Spanish influences in Northridge; “escape” artists in Lincoln Heights; contemporary dance in Westwood, Long Beach, Carson, and Downtown LA; contemporary ballet downtown; dance and puppets in Pasadena; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at next week.

Live This Week (thru April 2)

The first of two

Having expanded from its Orange County base to a Southern California profile, Backhausdance brings a quartet of works reflecting where it is as it celebrates its 23rd anniversary. The program includes world premieres from alum Zachary Ryan Schlegal who is now with New York’s Shen Wei Dance Arts, and also from Megan Doheny and Ilya Nikurovoh who are known as “Out Run the Bear,” the return of Everywhere but Here from Tommie-Waheed Evans, and a new work from founder/artistic director Jennifer Backhaus and long-time collaborator Amanda Kay White. At Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., March 28, 2 & 7 pm, $48.75-$69.75, $27.75 student. Backhausdance. Also at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown Arts District; Sat., April 18, 8 pm, $38.25. Backhausdance.

Mesmerizing

From jaw-dropping appearances in the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, and America’s Got Talent, to years of world wide tours, the breathtaking, split second choreography of artistic director Jacques Heim and his LA-based Diavolo/Architecture in Motion has earned popular and critical acclaim. The company is home, reprising one of its signature works, Escape, with the dancers and gymnasts in a visceral exploration of individuals trying to break free. The tv appearances may have spread the word, but can’t begin to capture the interplay of the movers and crescendo of powerful movement in a live Diavolo performance. At L’Espace Diavolo, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; opens Sat., March 28, then Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 6 pm, thru Sun., June 14, $39. Diavolo-Veterans Project.

For real

Spanish choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano was recruited to bring authenticity to CARMEN.maquia, Ballet Hispánico’s reconsideration of the alluring, doomed temptress set to musical excerpts from Bizet’s opera. At the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., March 28, 8 pm, $46-$94. Ballet Hispánico.

Moving to the law

Five dancers capture how “the Milly Rock,” the viral move by rapper 2 Milly triggered a copyright lawsuit against a video game company. US-born, Switzerland-based choreographer Jimmy Nedd brings from rock to rock… aka how magnolia was taken for granite to UCLA Freud Playhouse, UCLA, MacGowan Hall, 245 Charles E Young Dr. East, Westwood; Sat., March 28, 8 pm, $38.08. Jimmy Nedd.

Revelatory

Of course, the gospel-infused Revelations will close every show as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brings two programs with several new works. This visit marks the third year of its Music Center residency. Program A (Wed., Fri., Sat. mat., and Sun. eve.) includes a company premiere in Blink of an Eye, an LA premiere in Difference Between, plus A Case of You (plus Revelations). Program B (Thurs., Sat. eve., and Sun. mat.), has two LA premieres: The Holy Blues and Embrace (plus Revelations). More details at the website. At the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Wed.-Fri., March 25-27, 7:30 pm, Sat.- Sun, March 28-29, 2 & 7:30 pm, $44-$184. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Ballet double bill

Continuing its commitment to ballets by George Balanchine, American Contemporary Ballet offers final performances of a double bill with live music under the banner Balanchine: Twin Masterpieces. ACB touts that these have never been performed together before, a fact that may reflect the ballets’ structural similarities. Set to Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco captures Bach’s first and second violins in two female dancers with the corps articulating the orchestra. Created in 1941, a time Balanchine’s fledgling ballet company was shy on male dancers, Barocco has a cast of 11 women and one man called upon for strong partnering skills in the middle movement. With music by Leo Delibes, Balanchine created La Source in 1961 as a pas de deux for Violette Verdy and John Prinz, and later expanded the work, surrounding the duo with an all-female corps de ballet. The company includes several seasoned dancers including Maté Szentes and Madeline Houk, who know their Balanchine. At the ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., Downtown LA; Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Fri., March 27, $65-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.

Hear that?

Under the banner Echoes of Expression, dance students of CSU Dominguez Hills offer new choreography with guests, Mosaic Dance Company and the Moorpark College Dance Department. At the University Theatre, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson; Thurs.-Sat., March 25-28, 8 pm, $15-20. Echoes of Expression.

A Japanese beat

Taiko drums from Japan as Drum Tao returns to the stage at Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University LA, 5151 State University Dr., East LA; Sat., March 28, 8 pm, $54-$103. Drum Tao.

Sips and solos

While known for its programming that showcases solo theatrical performances, LA Women’s Theatre Festival’s title belies the strong involvement of dancers and choreographers in its membership and celebrations. The opening champagne reception for this year’s fest honors two LA women in dance–Vannia Ibarguen and the late Carmen de Lavalade, and the program includes a performance by Sona Lewis. At Barnsdall Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Thurs., March 26, 6:30 pm, $60 (2 for $100). LA Women’s Theatre Festival.

How they move

With a cast of 483 handmade puppets, Hamid Rashmanian’s Song of the North enacts an epic, family-friendly Persian tale of love and heroism. At Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; Sat., 2 & 7 pm, Sun., 2 pm, thru March 29. $29-$42. Hamid Rashmanian’s Song of the North.

A Peek at Next Week (April 3-9)

Mythili Prakash — She’s Auspicious at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica: Sat., April 4, 7 pm, $40-$75. She’s Auspicious.

Silvia Gribaudi with Claudia A. Marsicano — R.OSA – 10 Exercises for New Virtuosities at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., April 9, 8 pm, free with RSVP at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz.

Donna Sternberg & Dancers — In the Garden at Miles Memorial Playhouse exterior, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Sat., April 4, 3 pm, $17.85. Donna Sternberg & Dancers.

Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers with CHAMPS Dancers at CHAMPS Blackbox Theater, 6842 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys; Thurs., April 9, 3:30 pm, free with reservation at CHAMPS Charter High School.

Heidi Duckler Dance — 4D Dance Films at Bendix Building Rooftop, 12065 Maple Ave., Suite 1101B, Downtown LA Arts District; Fri., April 3, 7 pm, $10. 4D Dance Films.