Folkloric Christmas celebrations in Northridge and Orange, a poet and a choreographer collaborate downtown, a jukebox musical with a GoGo’s dance party in Pasadena, Nutcracker ballets return live, more SoCal dance online this week, and a peek at what’s coming next.

Live This Week

Dancing poetry

Inspired by the poetry of Claudia Rankine and in collaboration with the poet, choreographer Will Rawls and a quartet of performers explore Rankine’s consideration of racial history and surveillance in What Remains. REDCAT at Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 9-11, 8:30 pm, $25, $20 students. Info, tickets & Covid protocols at REDCAT.

Claudia Rankine & Will Ralls’ “What Remains" Photo courtesy of the artist

Claudia Rankine & Will Ralls’ “What Remains” Photo courtesy of the artist


One is free, the other not so much so

Evoking Mexican holiday celebrations, two venues present Noche Buena with the dancers of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, music by Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime, and singer Lupita Infante. at The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Dec. 11, 3 pm, free w/reservation at The Soraya. Also at The Musco, Chapman College, 415 Glassell, Orange; Sun., Dec. 12, 7 pm, $33-$78. Info, tickets & Covid protocols at the websites.

Nochebuena En Casa -Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles - Photo by Luis Luque, courtesy of The Soraya

Nochebuena En Casa -Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles – Photo by Luis Luque, courtesy of The Soraya


Variety line-up

Actors, musicians, and the dancers of Lineage Dance Company take the stage in the Third Annual Lineage Follies. Performers include individuals with neurological diseases and the evening includes a panel with several neurology experts. Lineage Studios, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sun., Dec. 12, 5 pm, $10. Info, tickets & Covid protocols at https://lineagedance.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F3o00000pgVgrEAE

Lineage Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists..

Lineage Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists..


Go-Gos going going gone

Music of the 1980’s LA band The Go-Gos fuels Head Over Heels, a jukebox musical loosely based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. The venue reopened with its first live performance filled with dancing on more than just the stage.The theater has been reconfigured to afford the audience a choice of onstage or theater seating as well as a general admission ticket to an open floor area inviting an audience-fueled dance party as part of the performance.  Just a few more shows live at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino, Pasadena. Tues.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 7 pm, Sat. & Sun., 2 pm, thru Sun., Dec. 12, $30-$106. Info, tickets, and Covid protocols at Pasadena Playhouse.

Head Over Heels. Photo by Jeff Lorch.

Head Over Heels. Photo by Jeff Lorch.


Globe dancing

Shoppers can enjoy some seasonal dance as high-kicking ladies of The Beach Belles & a Ballerina in a Snow Globe perform at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica; Fri.-Sun., Dec. 10-12, 3 to 7:30 pm, then daily, Fri., Dec. 17-24, 3 to 7:30 pm, free. Santa Monica Place.

The Beach Belles. Photo by Mathew Tucciarone

The Beach Belles. Photo by Mathew Tucciarone


Post-modern rituals

The first-ever retrospective of the work of choreographer and video artist Blondell Cummings: Dance as Moving Pictures includes videos, interviews, and photographs continue at Art+Practice, 3401 W. 43rd Pl., Leimert Park; Wed.-Sat., noon-6 pm, to Feb. 19, 2022, free. Research guide at Getty Research Institute, exhibition at Art+Practice.

Photo by Blondell Cummings

Photo by Blondell Cummings


Museum moves

Performance and dance are the metier of several artists in both of this museum’s big fall exhibits, Witch Hunt and No Humans Involved at UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Tues.-Sun., 11 am-6 pm to Jan. 22, 2022, free no reservation required. Details and Covid protocols at Hammer Museum.

This Week’s Major Nutcrackers Opening

Los Angeles Ballet’s “Nutcracker”. Photo by Reed Hutchinson.

Los Angeles Ballet’s “Nutcracker”. Photo by Reed Hutchinson.

  • American Ballet Theatre at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, Costa Mesa;  https://scfta.org/

 

American Ballet Theatre - Photo by Gene Schiavone.

American Ballet Theatre – Photo by Gene Schiavone.


(See “The ‘Nuts’ Are Back” for full list of 2021 Nutcrackers)
 

A Peek at Next Week


Danza Floricanto/USA Navidad en el Barrio. Casa del Mexicano, LA; Sat., Dec. 18,  www.danzafloricantousa.org/store-1 or 213-466-2611.

Danza Floricanto/USA. Photo by Frank Sandoval

Danza Floricanto/USA. Photo by Frank Sandoval


Celtic Angels at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Cerritos, Wed., Dec. 22, https://www.cerritoscenter.com/


New Dance Films: Live & Online


Out of the box

Anyone who has not had the good fortune to enjoy a live performance of Versa-Style Dance Company’s exuberant Box of Hope, have a chance for the next best thing as the troupe offers a one-night-only stream on YouTube, Thurs., Dec. 9, 7:30 pm, @versatylela, Versa-Style Dance Company.

Versa Style Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Versa Style Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists.


Back for more

In January 2021, LA choreographer Jacob Jonas and his Jacob Jonas/The Company began a weekly roll out of 15 short dance films with artists from around the world under the banner Films.Dance. The project earned boasting rights with many of the films later winning film festival awards. Now comes Films.Dance Round Two, again with dance, dancers, and filmmakers from around the world. The original films, a preview, and e-mail sign up for free weekly film delivery at Films.Dance.

“Films.Dance Round 2.” Photo courtesy of the artists.

“Films.Dance Round 2.” Photo courtesy of the artists.