This busy week’s dance events include modern dance by a Santa Monica fireside, Kenneth Walker paired with Freshwater Dance in the South Bay, a new choreography showcase downtown, and Orange County hosts So Cal Dance Invitational, Backhaus Dance and Mr. Gaga Ohad Naharin’s Batsheva Dance.
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5. Lucky seven
The seventh edition of Nannette Brodie’s So-Cal Dance Invitational presents 11 local choreographers and their troupes. The companies cover much of the dance spectrum with an emphasis on modern and contemporary dance. Invitees include Lori Torok’s Avocado Dance Theatre, James MahKween’s Eternity Dance Theatre, The Reach Sisters (Savannah and Reach), Pat Taylor’s Jazz Antiqua, John Pennington’s Pennington Dance Group, Lisa D. Long’s L 2 Dance Theater, Nate Hodges’ RhetOracle Dance Company, Aloysia Gavre’s Troupe Vertigo Circus Dance Theatre, Evan Rosenblatt’s Evan Rosenblatt Dance, and Stephanie Maxim’s Stephanie Maxim Dance. Golden West College Theater, 15744 Gothard St., Huntington Beach; Sat., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $15, $13 students, seniors & children under 12. http://gwctheater.com.
4. New choreography
A new downtown dance facility opens its doors to five local choreographers for a new choreography showcase Dance in Progress. Sean Greene & Shieldwall Dance Company, Kate Coleman, Lyndsi Zapata, Caron Eule, Zarina Mendoza offer works in progress. Downtown Dance & Movement. 1144 S. Hope St., downtown; Sat., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $10-$12. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dance-in-progress-tickets-30870440318.
Photo courtesy of Sean Greene
3. Two together
Two local contemporary troupes join forces for a shared concert. Ressl Acosta and her Freshwater Dance Collective are relatively recent arrivals from Minnesota. The company makes its local debut alongside Kenneth Walker Dance Project, a longtime presence on the South Bay dance scene. Cal State University Dominguez Hills, University Theater, 1000 E. Victoria St., Dominguez Hills; Sat., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 5, 2 p.m., $10-$20. https://www.artful.ly/store/events/10739.
2. Dancing by the fire
Despite having weather the rest of the world envies, SoCal winter sometimes argues for a cozy night by a warm fire and Santa Monica happily complies with Fireside at the Miles, the mid-winter series of dance, music and other performance. The couches are comfy. The candles are ever so flattering. The snacks and beverages are organic. Even the log in that lovely fireplace is an eco-log. This week’s event spotlights a trio of contemporary dance companies–locally based Angela Todaro, Rebekah Brown’s H20 Dance Company from San Diego and Pressology Dance Company. There is even free validated parking. Reservations recommended. Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Sat., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $10, $5 seniors & 18 years & under. Reservations milesplayhouse@smgov.net. 310-458-8634, http://smgov.net/departments/ccs/milesplayhouse.
1. Going Gaga
Israel’s Ohad Naharin and his innovative movement approach known as “Gaga” are internationally recognized and often imitated with varying degrees of success. Locally, aTE9 dANCE cOMPANY led by Naharin accolite alum Danielle Agami introduced SoCal audiences to the explosive potential of Naharin’s approach. The master and his Batsheva Dance Company arrive for one performance two days before Dance Camera West hosts the west coast premiere of the documentary on Naharin, Mr. Gaga. The DCW opening is sold out, but will screen at several Laemmle theaters. Anyone for Gaga 101. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Wed., Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., $29-$129. 714-556-2787, https://scfta.org. Mr. Gaga opens Feb. 10, https://laemmle.com.