Channeling Garbo in Redondo Beach, a jazz dance fest in Carson, a hip hop fest in Burbank, tango in Santa Monica, San Francisco contemporary ballet goes deep in Costa Mesa, Armenian dance in Hollywood, more SoCal dance this busy week (May 26 to June 1), and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Drawing the LINES
The San Francisco-based contemporary dance company Alonzo King/LINES Ballet acquired an international reputation for the liquid, catlike qualities of its dancers and artistic director Alonzo King’s distinctive blend of pointe shoe and contemporary ballet choreography known to morph in an instant from elegant to explosive. The company opens performances at two local venues with Deep River. The 2022 premiere marking the company’s 40th anniversary prompted San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Rachel Howard to write “how these Black Christian spirituals could meld so naturally with dance imagery that suggests influences from both yogic philosophy and Islam, is a striking reminder of the universality King has reclaimed for ballet.” Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., May 27, 7:30 pm, $39-$99. https://seats.scfta.org/single?id=26336 Also at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri.-Sat., June 9-10, 7:30 pm, $39-$125. https://thewallis.org/show-details/alonzo-king-lines-ballet-deep-river
And then she coughed
Choreographer Val Caniparoli is celebrating 50 years with the San Francisco Ballet as choreographer, principal character dancer, teacher and ballet master. Los Angeles Ballet offers the SoCal debut of one of the choreographer’s most popular full-length ballets, Lady of the Camellias. Whether captured in the classic Garbo film Camille or in Baz Lurhmann’s Moulin Rouge, the tragic French romance also has been the subject of several ballets. This version from Caniparoli, set to music by Chopin, has been performed by companies ranging from the Finnish Ballet to Ballet Florida, and now, is here. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Redondo Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., May 27, 7:30 pm, $40-$137. Also at UCLA Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Court, Westwood; Fri., June 2, 7:30 pm, Sat., June 3, 2 pm, $40-$137. https://www.losangelesballet.org/lady-of-the-camellias
And all that jazz
Two days of jazz dance workshops conclude with a gala performance at the Jazz Dance Conference. Announced companies for the concert are LA Dance Magic, Jazz Antiqua, Hama Dance Center, Jazz Spectrum Dance Company, Contempo Ballet, UCI Ensemble (w Live Jazz Quintet), Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, Heather Castillo, Cabrillo Dance Ensemble, Jeff Hendrix, Long Beach City College Dancers, Keeley Himes and California State University Dominguez Hills Dancers. Details on the weekend workshops and panels at the website. The concert is at University Theater, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson; Sun., May 28, 7:30 pm, $20. https://www.jazzdancealliance.com
Want to tango?
The Jessica Rivera and Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo from So You Think You Can Dance bring their skills to the dance component of Te Amo, Argentina celebrating tango dance, music and song. The event includes tango lessons after the show. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., May 28, 11 am, $50-$60. www.broadstage.org/
Street to the stage
Day one is competition and day two is a dance concert as Versa-Style Dance Company welcomes street dancers and fans to the 18th annual Hip-Hop Dance Festival. Mihran K Studios, 135 N. Victory Blvd., Burbank; Sat., May 27, 1 pm, Sun., May 28, 5 pm. Details at the website https://versastyledance.org/festival/
Fork in the road
Choreographer/dancer Okwui Okpokwasili returns with adaku, part 1: the road opens. Teaming up with frequent collaborator the director, visual artist and sound designer Peter Born, the new work is described as the first chapter in a “speculative mythology set in a precolonial African village at a point of major upheaval.” Okpokwasili’s collaborators include ayfield brooks, McKenzie Frye, Audrey Hailes, Samita Sinha, Stacey Lynn Smith, and AJ Wilmore. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs-Sat., May 25-27, 8:30 pm, $25, $20 students. https://www.redcat.org/events/2023/okwui-okpokwasili\
When the “S” has it
Choreographer Beth Megill and her Megill & Company Dances consider Stillness, Silence, Static in their latest concert. Also works from Nathalie Wutkee and Connor Casavan. NAMBA Arts, 47 S. Oak St., Ventura; Sat.-Sun., May 27-28, 4 pm, $20. https://www.nambaarts.com/
Dance and dinner No. 1
Classsical, neo-classical, contemporary ballet, and some jazz are included in Spring Soirée and Showcase from Westside Ballet. This year’s annual spring repertoire program features professional guest artists Adrian Blake Mitchell, Andrea Laššáková, Lyrica Woodruff, and Maté Szentes in addition to the student dancers of this respected training compamy. The higher ticket Friday show includes a reception at 6 pm and post-show dinner. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri., May 26, 8 pm, $100-$300, Sat., May 27, 1 & 5 pm, $45. https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/westsideballet/4547
Dance and dinner No. 2
Led by former Joffrey Ballet dancer Carole Vellesky, the California Dance Institute is an offshoot of the youth dance program founded in New York City by Jacques D’Amboise in 1976 to make dance accessible to all youngsters. CDI celebrates another successful year with a performance by the young dancers and a gala fundraiser to support the organization’s work. Wilshire Ebell theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Thurs., June 1, 7 pm, $75. http://www.californiadanceinstitute.org/
Dance and dinner No. 3
What began as an afterschool program for at-risk youth that included a dance component evolved into The Wooden Floor, a respected dancer training program with an annual concert that draws top notch professional choreographers and designers to showcase the young dancers. This year’s event, the 40th annual, is entitled Limitless with choreography from Keely Garfield, John Heginbotham, and artistic director Jennifer Bassage Bonfil. Opening night includes a complimentary reception with desserts and a sparkling cider toast. Friday offers a black tie-optional pre-show dinner (additional charge). Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., June 1-2, 8 pm, Sat., June 3, 2:30 & 8 pm, $20-$50. https://www.thebarclay.org/buy-tickets/2022-2023-events/6-1-23-the-wooden-floor.html
A silver moment
The Armenian Diaspora is celebrated by dancers of various ages as Burbank-based folk troupe GEVORKIAN Dance Academy takes the stage for its 25th anniversary concert. Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sun., May 28, 7 pm, $50-$200 https://www.dolbytheatre.com/events/details/gevorkian_dance_academy_
A Peek at Next Week
Ballet BC at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., June 3, 7:30 pm, $29-$99. https://www.scfta.org/shows-events
Ballet RED Frequency Vol. 2 at Athletic Garage, 121 Waverly Dr., Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., June 2-3, 7:30 pm, Sun., June 4, 5:30 pm, $65. https://balletred.ticketleap.com/sirens/
Donna Sternberg & Dancers – Awe and Wonder at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village; Sat., June 3, 8 pm, Sun., June 4, 3 pm, $20-$25. https://dsdancers.com/awewonder
MUXX PROJECT– Veles/Tini at LA Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Fri., June 2, 8 pm, Also Motherlines at LA Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Sat., June 3, 2 to 8 pm,$35, $25 under 35 and seniors. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35353/production/1161618
Spotlight Grand Finale at Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs., June 8, 7 pm, free with reservation at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/spotlight-grand-finale/
Rangoli Dance Company at at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Sat., June 3, 5 pm, $25-$50. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-bharatanatyam-tickets-532790690297
Golden State Ballet – From New York With Love at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tues., June 6, 8 pm, $25 to $45. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35720/pr/1156338/pe/11261161?deepLink
Palmares at The Broadwater Main Stage, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood; Sat., June 3 & 10, 8 pm, Fri., June 16, 6:30 pm, Sat., June 17, 12:30 pm, Sun., June 25, 1 pm, $20. https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5543
DrumatiX at Broadwater Main Stage, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood; Sun., June 4, 8 pm, Sat., June 17, 4:30 pm, Sun., June 18, 12:30 pm, Wed., June 21, 9 pm, Sat., June 24, 2 pm, $18, $12 seniors & kids under 12 years. https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/9713
Max 10 Electric Lodge, Scott Kelman Theater, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., June 5, 7:30 pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/max-10/
High Voltage at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., June 2, 8 pm, $10. https://www.electriclodge.org/high-voltage/
Of Note
LA dance on tour/out of town: LA-based BODYTRAFFIC is the opening event as New York City’s 90-year old American Dance Festival kicks off its season on June 8.
Film fest deadline: July 15 is the deadline for submissions for this year’s edition of the celebrated Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival. Under the direction of founder Sarah Elgart, the festival is scheduled for September. Details on submissions, prizes, and the impressive list of judges at https://filmfreeway.com/DaretoDanceinPublicFilmFestival
Featured image: Contempo Ballet – Photo courtesy of the artists.