Controversial dance from the AIDS epidemic reprised in Westwood; Brazilian dancers join Dudamel and the LA Phil in Downtown LA; story ballet from Ukraine in Hancock Park; Jerome Robbins revival in Santa Barbara; street dance battles launched in Downtown LA; compelling contemporary choreography in Manhattan Beach, West LA, Brentwood, and Santa Monica; more SoCal dance this busy week, and a peek at next week.

Live This Week (thru March 5)

Surviving uncertain times

When it premiered 20 years ago in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, a major reviewer declared that the text woven through the choreography, words from real people living with life-threatening illnesses, made Still/Here unreviewable, calling it “victim art.” The controversy that ensued surrounded the reviewer, choreographer Bill T. Jones, and his company Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, an ensemble that includes the name of his life and dance partner who died from AIDS. The powerful work at the center became known more for the furor than the substance and message of the crafted work. With this landmark return, the company and choreographer reprise the work with its consideration of survival, memory and what it means to live fully in uncertain times, ready to be viewed through a new lens after the Covid-19 pandemic, and swirling contemporary life-threatening uncertainties, not all related to health. At UCLA, Royce Hall, 10756 Dickson Ct., Westwood; Thurs., March 5, 8 pm, $42-$64. Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company.

They dance and create

Any chance to enjoy the outstanding dancers of LA-based BODYTRAFFIC should be seized. For this rather intimate performance dubbed BT Creates, the contemporary company brings works created by some of its dancers and anchored by artistic partner Trey McIntyre’s homage to singer Sam Cooke. Baguette sandwiches and a cash bar greet early arrivals. At Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., Feb. 26, 8 pm, $42.85. BODYTRAFFIC.

Displaced from home

In the 1950’s, Santa Monica’s beach adjacent Belmar Triangle area was a thriving Black community, until homes and businesses were seized through eminent domain to become part of the Santa Monica Civic Center, Courthouse, Civic Auditorium, and parking lots. In the more recent razing, the auditorium and surrounding parking lots have been replaced by a multi-purpose sports field and included an effort to recognize the Belmar Triangle’s history with historical plaques and a designation as Historic Belmar Park. In the hands of artist April Banks, that history also is referenced in her sculpture A Resurrection in Four Stanzas, now installed in the Park. The sculpture, the park and that history are the focus of Marcella Lewis’ Home Under One’s Skin. Presented by Home/LA on what was once Belmar Triangle, Lewis uses movement, voice, and audience engagement to consider issues of remembrance after the enforced loss of community and community life. At Historic Belmar Park, Pico Blvd. at 4th St., Santa Monica; Sat., Feb. 28, 3, 4, & 5 pm, free w/reservation at HomeLA.

They fought back

The Grammy-winning, LA Phil-commissioned ballet score, Revolución diamantina (Glitter Revolution), is composer Gabriela Ortiz’ consideration of the 2019 feminist uprising confronting Mexico’s epidemic of violence against women. Now the work has choreography by Cassi Abranches and Rodrigo Pedermeiras created on the Brazilian contemporary company Grupo Corpo. The Brazilian dancers join Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil for the premiere. Four performances at Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 26-27, 8 pm, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 28-March 1, 2 pm, $84-$364.50. LA Phil.

Wielding artistic weapons

In Masters of Subversion: Confronting Cigar, Comfort Fodoke + Zoe Rappaport collaborate using dance, music, and spoken word to create a backstory for Philip Guston’s painting Cigar, part of the current visual art exhibit Draw Them In, Paint Them Out. The exhibit juxtaposes work by Guston (1913-1980) whose Jewish family emigrated from Ukraine with work by Black artist Trenton Doyle Hancock (b. 1974) to confront white supremacy through Black and Jewish perspectives. The performance also includes a talkback with Hancock. At the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; Fri., Feb. 27, 7 & 8 pm, $20, $15 seniors, students, children. Comfort Fodoke + Zoe Rappaport.

Working through it

Part lecture, part performance, part art installation, the West Coast premiere of Starquest spotlights Maya Man, her background as a competition dancer, and the reality TV series Dance Moms. Q&A with the performer and curator follow the performance. At LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown LA Arts District; Sat., Feb. 28, 7 pm installation, 8 pm performance, $12. Starquest.

Displaced dancing

An ousted princess, a jealous stepmom, seven newfound friends, and a prince prone to kissing–the Grimm’s fairy tale Snow White is the latest offering as the Grand Kyiv Ballet returns. Its laudable Nutcracker was a late entry at the end of December and this venue has brought the company back for another visit. Home to dancers with Ukrainian connections who sought US refuge after the Soviet Invasion, the company now tours from its base in Washington state to help fund rebuilding in Ukraine. At the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., Feb. 26, 7 pm, $49-$79. Tickets.

Robbins redux

Originally produced by NYC’s Joyce Theater and curated by New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck, Ballet Festival-Jerome Robbins makes a West Coast appearance with two different programs from the prolific choreographer whose works span ballet to Broadway. Peck and her NYCB partner Roman Mejia lead a cast drawn from Britain’s Royal Ballet and other major companies. At the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Tues.-Wed., March 3 & 4, 7:30 pm, $75-$95. Ballet Festival-Jerome Robbins.

Time travel 

In Reverberation of Time, Kybele Dance Theater offers three works—Reminiscence, Drift, and Rise—that trace the body’s journey through time and challenges. Led by Seda Aybay, LA-based KDT has presented intriguing dance for more than two decades. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 27-28, 8 pm, $30, $25 students. Kybele Dance Theater.

A matter of style

One need not be a participant to enjoy a great street dance show at the qualifier event launching this season’s Red Bull Dance Your Style. The global street dance series distinctively has no set choreography, no set playlist, has an all-styles battle format, and the live audience judges the dancers’ improvisation and skills to decide the winner. Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St., Downtown LA: Fri., Feb. 27, 7 pm, $10 (spectator tix), Red Bull Dance Your Style-spectator & registration.

Library dancing

The modern dance ensemble Benita Bike’s DanceArt is known for bringing dance to non-traditional venues, especially in the San Fernando Valley area. This outing takes the dancers to the South Bay for a free program (with registration). At the Manhattan Beach Library, 1320 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach; Sat., Feb. 28 2 pm, free, limited seating. Benita Bike’s DanceArt.

Last call

As part of the biennial Made in LA events, choreographer Will Rawls has staged monthly site-specific performance titled Unmade in, around, and outside the museum’s galleries. The series concludes with this event. The dancers include Gurmukhi Bevli, Maya Billig, Ajani Brannum, Jeremy De’jon Guyton, Tiara Jackson, and Kensaku Shinohara. At the UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Feb. 28, noon to 4 pm, free. Hammer Museum.

Doomed gypsy

This flamenco take on the opera Carmen features Barcelona Flamenco Ballet. At the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sun., March 1, 6 pm, $18-$108. Barcelona Flamenco Ballet.

Incoming dance

The showcase Fresh Sesh offers choreography and dance from the incoming class of USC Kaufman Dance. At USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Thurs., Feb. 26, time 5:30 & 7:30 pm, free with reservation at USC Kaufman Dance.

A Peek at Next Week (March 06-12)

Kenneth Walker Dance Project — Re:Bound, A Winter Repertory Performance at Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sun., March 8, 3 pm, $33. Kenneth Walker Dance Project.

Manuel Roque — bang bang at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Fri., March 6, 8 pm, $40, $32 seniors/students; Tickets.

American Contemporary Ballet — Balanchine: Twin Masterpieces at ACB Studios, Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., Downtown LA; opens Fri., March 6, 8 pm, then Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Fri., March 27, $65-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.

MashUp Contemporary Dance — International Women’s Day Festival at West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood; Fri., May 6, 7 pm, $10. Also at Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., March 7, $35. Also $90 festival pass includes workshops, panels and classes. MashUp Intl Women’s Day Fest.

Resonance Collective — SAMĀ at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri-Sat., March 6-7, 8 pm, $25-$40, $20 students/seniors. Resonance Collective.

Sa Dance Company — Rise at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri., March 6, 8 pm, $35-$45. Sa Dance Company.

USC Kaufman Dance — Cypher Summit: Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop and Street Dance at Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Fri.-Sat., March 6-7, time and ticket info not available at press time. Women in Hip Hop & Street Dance.

High Voltage — Dance at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, Fri., March 6, 8 pm, $20. High Voltage.

Nickerson-Rossi Dance — Female Aesthetic at Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, Fri., March 6, 6:30 pm, $150. Nickerson-Rossi Dance.

Backhausdance — Spring Fête at Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach; Sat., March 7, 5:30-10 pm, $275-$375. Backhausdance Spring Fête.