The EU Introduces American Choreographer Meg Stuart

This week’s SoCal dance events include dance festivals in West L.A. and Hollywood, a dance film festival debuts in Los Feliz, political dance in Santa Monica, the Lightning Series in Venice, and a choreographer’s body as a canvas downtown.

[alert type=alert-white ]Please consider making a tax-deductible donation now so we can keep publishing strong creative voices.[/alert]

5.  Lightning strikes twice

Nights 4 and 5 of the Lightning Series offers dance along with physical theatre. Friday includes a dance on film and a live dance by Victoria Marks with dancers Willy Souly and Alexx Shilling and in the parking lot, Carlon + Lollie offer the site-based Sometimes I Fall considering post traumatic stress employing tape, powder and the performers’ cars (reprised on Saturday). Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Thurs., Jan 19, 8 p.m., Sat., Jan. 21, 8 p.m.; $20. http://electriclodge.org.

Victoria Marks Photo courtesy of Victoria Marks
Victoria Marks Photo courtesy of Victoria Marks

4.  What inauguration?

Contemporary and historical politics are the subject of new works from Liz Hoefner Adamis/Immediate Action Dance and Carol McDowell in Dance Dance Revolution, Extreme Edition 3: From Here to Now and Back Again. Despite the unwieldy title, Adamis and McDowell are serious in their consideration of current and past politics through dance in Enter Lenin! with dancers Anthony Angellano, Sinnamon Hauser, Israel Henry, Vannia Ibarguen, Paula Present, Shoji Yamasaki, Kelly Dunn, Shannon Lew, Alexandra Oliver, Jeremiah Peoples.and Adamis. Also on tap, two new dances with contemporary political perspectives choreographed for McDowell by Alexx Shilling and Kevin Williamson, plus McDowell directing intergenerational improvisation with dancers Carmela Hermann Dietrich, Jennifer Hong, Susanna Lily, Rachel Lopez, Dana Penenberg, Amy Shimshon-Santo, and Shelley Wilcox Williams. Highways Performance Space, 18th Street Arts Center, 1651 18th Street, Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 20-21, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students & seniors. http://highwaysperformance.org.

Liz Hoefner Adamis/ Immediate Action Dance Photo by Dyanne Cano
Liz Hoefner Adamis/ Immediate Action Dance Photo by Dyanne Cano

3.  Making it five

The fifth edition of Awakenings & Beginnings Dance Festival concludes a week of performances, master classes and other events. The finale showcases established and emerging dance ensembles including D’amby Project, Leighann Kowalsky, Rowan Willigan, Kelly Alvarez and Artists (KAA), Don McLeod and Rhapsody in Taps’ Linda Sohl-Ellison and Monti Ellison. Diavalo Space: 616 Mouton Ave, L.A., CA 90031; Sat., Jan. 21, 8 p.m.; $30-$45, $25 students & seniors. http://www.brownpapertickets.com.

Rhapsody In Taps at Awakenings & Beginnings Dance Festival Photo by Philamonjaro
Rhapsody In Taps at Awakenings & Beginnings Dance Festival Photo by Philamonjaro

2.  Week No. 2 of the newest dance festival

L.A.’s newest dance festival takes up residence at a venue known as a respected theater, and now emerging as a welcoming dance venue. While most local festivals offer brief pieces from many companies, Dance at the Odyssey! presents four companies each given one or more evenings. Last week’s opening offered German dance collective MAMAZA. This weekend boasts two events. Friday offers physical theater as Galiana & Nikolchev’s Useless Room explore a graying existence in The Last One. Sunday belongs to flamenco with Olé Flamenco led by dancer Yolanda Arroyo and her husband guitarist Paco Arroyo plus dancers Mikaela Kai, Jani Quintero, “La Pimentilla” and “La Miki”. The festival concludes next weekend with L.A. Contemporary Dance Company with Force Majeure, a quartet of works with choreography from company director Genevieve Carson, Gregory Dolbashian, Michaela Taylor and Christian Denice. Force Majeure enjoyed an extended sold out several week run in late 2016 in Atwater Village. Here’s a chance for Westsiders (and others) to catch up. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A.; Galiana & Nikolchev’s Useless Room—Fri., Jan. 20, 8 p.m.; Olé FlamencoSun., Jan. 22, 2 p.m.; L.A. Contemporary Dance Company—Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28, 8 p.m.; $25, $15 students. 310 477-2055 ext. 2, http://OdysseyTheatre.com.

The Last One at Dance at the Odyssey! Photo by David Meister
The Last One at Dance at the Odyssey! Photo by David Meister

1.  What’s she hunting for?

Part performance, part video installation, in Meg Stuart’s Hunter the choreographer’s body is presented as an archive. Premiered in March 2014 and since then presented at prestigious European venues, these performances are co-sponsored by Goethe Institute L.A. with support from the Getting To Know Europe program awarded by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. Not bad to have New Orleans-born  Stuart presented in the U.S. by the EU. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 26-28, 8:30 p.m., $20-$25, $16-$20 students. 213-237-2800.

Other dance of note:

Makings its debut, the LA Dance Film Festival screens 15 short dance films from around the world. The selections include some L.A.-based filmmakers. The jury accepted a variety of film genres that met the requirement of utilizing dance as the main storytelling component. Los Feliz 3 Theatre, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; Thurs., Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., $20. www.ladancefilmfest.org.

Where are You Now at L.A. Dance Film Festival Photo by Ashton Frederick
Where are You Now at L.A. Dance Film Festival Photo by Ashton Frederick

What are you looking for?