Going Batsheva for Gaga

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.

Jazz Antiqua at So Cal Dance Invitational Photo courtesy of Jazz Antiqua
Jazz Antiqua at So Cal Dance Invitational. Photo courtesy of Jazz Antiqua

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.

Sean Greene's Shieldwall Dance Company at Dance in Progress Photo courtesy of Sean Greene
Sean Greene’s Shieldwall Dance Company at Dance in Progress
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.

H20 Dance Company Photo courtesy of H20 Dance Company
H20 Dance Company. Photo courtesy of H20 Dance Company

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.

Batsheva Dance Company Photo by Maxim Warratt
Batsheva Dance Company. Photo by Maxim Warratt

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.

Other dance of note:
Four dancers examine the interplay of spectator and player in Saint Heron with choreography by Danielle Russo and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, sounds by Kyle Woods, and the audience as participants. Info at events@saintheron.com. No)One.Art House, address sent with ticket request.; Fri.-Sun., Feb. 3-5, 7 p.m., $17. https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/80260/chk/2589.
 Contemporary choreographer Jennifer Backhaus returns with her Backhaus Dance in a quartet of new works.  Ido Tadmor contributes Black Morning and Yin Yue unveils Breach. In addition to her Hive, Backhaus teams with Dale A. Merrill in an untitled new work. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Rd., Irvine; Fri., Feb. 3, 8 p.m., $20-$100. 949-854-4646 ext. 1, http://thebarclay.org.
 The mid-century modern architecture of Aaron G. Green captured in the Anderson House is the locale for the latest site-specific endeavor of Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre. The performance is part of House, a benefit for the Palos Verdes Art Center that includes a runway show Wearable Expressions by Jose O. Lemus, cocktails and food stations beginning at 4:30 p.m. Address in Palos Verdes Estates provided with ticket purchase. Sat., Feb. 4, open at 4:30 p.m., $150-$250. 310-541-2479. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-a-site-specific-performance-on-the-pacific-edge-tickets-30766124306.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-a-site-specific-performance-on-the-pacific-edge-tickets-30766124306.
Starting its third decade, Dance in Flight continues as a showcase for emerging student choreographers and dancers. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine College, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 9-10, 8 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 11, 2 & 8 p.m., $20. 310-506-4522, http://arts.pepperdine.edu.
While Pantsula 4 Lyf is not live performance, this celebration of popular dance in South Africa offers photographer Chris Saunders’ intriguing photos and videos capturing pantsula’s adaptation of hip hop and American fashion. Featuring crews of young men and women in Johannesburg, pantsula performers favor American-name brands like Converse All-Star shoes and Dickies brand work pants. Special related events include a screening of Mapantsula, a 1988 film that captures the pastula’s signature fashions (Wed., Feb. 1, 7 p.m.) and the photographer Chris Saunders discussing the exhibit, the dancing and the fashion (Thurs., Feb. 23, noon). UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E Young Dr. N, Westwood; Wed., noon – 8 p.m., Thurs.-Sun., noon – 5 p.m. thru Sun., May 7, free. http://fowler.ucla.edu.

 

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