Dance That Rises and Persists

A festival showcasing women choreographers in West L.A., contemporary dance in Santa Monica, flamenco in East Hollywood, dance and drumming in Leimert Park, Irish dance, Samba and more So Cal dance this week.

5.  Perpetual flamenco

This edition of the long-running, mostly monthly Forever Flamenco includes dancers Manuel Gutierrez, Mizuho Sato, and Daniela Zermeño, singer José Cortes, guitarist José Tanaka, and percussionist Diego Alvarez “El Negro”. Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., East Hollywood; Sun., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., $40-$50, $30 seniors & students. 323-663-1525, http://www.fountaintheatre.com.

Forever Flamenco's Mizuho Sato. Photo by Gennia Cui.
Forever Flamenco’s Mizuho Sato. Photo by Gennia Cui.

4.  Dancing by the fire

Choreographer Suchi Branfman is joined by Marina Magalhaes, Alfonso Cevera, Hyoin Jun and dana e. fitchett for an evening of contemporary dance to face, or perhaps confront, 2018. Part of the Fireside at the Miles series, the venue is an historic theater where the audience can cozy up to the fireplace and enjoy refreshments while watching the dancing. Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Sat., Feb. 24, 8 p.m., $10, $5 seniors & students. https://www.smgov.net/departments/ccs/milesplayhouse.

Fireside at the Miles' Alfonso Cevera and Hyoin Jun. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Fireside at the Miles’ Alfonso Cevera and Hyoin Jun. Photo courtesy of the artists.

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3.  Drumming and dancing at an art walk 

A free afternoon performance concludes Djanjoba, a three day celebration of drumming, dancing and gratitude with workshops, classes and discussions. The pre-show events are styled after festivals that artistic director Wilfried Souly participated in as a professional dancer in Burkina Faso. The performance is timed to be part of the Leimert Park Art Walk. Full festival details at http://www.wilfriedsouly.com/djanjoba. Liemert Park Art Walk, 4343 Leimert Blvd., Leimert Park; Sun., Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., free. http://www.wilfriedsouly.com/djanjoba.

Djanjoba. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Djanjoba. Photo courtesy of the artists.

2.  The French are coming!

Hot on the heels of the Pacific Standard Time’s exploration of Los Angeles/Latin America cross cultural elements, here comes the Euro-centric FLAX (France Los Angeles Exchange) with The Dialectic of the Stars curated by Fabien Danesi. The fest features 19 French and American artists with installations and performances, all free, at five venues ranging from the Ford Amphitheater to LACE and the relatively new Los Angeles Dance Project Studios which hosts Bodies 2. The live dancing body is choreographer Noé Soulier. The second body for Bodies 2 is in Naotaka Hiro’s film The Pit (Dancer with Golden Lips). Full details at http://flaxfoundation.org. Bodies 2 at L.A. Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown; Sat., Feb. 24, 7 p.m., free. http://flaxfoundation.org.

The Dialectic of the Stars' Noé Soulier. Photo courtesy of the artist.
The Dialectic of the Stars’ Noé Soulier. Photo courtesy of the artist.

1.  Fest-ing the female

It’s spring and time for choreographer/impresario Deborah Brockus to gather some of the best local contemporary dance companies for the annual Los Angeles Dance Festival. Timed this year to coincide with Women’s History Month, this year’s fest dubbed The Rise of the Woman spotlights ten top-notch women-led troupes. The ten are mixed and matched with five presented in each of three shows. Opening night includes Kybele Dance Theatre, TL Collective, Szalt, and Brockus RED. Friday welcomes  Acts of Matter, L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, The TL Collective, Whyteburg, and host company Brockus RED. Saturday’s line up includes Sarah Elgart/Arrogant Elbow, Kybele, Szalt, and Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Along with the performances, the festival offers classes with the companies and in mid-March a second performance series showcasing high school and college performers.  The festival distinguishes itself by presenting both the best of the current generation in local dance and a preview of the next. Full details at http://LADanceFest.org. Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., W.L.A.; Thurs.-Sat., March 1-3, 8 p.m., $25. www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com.

L.A. Dance Festival's Szalt. Photo by Joseph Lambert.
L.A. Dance Festival’s Szalt. Photo by Joseph Lambert.

Other dance of note:

This installment of the Fowler Out Loud performance series belongs to Randy Reyes, whose LXS Desaparecidxs explores cooking rituals, people waiting for a bus, cleaning one’s room, and occupants of unseen realms. UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E. Young Dr. North; Westwood; Wed., Feb. 28, 6 p.m., free. https://www.fowler.ucla.edu.

Institut IDGAF offers Saluti, Grace Palmer: Secrets of Virtuous Cycle Management.  Pieter, 420 W. Avenue 33, Lincoln Heights; Sat., Feb. 24, 8:30 p.m., non-monetary donation to free bar or boutique. http://pieterpasd.com.

Dance Visions 2018. Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Dance Department.
Dance Visions 2018. Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Dance Department.

The annual showcase of dances from dance department faculty, Dance Visions 2018, boasts works by big name choreographers Lar Lubovitch, Molly Lynch, Donald McKayle and Lisa Naughle performed by graduate and undergraduate students, backed by live music from the UCI Symphony Orchestra. Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 22-23, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 24, 2 & 8 p.m., $12-$25. http://thebarclay.org.

Populated with Riverdance alumni, Dublin Irish Dance stops off at two local venues with Stepping Out, retelling the saga of those forced by famine to immigrate from Ireland to America with the dream of a better life. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., $29-$119. https://www.scfta.org. Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sun., Feb. 25, 3 p.m., $33-$73. http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org.

Dublin Irish Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Dublin Irish Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Can’t get to Rio de Janeiro for Mardi Gras? Brazilian Nites offers its 18th annual Brazilian Carnival with performances by L.A. Samba Dancers plus a family friendly matinee. Cafe Club Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams; Sat., Feb. 24, 2 p.m. (kid-friendly), $15, children 12 & under free with adult; 8 p.m., $45. https://www.braziliannites.com.

Samba dancers at Brazilian Nites Carnaval. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Samba dancers at Brazilian Nites Carnaval. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Movement from choreographer Kai Hazelwood plays a role in theatre dybbuk’s new original work lost tribes which begins a city-wide tour of art galleries and synagogues. The cast of actors, dancers, musicians and scholars explore tales of the lost tribes of Israel. Full details on other venues, etc. at http://www.theatredybbuk.org. LA Contemporary Exhibitions, 6522 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood: Sat., Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 25, 7 p.m., https://lost-tribes-lace.brownpapertickets.com.

theatre dybbuk's "Lost Tribes". Photo by Taso Papadakis.
theatre dybbuk’s “Lost Tribes”. Photo by Taso Papadakis.

Chagall’s vibrant paintings combine with Jewish American dance and live music in The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk charting the love and life of Marc and Bella Chagall who flee from a Russia of pogroms and revolution before finding fame in France. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; opens Fri., Feb. 23, then Tues.-Fri., 7:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 2 & 7:30 p.m. thru Sun., March 11, $35-$125. http://www.thewallis.org.

Gene Kelly in "Singing in the Rain". Photo courtesy of the artist.
Gene Kelly in “Singing in the Rain”. Photo courtesy of the artist.

In conjunction with a Degas exhibit, a classic dance movie musical has been offered with museum admission each Friday in February. The series concludes with Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Fri., Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m., free with museum admission $15, $12 seniors, free 18 & under. 626-449-6840, http://nortonsimon.org.

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