Summer dance festivals in West LA and Lincoln Heights; Hansel and Gretal for adults in Sierra Madre; a feathered ballet classic downtown; classical Okinawan dance in Torrance; new choreography in Lincoln Heights and Koreatown; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at what’s coming next week.
Live This Week
Into the woods
Like a chef to follow wherever they pop up to cook, because they really know how to cook, some choreographers are worth following for similar reasons. Rosanna Gamson is such a worthy one. She thoughtfully curates trending technical and movement modes to showcase her insightful perspective on overlooked aspects of known subjects. This weekend, she and the dancers of Rosanna Gamson/WorldWide bring their critically acclaimed Sugar Houses, reconsidering the Grimm fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. Employing only portable lights and a set hand-drawn in chalk, Gamson and her splendid dancers explore how the familiar German fairytale’s happy ending, shrouds elements of a darker history. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat,-Sun., June 28-29, 7:30 pm, $12-$35. Sugar Houses
Rosanna Gamson/World Wide – Sugar Houses – Photo by Rebecca Green
A Boston visitor
Among the nation’s most prestigious companies, Boston Ballet hasn’t been seen in LA since the 1980’s. The company finally returns, this time with Swan Lake and a live orchestra. The choreography is by company artistic director Mikko Nissinen after the 1895 version by Russian choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The five performances offer three sets of leads, sampling the depth of the company roster. On Thursday and Saturday evenings, the masterful Viktorina Kapitonova and Sangmin Lee dance the leads. Friday night and Sunday matinee belong to the blistering technique and deep musicality of Ji Young Chae, paired with Jeffrey Cirio, Saturday’s matinee brings fast rising Chisako Oga and Yue Shi. Reviews from Boston suggest all three casts are top notch. Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., June 26-27, 7:30 pm, St., June 28, 1 & 7:30 pm, Sun., June 29, 2 pm, $49-$163. Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet “Swan Lake” – photo courtesy of the artists
Marking 40
Led by choreographer Malathi Iyengar, Rangoli Dance Company is a high profile proponent of classical Bharatanatyam dance from Southern India. The LA -based company celebrates its 40th anniversary with Moksha. The evening includes a curated retrospective of works from 1995 to 2010 including the popular Shivaya, along with Krishna: The Path of the Playful with sequences from The Bhagavad Gita. The dancers include Sheila Aula, Shivani Aysola, Vyshnavi Aysola, Alia Bartlett, Natasha Bhogal, Lakshmi Iyengar, Hema Iyer, Ritika Iyer, Sweta Joseph, Shriya Kashyap, Nina Krishnan, Yamuna Lech, Amiya Prasad, Anya Prasad, Anisha Rao, Anjali Sheth, Nishitha Viswanathan, & Anshu Voruganti. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., June 28, 7 pm, $25 presale, $30 at door. Rangoli 40th Anniversary
Rangoli Dance Company – Photo by George Simian.
Odyssey Fest #1
After opening last week, the second week of the Dance at the Odyssey festival brings clowning to the stage as TRIN Dance Theatre draws on drag and clowning for a hero’s journey in The Greatest Show on Earth. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs., June 26, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Dance at the Odyssey – TRIN Dance Theatre – Photo by Nate Rynaski.
Odyssey Fest #2
Clowning continues as Nastia Yavorski and ABSOLEM Dance Theatre bring Bang! The Most Patriotic Show in the History of the United States of America. Just in time for the holiday. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri., June 27, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Nastia Yavorski and ABSOLEM Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of Odyssey Dance Theatre
Odyssey Fest #3
A joke that misidentifies a person leads to catastrophic effects in Victoria Marks’ work-in-progress A Dear Walks Into a Dance. Part of this summer’s Dance at the Odyssey fest. A Q&A will follow the performance. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sun., June 29, 5 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Dance at the Odyssey – Victoria Marks – Photo by William Ruiz Morales.
Odyssey Fest #4
As this summer’s Dance at the Odyssey festival winds down, the project based company TORRENT is showcased in three works from choreographer Caitlin Javech, under the banner Currents of the Mind. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Wed.-Thurs., July 2-3, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
TORRENT – Photo by Adie San Diego ASD Photography.
What will come
After matching 12 choreographers with 40 dancers for a two month residency sponsored by Deborah Brockus and her BrockusRed Dance Company, this weekend concludes the five evenings showcasing what emerged. Saturday’s choreographers are Valkyrie Yao, Margaux Gex, Chorong Yang, Maryam Malir, Summer Lee, Santiago Rivera, and Emily O’Rouke. Sunday’s finale includes Valkyrie Yao, Emily O’Rouke, Santiago Rivera , Moria Saxena, Margaux Gex, Emilio Castellon. Brockus Project Studios Black Box Theater Space, Brewery Arts Complex, 618B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat., June 28, Sun., June 29, 7 pm.$16. Zelle: 562-412-7429 ( Brockus Project Dance Company), Venmo@BrockusProjectStudios; Paypal www.BrockusProject.org.
Valkyrie Yao. Photo by Chad Westover
Two for the toe shoes
The latest from American Contemporary Ballet concludes an extended run. The shared bill includes George Balanchine’s luminous Serenade and the premiere of The Euterpides with choreography by artistic director Lincoln Jones to music composed by 20-year old Alma Deutscher. Both works have live music. American Contemporary Ballet at Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Stage 33, Beverly-Fairfax District; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Sat., June 28, $65-$140. https://www.acbdances.com/sxiii-balanchine
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Will Davidson.
Live and abstract
Choreographer Mamie Green and her contemporary troupe Volta Collective give their latest, Loneliness Triptych, a gallery premiere with two 30-minute performances amid the gallery’s abstract art exhibits. The score by Patrick Shiroishi is live. Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, 925 N. Orange Dr., Hollywood; Fri., June 27, 7:30 & 8:30 pm, free. Volta Collective
Volta Collective. Photo courtesy of the artists
A 40th anniversary
Okinawa is among the southernmost islands of Japan. While part of Japan, it has a distinct culture from a long history that brought influences from China, Korea, and its own Ryukyu Kingdom. Somewhat akin to Hawaii being part of the U.S., yet with its own history and distinctive cultural traditions. Just as the hula differs from mainland dance, Okinawa has dance traditions that differ from the main Japanese dance. SoCal is home to several dance companies preserving Okinawan dance traditions, including Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Atae no Kai (formerly Kansenkai), celebrating its 40th anniversary with Kansen nu Michi Tirashi (Lighting the Path for Future Generations). The concert honors the legacy of Keiko Yonamine Sensei with guest performers and musicians from Okinawa, Hawaii, California, and Texas. James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., June 28, 2-5 pm, $45. $40 students. https://kansen.live/tickets
Summer dancing
Part performance, part participatory event, the free, al fresco summer series Dance DTLA continues its weekly summer season with Afrobeats with Kara Jenellel. A beginner/refresher lesson at 7 pm is followed by a chance to dance or just watch and enjoy until 11 pm. If this week is not your style, the full line up of upcoming dance options is at the website. Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 27, 7 pm, free. Music Center | Dance DTLA.
Dance DTLA. Photo courtesy of the Music Center
Coming from the fringe
Now, almost through its three weeks, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025 takes to various centralized venues with performances that include dance and dance-influenced physical theater. Many of the performers are scheduled for multiple performances at different times on different days. The long list of performers, venues, days and times are at the website, and allows for a search that links to “dance/physical theater.” Various venues in Hollywood; thru Sun., June 29, various times. Hollywood Fringe Dance & Physical Theater
Shakespeare moves
Adapter, director and choreographer John Farmanesh–Bocca returns with Lear Redux: A Quantum Fantasia, the latest in his “Redux” series boldly reconsidering the classics. The event also reunites him with choreographic collaborators Not Man Apart-Physical Theatre Ensemble along with New American Theatre and the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Jack Stehlin tackles the part of King Lear, surrounded by Eve Danzeisen, Dennis Gersten, Dash Pepin, Jade Sealey, Ahkei Togun, and Emily Yetter. The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., WLA; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru Sun., July 13, $20-$43. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
A Peek at Next Week (July 4-10)
Orange County Tap Fest at Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach; Wed., July 9-Sun., July 13, various times and price. https://www.octapfestival.com/schedule
Maya Billig – Last Resort at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., July 5, 8 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Corina Kinnear and Company at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sun., July 6, 5 pm, $25, $60 festival pass. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
Featured photo: Rosanna Gamson. Photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
