Jay Gatsby dances in a Beverly Hills mansion; new showcase for contemporary solos in El Sereno; South Asian dance leader goes it alone in Sierra Madre; contemporary and classical ballet in contrast at Irvine festival; Aztec dance articulates a Greek tragedy in Malibu; more SoCal this week, a peek at next week, plus some SoCal dance news.
Live Performance This Week (through September 17)
There will be feathers
Since its debut in 2022, SoCal Ballet Scene’s Annual Ballet Festival has established itself as a significant showcase drawn from LA and OC-based chamber ballet companies. It also features some of the best among the growing population of freelance ballet dancers dividing their time between the dance-infused commercial world that pays the rent while adding vibrant talent to the ever-underfunded chamber ballet scene. Founded by Rena Kamariotakis who now works in tech and also teaches ballet, the festival reflects her deep background with local ballet, especially Anaheim Ballet, one of three companies anchoring the 2026 festival. AB’s co-director Sarma Lapenieks Rosenberg contributes her ballet New Era. Luminario Ballet, led by Judith “Flex” Heller, melds ballet dancers and aerial artists in a segment from Heller’s The Firebird that literally takes flight. Chasen Greenwood’s The Realm Company unveils his new, as yet untitled work. Hitting the classical notes, the festival offers highlights from Swan Lake. More info at the website. At Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., Sept. 12, 7 pm, $45-$85. SoCal Ballet Scene.
The Realm-dancers David Protas and Matisse Love. Photo by Chris Motenson.
K-shaped economy
Built in 1928 by a scandal-plagued oil magnate, Beverly Hills’ elegant Greystone Mansion provides a luxe setting for Gatsby Redux, Janet Rosten’s site specific consideration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Roston and her Mixed eMotion Theatrix guide audiences through the mansion and park-like grounds with music, text, and dancing that conjures up Gatsby’s world of the 1920’s jazz- age, contrasts of privilege and poverty, and tragic romantic entanglements. Over the years, Rosten and her ensemble have periodically performed its polished production at this site. Beverly Hills, which oversees Greystone Mansion, deserves praise for what is almost an annual dance theater event illuminating both Fitzgerald’s literature and this architectural reflection of that bygone era. While not West Egg, Greystone is redolent of the place, times and troubles distractedly set in motion by Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. At Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista, Beverly Hills; Wed.-Fri., Sept. 16-18, 6 pm, $35. Great Gatsby.
Mixed eMotion Theatrix “Gatsby Redux.” Photo by Barry Weiss.
Coming together
Flamenco dancers and musicians from Spain join local flamenco master Maria Bermudez and SoCal flamenco artists in Flamenco! Convivencias. The title refers to building community or coexistence as Bermudez and her cohorts display the universality of the flamenco arts. Announced dancers are Nino de Los Reyes, Timo Nuñez, Carlos Menchaca, Sabrina Ibarra, Ysabella Yturralde, Kaili Kauka, and Bermúdez. At the Ford Theater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Sept. 12, 8 pm, $45-$115 (includes fees) The Ford Theater.
Maria Bermudez. Photo courtesy of the artist.
On their own
Whether dancing around the living room or experimenting after dance class, most choreographers and dancers’ first creations are on themselves. For the debut of their new series 111: A Solo Show producers Felicia Skye St. Cyr and Donny Collinson selected 11 dancer/choreographers who usually either create on others or are created on by others, then challenged them to return to create solo works on themselves. The debut lineup includes Braylon Browner, Chelsea Roquero, Jane Zgobi, Liv Cava, Marie Spieldenner, Owen Scarlett, Piper Cub, Rosalynde LeBlanc, Ryan Green, and Z Ziniel. All ticket sales will be shared among the 11. Find out what they discovered or rediscovered at the Stomping Ground L.A., 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Fri., Sept. 11, 8 pm, $20 111: A Solo Show.
Rosalynde LeBlanc – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sitar-backed solos
Well known as the founder of Leela Dance Company, Sandhi ft. Rukhmani Mehta goes it alone in Sandhi to explore the role of solo dance in traditional South Asian Kathak dance. Well, the dance is solo, but Mehta brings musical back up with Jayanta Banerjee on sitar and Salar Nader on tabla. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., Sept. 13, 4 pm, $12-$35. Sandhi ft. Rukhmani Mehta.
Sandhi Mehta. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Emperors will be emperors
Exploring parallels between classical Greece and pre-Hispanic Mexico, LA’s Latino Theater Company reimagines and adapts Sophocles’ Antigone, using dance to bring onstage the battles and other important actions that usually are offstage and only described. Set in the Getty Villa’s replica Greek amphitheater, Antigone: The Language of Kings employs subtitles as the actors move among English, Spanish, and the Aztec language Nahuatl to tell the timeless tale of someone caught between a new emperor’s decree to leave a vanquished rival unburied and Antigone’s family and religious duty to observe burial rituals despite the penalty of her own death. And complicating matters, that emperor is Antigone’s uncle and that unburied body is her brother. The Getty Villa’s annual fall amphitheater events have a history of adventurous presentations of classical theater that capture the past, resound with today, and reconnect audiences with the communal experience and communicative storytelling power of theater. Getty Villa Amphitheater, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; opens Sept. 10, 8 pm, then Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, to Sat., Oct. 3. $30-$45. Antigone: In the Language of Kings.
Getty Villa Amphitheater. Photo by Elon Schoenholz.
Lit by LED
Don’t expect the three act Petipa ballet as Ballet of Lights brings dancers draped in LED lights to perform its condensed version of Sleeping Beauty. The website lacks info on choreographers or dancers. At the BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., Sept. 13 & Sun., Oct. 4, 4 & 6 pm, $43-$69. Ballet of Lights.
Xipe Totec – Lazaro Arvizu – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Count to 10
Now in its tenth year, the Heartbeat of Mexico offers an activity-filled, family friendly afternoon including two stages with dance and live music, plus crafts, salsa lessons and more celebrating Mexican and Mexican-American culture. Announced folkloric, Aztec, and salsa dance performances include Xipe Totec, Chapman Ballet Folklorico, El Sol Academy, Chapman Salsa Club, and Relampago Del Cielo. Aitken Arts Plaza, Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 425 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Sept. 13, 1 to 6 pm, free w/registration at https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp.
A Peek at Next Week (September 18-24)
Los Angeles Ballet – American Icons at the BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 24-26, 7:30 pm, Sun., Sept. 27, 2 pm, $64.50-$115 (+ fees). Los Angeles Ballet.
Ballet Jazz Montréal – Dance Me: Music by Leonard Cohen at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., Sept. 24, 8 pm, $44-$145. Ballets Jazz Montreal. Also at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Sat., Sept. 26, 8 pm, $60-$135. Ballets Jazz Montreal.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Fri., Sept. 18, 8 pm, $12-$35. Versa-Style Street Dance Company.
Anita Pace, Mike Kelley, Stephen Prina – Beat of the Traps at Wonmi’s Warehouse Program, Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Fri-Sat., Sept. 18-19, 7:30 pm, Sun., Sept. 20, 4:30 pm, $12. Beat of the Traps.
10th Anniversary Jubilee! – Backhaus Dance and Intuitiv Artship (Tara Ghassemieh and Vitor Luiz) at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 425 N. Glassell, Orange; Sat., Sept. 19, 7:30 pm, $25-$48. https://muscocenter.org/Online/default.asp.
SoCal Dance News of Note
Arts Orange County announced Reborn Dance artistic director and choreographer Boróka Nagy will receive the 2026 Achievement Award for Emerging Arts Leader on Tuesday, September 29, at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Boroka Nagy.
Choreographer Trent Soyster provides the dance moves when the Laguna Playhouse launches its season with a new musical The Wild Child, running September 12 to October 4. The Wild Child.
Featured image: Luminario Ballet – Photo courtesy of the artists.
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
