Mexico’s most prestigious folkloric company tours Northridge, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa; a Canadian contemporary company with SoCal roots in Santa Monica; new contemporary dance in Santa Monica and Sylmar; classical and contemporary ballet in Malibu, downtown, and Glendora; Women’s Day gets a 3-day fest in Frogtown; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
You can go home again
The Montreal-based dance troupe RUBBERBAND arrives with Second Chances, choreographed by artistic director Victor Quijada. His work is known for capturing the energy of hip hop, the refinement of classical ballet, and the angularity of contemporary dance, The new work draws on Quijada’s experience as a first-generation Mexican American growing up in LA, eventually settling in Canada, and tackling issues of identity and homeland, belonging and displacement. The BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat., March 8, 7:30 pm, Sun., March 9, 2 pm, $40-$85. https://broadstage.org/tickets-shows/calendar/rubberband/
RUBBERBAND Dance – Vics Mix by Victor Quijada – Photo ©-Bill Hebert.
A welcome border crossing
Mexican folkloric dance is so prevalent today, it is hard to capture the impact of Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, when it first appeared and presented regional Mexican dances in a concert setting. The name was expanded to reference the visionary founder and distinguish it from the plethora of folkloric efforts it spawned. The celebrated company stops off at three local venues with its repertoire, including its consideration of ancient Aztecan movement in the audience-pleasing Deer Dance. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Fri., March 14, 8 pm, Sat., March 15, 1pm, $49-$98. https://tickets.thesoraya.org/Online/default.asp Also at Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., East LA; Sun., March 16, 3 & 7 pm, $35-$85. https://www.ticketmaster.com/luckman-fine-arts-complex-tickets-los-angeles/venue/90209 Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., March 22, $32.77-$77.97. https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/ballet-folklorico-de-mexico
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández. Courtesy of the artists.
Putting new feet forward
The second week of New Shoes 2025 is jam-packed with new choreography and innovative approaches to dance. Week 2 includes Beth Huelsenbeck’s WYRD, Josie J & Wendy Zhuo in por tai, Lindsay Lykins’ Infinite Circuit, and Northern Star Dance Company’s Polaris. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 28-March 1, 8 pm, $25.63. New Shoes Week 2
New Shoes 2025. Photo courtesy of the artists
No longer a mystery
Known for its programs designed to demystify the art of dance and dance-making, Benita Bike’s DanceArt always brings a blend of dance and discussion. LA Mission College, AMP Theater, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; Wed., March 12, 2 pm, free. www.danceart.org
Benita Bike’s DanceArt in “Fantasy” – Dancers: Nola Gibson, Lauren Gold, Micay Jean, Lydia Marie McDonald, Skye Schmidt Varga – Photo by Dean Wallraff
Jazzy homecoming
Two works from American Contemporary Ballet‘s repertoire are reprised on different nights over four weekends. Jazz music and the world it lives in is the subject of Jazz, while Homecoming pays tribute to high school and marching bands. In addition to the choreography from artistic director Lincoln Jones, each evening involves refreshments and live music. ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, 333 S Hope St, Suite C-150, downtown; Jazz Fri., March 7, 14, 21, & Thurs., March 13 & 20, 8 pm, Homecoming Sat., March 8, 15, & Thurs.-Sat., March 27-29, 8 pm, $65-$140. https://www.acbdances.com/
American Contemporary Ballet – “Jazz”, created by Lincoln Jones – Photo by Anastasia Petukhova.
Too much for only one day
Hosted by MashUp Dance Company, the International Women’s Day Dance Festival offers three days of performances, workshops, and social events. The opening day kick off party features performances by the host company and guest Indigo Dance Company. Day 2 offers a Choreographers Showcase with two performances from choreographers Hannah Millar, Ashton Titus, Tory Gorny, Jennifer Vieweg, Mary Ann Chavez, Genevieve Carson, Sam Chavez, Kate Myers, and GiGi Todisco. A full line up of events and tickets at the website: https://www.mashupdance.com/iwddancefest. Kick Off Party at the Pickle Factory, 2828 Gilroy St., Frogtown; Fri. March 7, 7 pm, $40. https://www.mashupdance.com/tickets/p/iwddf-kick-off-party Choreographers Showcase at Stomping Ground LA, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., March 8, 3:30 & 7:30 pm, $30. https://www.mashupdance.com/tickets/p/showcase
MashUp Contemporary Dance Company – courtesy of the artist
Professional polishing
Members of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company are aged 17 to 23, promising dancers gaining polish and experience that often lead into the main company. The scheduled program includes Jerome Robbins’ Interplay, George Balanchine’s Tarantella, Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake, and contemporary works by Yannick Lebrun and Houston Thomas. Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs., March 13, 7:30 pm, $25-$53. https://arts.pepperdine.edu/events/2024-2025-season/abt-studio.htm. Also at Citrus College, Haugh Performing Arts Center, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., Glendora; Sun., March 16, 2 pm, $24-$48. https://tickets.haughpac.com/abt
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Photo by Erin Baiano
More than just dance
Gala season is starting for SoCal dance companies offering performance and more. While social, these events fund company dancers and future performances beyond ticket sales. The OC-based contemporary company Backhausdance hosts its Spring Fête with new choreography from artistic director Jennifer Backhaus, plus cocktails, dinner, and live music for guests’ dancing. The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach; Sat., March 8, 7:30 – 10 pm, $275 & up. https://www.backhausdance.org/events/2025/3/8/fete-2025
Backhausdance. Photo courtesy of the artists
Influential events
Originally commissioned for the Egyptian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, the film installation Drama 1882 from Wael Shawky considers the events that countered a revolt against European colonial influence, resulting in Britain cementing its control of Egypt for another seven decades. Adapting the storied events into the form of an opera and performed in classical Arabic, Shawky choreographed, wrote, scored, and directed. This event is the latest in the museum’s Wonmi’s WAREHOUSE Programs. Related events include a conversation with Shawky and assistant curator Alex Sloane on Sat., Feb. 22 at 3 pm. WAREHOUSE, MOCA Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Thurs. – Sun., thru March 16, 11 am, free w/reservation at https://moca.ticketapp.org/portal/product/288/events
Wael Shawky. Photo courtesy of the artist
The last of “friends”
Directed by legendary choreographer Matthew Bourne, with additional choreography from Stephen Mear, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends is headlined by Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, and a lineup of British and American musical theater luminaries. Perhaps because of Bourne’s long relationship with the Center Theater Group, LA nabbed the U.S. premiere before this Sondheim celebration goes to Broadway. Catch this stunner before it moves east. Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Tues.-Fri., 8 pm, Sat., 2 & 8 pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, thru March 9, $25 – $195.50. https://www.centertheatregroup.org/
Bonnie Langford, Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga and the company of Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friends” – Photo by Danny Kaan.
A Peek at Next Week
Ballet Hispánico – Carmen.maquia at the Carpenter Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., March 15, 8 pm, $55. https://www.carpenterarts.org/
BODYTRAFFIC – This Reminds Me of You at BODYTRAFFIC Studios, 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Koreatown; March 18-19, 7pm, free with reservation at https://www.bodytraffic.com/performance-home-season/place
BODYTRAFFIC. Photo courtesy of the artists
Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango – Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Fri., March 14, 8 pm, $39-$135. https://www.thebarclay.org/Online/mapSelect.asp
Blue 13 Dance Company – Bollywood is Gay! at LA LGBT Center, 1118 McCadden Pl., Hollywood; Sat., March 15, 8 pm, $29-$60. https://ci.ovationtix.com/36684/production/1218551
Featured image: Rubberband Dance – photo by Bill Hebert
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
