Peter Chu.
Flamenco Fest
Santa Barbara’s Flamenco Arts Festival hosts two companies during its gala weekend.
Flamenco #1
The Siudy Garrido Flamenco Company arrives with live musicians. Siudy Garrido is joined by dancers Orianna Torres, Isabella Calicchio, Maria Andrea Larrea, Federica Freites, Sara Mayorca. The musicians include guitarist Victor Franco, percussionist Adolfo Herrera, flautist Eric Chacón, and singer Ismael Fernandez. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; Fri., Aug. 7, 7:30 pm, $52-$152. Siudy Garrido Flamenco.
Siudy Garrido Flamenco Company – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Flamenco #2
Concluding the Flamenco Arts Festival weekend, Tablao Zano Flamenco is a returning festival tradition begun 26 years ago. The flamenco ensemble includes dancers Kayla Lyall and Carlos Menchaca performing with guitarist Adres Vadin, percussionist Diego Alvarez, and singer Joselito de Jerez. At the New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara; Sun., Aug. 9, 7:30 pm, $49-$65, $30 student. Tablao Zano Flamenco.
When puppets improv
The son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, takes his dad’s puppet concepts into a cast of rebellious puppets, crosses them with The Groundlings-style improv, adds a large dose of uncensored Avenue Q sensibility, then puts the brew into the hands of masterful Henson Company puppeteers. The result is Brian Henson Presents – Puppet Up! Each distinctive show includes improv driven by audience suggestions along with recreated classic Henson sketches, some not seen in decades. Recommended for age 16 and older (actually those under age 16 are not admitted because of where the improv may veer). At the Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; Fri., Aug. 7, 8 pm, Sat., Aug. 8, 3 & 7 pm, Sun., Aug. 9, 5 pm, $71.70-$87.10. Puppet Up!.
Brian Henson Presents – Puppet Up! Uncensored – Photo courtesy of Center Theatre Group.
Sign of summer
Watch or join in as the Friday night summer series Dance DTLA celebrates Afro Beats this week. Instruction precedes the open dancing. All free. A complete list of upcoming dance genres at the website. At the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Fri., Aug. 7 (Afro Beats) & Aug. 14 (Bollywood), 7-11 pm, free. Dance DTLA.
Dance DTLA – Photo courtesy of the Music Center.
Another sign of summer
Part public performance, part participatory dance party, and free! The outdoor Tuesday Night Dance series hosts the second of two Tuesdays devoted to hip hop dance. See the website for dance styles coming up on Tuesdays thru Aug. 25. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues., Aug. 11, 6:30 pm. free. Tuesday Night Dance.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater – Photo by Winona Bechtle.
On a string
The magical puppeteers of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater take the stage for this family friendly morning. The website includes details on related pre-show activities. At the Ford, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sun., Aug. 9, 11:30 am, $13 (+$2 fee). Bob Baker Marionette Theater.
A Peek at Next Week (August 14 -20)
Hart Pulse Dance Company – 17th Annual MixMatch Dance Festival at Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Fri., Aug. 14, 7:30 pm, Sat., Aug. 15, 2 & 7:30 pm, $27+$2 fee. MixMatch Dance Festival.
Jayde Spiegel – Empty Fields Yield Familiar Faces at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 14-15, 8 pm, $25, $20 seniors/students. Jayde Spiegel.
Little Women Ballet Company – Her Turn: Women Making Moves in Ballet at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown LA Arts District; Sat.-Sun., Aug. 15-16, 7:30 pm, $40-$50, $30 students w/code. Her Turn.
Little Women Ballet – Photo by Edie Tyebkhan Photography.
Dance DTLA – Bollywood at the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Fri., Aug. 14, 7-11pm, free. Dance DTLA.
Tuesday Night Dance — Latin Rhythms at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues., Aug 18 & 25, 6:30 pm. free. Tuesday Night Dance.
SoCal Dance Notes
LA-based Donna Sternberg and her work as artistic director/choreographer for Donna Sternberg & Dancers are the subject of Dancing Through Time: Donna Sternberg, a Retrospective, 1970 to 2026 that opened August 1 and runs through January 10, 2027 in the Contemporary Gallery of the Fresno Art Museum. Earlier this year, Sternberg’s statewide recognition as the Distinguished Woman Artist for 2026 was announced by the Council of 100. In its 37 year history, this is only the second time the award has been presented to an artist whose medium involves dance, not visual art.
Jacob Jonas The Company announced it performs in Hamburg, Germany Aug. 13-15 with Jonas’ Keeping Score: Product of Divorce, Nature Sounds While the IV Drips, Restart.
Backhausdance participates in the inaugural Newport Beach Art Week with Garden Flow: Dancing with Nature, free workshops (included with membership or garden admission) at Sherman Library and Gardens on Aug. 9, 11 & 14. Backhausdance.
BrockusRED – Photo by Denise Leitner Photography.
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
