Ballet double bill opens in Pasadena; site specific Sendak in Brentwood; Leonard Cohen ballets in Beverly Hills; contemporary choreography triptych concludes in the Arts District; street dance styles move downtown; A Chorus Line revisited in Glendale; postponed dance tour resumes in Inglewood; South Asian dance in Agoura Hills; more So Cal dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week
A season finale opens
Closing out the first season programmed by artistic director Melissa Barak, Los Angeles Ballet gives a nod to George Balanchine’s luminous Serenade set to Tchaikovsky along with Firebird set to the Stravinsky score by choreographer Yuri Possokhov. This Firebird premiered at Oregon Ballet Theater while Possokhov was resident choreographer at San Francisco Ballet where the ballet also established itself as a popular part of SFB’s repertoire. Now LAB brings it to three SoCal venues. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena; Sat., May 11, 2 & 7:30 pm. Also at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Redondo Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., May 25, 2 & 7:30 pm. Also at UCLA Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Ct., Westwood; Sat., June 1, 2 & 7:30 pm, $76 to $137. Los Angeles Ballet
End of love dances
Never underestimate how a popular songwriter can draw audiences to a dance concert. For Ballets Jazz de Montréal, the artistic director Louis Robitaille recruited three in-demand choreographers to set roughly 16 songs by Canadian balladeer Leonard Cohen for Dance Me. The results from the trio of dancemakers—Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Ihsan Rustem–are on view at three SoCal venues over the next week. Be warned, some venues are almost sold out. Wallis Annenberg Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri., May 10, 7:30 pm, Sat., May 11, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $49-$79. The Wallis. Also at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego; Wed., May 15, 7:30 pm, $20-$105. San Diego Theatres. Also at the Irvine Barclay, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Fri., May 17, 8 pm, $30-$120. Irvine Barclay.
Where the wild things dance
The opening event of the exhibit Wild Things are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak includes a site specific performance by Zoe Rappaport, director/choreographer of Storytelling Through Movement (STM). The opening of the exhibit showcasing 150 artifacts from Sendak’s career starts at 6:30 pm with the main performances starting at 8 pm. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; Fri., May 10, 6:30 pm, main performance 8 pm, $10, $7 seniors, students. Skirball Cultural Center.
A shifting three
Two different programs, each with a work by Janie Taylor and two from artistic director Benjamin Millepied are part of LA Dance Project’s Spring Dances. Both programs include Me, You, We, They, Millepied’s newest set to music by his frequent collaborator Nico Muhly. Both programs also include the premiere of Taylor’s Sleepwalker’s Encyclopedia with a set designed by artist Ben Styer. Millepied’s Moving Parts completes Program A, alternating with Triade in Program B. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Program A- Sat., May 11, 8 pm, Sun., May 12, 1 pm. Program B- Sat., May 11, 4 pm, Sun., May 12, 5 pm, $45, $30 students & seniors. LA Dance Project.
Something for a certain kind of Mom
For an entertaining, halcyon alternative to crowded restaurants on Mother’s Day, consider MOMentum Place. Taking over a stage that hosts summer Shakespeare under the oak trees, this mostly annual event offers an array of dancers, acrobats, aerialists, and other entertainers curated by Lexi Pearl. Bring a picnic or opt for the spring-themed brunch (additional $40 charge). With Topanga Canyon Blvd. blocked from Pacific Coast Highway, westsiders may avoid freeways taking PCH to Las Flores to Saddlepeak Road then connect with Topanga Blvd. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga Canyon; Sun., May 12, 2 pm, $40,$15 students, $10 children (optional noon brunch $40). Theatricum Botanicum
When dancers talk
Described as a “counter-tribute,” Andrew Pearson and a clutch of dancers employed a similar process that led to the musical A Chorus Line, drawing on dancers’ real life experiences. The resulting show by Pearson’s Bodies in Play, Our Dancer’s Project, premiered downtown in April and moves to the San Gabriel foothills for this encore. These dancers’ process involved critical and mindful consideration of bodies in the performing arts, an ongoing hot topic for dance and dancers. The writers/dancers include Cristina Flores, Darby Epperson, Celine Kiner, Tiffany Sweat, Daurin Tavares, Rachel Whiting, and Sadie Yarrington. Pearson also has writing credit and directs. Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., May 11, 5 pm, free. Brand Library
Back on tour
Postponed from the originally scheduled tour dates due to his wife’s illness, she is better and Dancing With the Stars’ Derek Hough is ready to resume Symphony of Dance. With his most recent Emmy nomination, Hough surpassed Debbie Allen for most Emmy nominations for television choreography. Audiences who know him from tv now can see what he can do on the concert stage. YouTube Theater, 1011 Stadium Dr., Inglewood; Fri., May 10, 8 pm, $20-$149. Also at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; Fri., May 17, 7pm, $49-$125. Also at the Rady Shell, Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego; Sun., May 19, 7:30 pm, $42-$62. Derek Hough.
Museum peek
In a few weeks, Backhausdance will offer this year’s new work developed in the environs of the museum and its lush gardens. In the meantime, with museum admission on Tuesday mornings, visitors can watch open rehearsals of Glow/Brillo and see how the new work is progressing. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana; Tuesdays thru June 4, 10am to 1pm, included in museum admission. Backhausdance.
Busy dancers
Choreographer Jennifer Backhaus and the dancers of Backhausdance take a break from their garden rehearsals for a free event in conjunction with this college’s dance department. Santa Ana College, Phillips Hall Theater, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana; Sat., May 11, 8 pm, free. Dance Connect Santa Ana — Backhausdance.
For the month
After a series of free pop-up performances at sites across the Westside last week, Leela Dance Collective offers India’s Kathak dance in a ticketed concert as part of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month. The concert also has a livestream option. Agoura Hills Performing Arts & Education Ctr., 28545 W. Driver Ave., Agoura Hills; Sat., May 11, 4:30 & 7:30 pm, $25 The PAECs; livestream $10 Imagine India.
New on pointe
This concert from State Street Ballet showcases new contemporary choreography from emerging choreographers under the banner New Voices. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; Fri.-Sat., May 10-11, 7:30 pm, $38-$58, $26 children. Lobero Theatre.
Take off
For CalArts Spring Dance performance LAUNCH, the graduating class performs works by choreographers Alejandro Cerrudo, Micaela Taylor, and Mike Tyus & Luca Renzi. Cheryl Mann Del Cuore restaged a solo and a duet by Cerrudo. A commission by Tyus and Renzi has been remounted, and Taylor provides the premiere of her newest. Additionally, three new works by graduating students promise a preview of things to come in SoCal dance. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Wed.-Thurs., May 7-8, 8:30 pm, $20. REDCAT tickets.
Pick your style
It’s street dance just off the street with the Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifier for the western U.S. in this al fresco setting. Winners from this LA qualifier will advance to the USA national finals in Atlanta on May 18. Grand Performances, California Plaza, 300 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., May 11, 3 pm, free. $10. Eventbrite.
A Peek at Next Week (05-17 to 23)
Heidi Duckler Dance in Herald in, Examine Throughout at Broadway Street between 11th and 12th Streets, downtown; Sat., May 18, 7 pm, $80. Heidi Duckler Dance.
Rangoli Dance Company at Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., May 18, 5 pm, free. Brand Library.
G.U.M. Collective — calling from the void at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sun., May 17-19, 8:30 pm, $30-$50. Highways Performance.
Jessie Lee Thorne — Anarcha at Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., May 18, 8 pm, $15. ANARCHA by MashUp Contemporary Dance Company.
Versa-Style Next Generation’s Annual Culmination Showcase at Mihran K Studios, 5437 Satsuma Ave., North Hollywood; Sat., May 25, 3 pm, $5 suggested donation. Versa-Style Dance.
World Ballet — Swan Lake at Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego; Fri., May 17, 7 pm, Sat., May 18, 6 pm, $55-$145. Also at Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Ave., Long Beach; Sun., May 19, 2 pm, $50-$125. World Ballet.
Louise Reichlin & Dancers at Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Ave., Culver City; Sat., May 18, 1:30 pm, free. Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers.
Benita Bike’s DanceArt at La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd., Glendale; Sat., May 18, 2 pm, free. Benita Bike’s DanceArt.
Westside Ballet — Masters of Movement at The BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri., May 17, 7 pm & Sat., May 18, 1 & & 6:30 pm, $45, Sat., May 18, 6:30 pm, $195 includes 5pm reception and 8 pm dinner/gala. Westside Ballet tickets.
Empara — Well Done, An Immersive Dining Experience at Melody Wine Bar, 751 Virgil Ave., East Hollywood; Mon., May 20, 7 pm, $124 (includes 3-course dinner, show & gratuity). Well Done.
News of Note
In conjunction with publication of The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History, the author Karen Valby will be joined by Lydia Abarca Mitchell, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Lynn Sells, and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin to talk about the ballerinas in the book and how their careers and accomplishments have been overlooked or ignored by most ballet histories. Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar, 3200 Motor Ave., Cheviot Hills; Wed., May 15, 8 pm, $20-$48 for admission with signed book option. Live Talks Los Angeles.
An online conversation with Edwaard Liang, the first Asian American to lead a major American ballet company, and Bonnie Oda Homsey, Los Angeles Arts Foundation founding director, is presented as part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI). Liang has moved from New York City Ballet to Broadway, from choreography to artistic director of Ohio’s Ballet Met and now incoming artistic director of Washington Ballet. Reservations at Eventbrite.
The BODYTRAFFIC performance, In Pursuit of Joy, originally announced for May 16, is now scheduled for Wed., May 29. at Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Thurs., May 29, 7:30 pm, $50. BODYTRAFFIC.