New York ballet in the Hollywood Hills; compelling contemporary considerations in Sierra Madre; jazz meets modern dance in Long Beach; dance in a downtown light installation; a composer’s life and last days in Orange; multi-dancing musicals in Hollywood and Downtown, more dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Consistent with the eclectic capitalization of his name, d. Sabela grimes approaches performance as an assemblage of movement, sound, and visuals, tools he masterfully wields to consider socio-historical narratives, Black identity, and future potentialities. Grimes and his dancers evoke visual context to thoughtful considerations. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sat., Sept. 6, 7:30 pm, $12-$35. D. Sabela Grimes
d. Sabela grimes – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Reunited
Two SoCal-based companies, Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre & Andy Vaca’s Jazzworks, join forces under the banner Together Again. Brodie’s company has been a notable presence on the dance scene for more than three decades with her modern dance-based choreography known to move from bare feet to pointe shoes. A former chair and current faculty member at the CSULB dance department, Vaca knows how jazz dance can move and entertain in a concert setting. Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre, Cal State University Long Beach, address, Long Beach; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 5-6, 8 pm, $ 35. Tickets
Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre – Photo by Shawna Sarnowskire.
Bowl dancing
Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev set Shakespeare’s star-crossed teens to music in very different ways, and the LA Phil brings both with help from New York’s Dance Theatre of Harlem. The evening has Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and Prokofiev’s suite from the ballet Romeo and Juliet bookending Symphony No. 1 from prolific African American composer Adolphus Hailstork. The LA Phil is on its own with Tchaikovsky, but the exquisite DTH dancers take the stage for the Hailstork and the Prokofiev suite with artistic director Robert Garland choreographing both. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Thurs., Sept. 11, 8 pm, $13-$157. https://my.hollywoodbowl.com/en/syos2/performance/10113
Dance Theatre of Harlem – Photo by Rachel Neville.
What he read
Former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Victor Luis pairs with Tara Ghassemieh known for the ballet White Feather about the shuttering of Iranian ballet after the Ayatollah replaced the Shah. The two dancers take the leads in Tchaikovsky: a Love Letter exploring the Russian composer’s last six days as six letters unlock episodes from his public and private past. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Fri., Sept. 5, 7:30 pm, $43-$153. Get Seats!
Victor Luis and Tara Ghassemieh – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Into the light
The June premiere of A/VOID was forced to change the original venue when a downtown curfew followed provocative immigration arrest tactics that triggered protests and chaos. Fortunately, the premiere went forward and now, choreographer Comfort Fedoke and director Zoe Rappaport return with their dancers and light installation for another view of what reviewer Rachel Turner called “an immersive, healing experience featuring unique sounds, raw emotions from dancers and audience alike, and fluid dancing.” Chromasonic Field, 677 Imperial St., Downtown Arts District; Thurs., Sept. 11, 7 & 8:30 pm, Fri., Sept. 12, 8 pm also after party, $45-$65. https://experience.chromasonic.com/events
Zoe Rappaport – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Last chance (sort of) for “What if?”
Exploring what would have happened if, after finding Romeo dead, she had decided not to die with him, the Tony-nominated & Juliet winds up its month-long run downtown before moving to Costa Mesa for several more weeks. Preview clips at the venue website capture the rock concert feel of Jennifer Weber’s choreography, but not the wry humor threaded through the Max Martin songbook. Ahmanson Theater, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown; Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 7 pm, thru Sun., Sept. 7, $51-$259. Center Theater Group- & Juliet. Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Sept. 9-21, Tues.-Fri., 7:30 pm, Sat., 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, $54-$184. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/juliet
& Juliet – Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Let the corn puns begin
This is the first time a dancing corn cob chorus line has been included among upcoming dance events, but it is one of the highlights of Shucked, the Tony-nominated musical about a farm town where the corn is dying and a swindling ‘corn doctor’ offers dubious help. A bit like The Music Man with corn instead of a boys band. The reviews from the Broadway run suggest lots corn puns, some hopeful fun, and Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography, including that corn cob kickline. After this national tour moves on, it returns in November for an Orange County run. An extended YouTube clip from Good Morning America (Shucks on GMA) provides a corny taste. Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; then Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, thru Sun., Sept. 7, $44-$246. https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/events/detail/shucked
A Peek at Next Week (Sept. 12-18)
Camille A. Brown & Dancers – I Am at the Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 12-13, 7:30 pm, Sun., Sept. 14, 2 pm, $33-$98. Camille A. Brown & Dancers
SoCal Ballet Festival at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., Sept. 13, 2 & 7 pm, $46-$91. SoCal Ballet Festival
CONTRA-TIEMPO, Versa-Style Dance Company, and JA Collective – Decades of Dance in LA: Celebrating 20 Years of USC Vision and Voices and 10 Years of Kaufman Dance at USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Parkway, University Park; Thurs., Sept. 18, 7 pm, free w/reservation at USC Decades of Dance
CONTRA TIEMPO – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Sharon Chohi Kim and Stephanie Zalatel – Murmerations at REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown; Fri., Sept. 12, 8 pm, $25, $20 students. REDCAT-Murmerations
Backhausdance – Dance for Kindness at Outdoor Stage, Lions Park Event Lawn, 1846 Park Ave., Costa Mesa; Sat., Sept. 13, 2:15 pm, free. Backhausdance
Benise at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Ave., Riverside; Sat., Sept. 13, 7:30 pm, $57-$123. https://www.bandsintown.com/e/1033584986. Also at Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara; Fri., Oct. 10, 7:30 pm, $46.50-$102.50. https://www.lobero.org/events/benise-25-years-of-passion-2025/. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, $33-$113. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B006174D9C42537
Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Company – Hangawi (The Autumn Festival of Korea) at the Ford Theatre, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sun., Sept. 14, 11:30 am, $13. Hangawi: Autumn Festival of Korea
Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Heartbeat of Mexico at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Sept. 14, noon, free w/reservation at Heartbeat of Mexico
Aminah Jackson, Shantel Ureña, G’bari Gilliam – The Remembrance: Decolonizing Minds, Bodies and Spirits at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Sat., Sept. 13, 7 pm, $24. The Remembrance
Invertigo Dance Company/Dancing Through Parkinsons – A Form to Return to at Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center, 3200 Motor Ave., Cheviot Hills; Sat., Sept. 13, 7 pm, Sun., Sept. 14, 2 pm. $25 DTP-Concert
Written by Ann Haskins for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: d. Sabela grimes’ “Parable of Portals” – Photo courtesy of d. Sabela Grimes.
