Ann Haskins

Hopeful Hearts

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A lovestruck festival opens in Laguna Beach; dueling festival finales in West LA; French/North African urban dance in Beverly Hills; swans flutter into four SoCal venues, guitarist amid dancers in Cerritos; faculty dancemakers in Irvine; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at next week.

Live This Week (thru February 19)

From French streets

 
With its distinctive blend of urban street dance, Capoeira, polished contemporary movement, and an enormous swath of gold fabric that can create worlds, the French/North African Compagnie Hervé Koubi concludes the four city California leg of its current U.S. tour. The calling card is  the critically acclaimed Sol Invictus, described by the choreographer “as a celebration of hope in dark times that comes from antiquity, celebrating bonds that unite intertwined with the cycle of the seasons.” The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 7:30 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 pm, $42.90-$110.90. The Wallis.

A man inside gold fabric
Compagnie Hervé Koubi. Photo by Melaniem Lhote

Odyssey wrap up #1

 
Early movies are the subject as choreographer Jennifer Jonassen and her Intrepid Dance Project unveil Silent Fiction. The world premiere features dancers Rachel Carlson-Zuniga, Nate DeLuca, Ari DeSano, Loreena Garcia, Doug Goldstein, Lise Hart, Juan D. Mendoza, Oneiros Villarreal-Burns, who also receive collaborator credit. Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 2, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 13-14, 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey.

Dancers dressed like silent movie figures
Intrepid Dance Project. Photo by Lotta Photos

Odyssey wrap up #2

 
Under the direction of co-founder Barbara Műller-Wittmann, the Dance at the Odyssey festival closes out six weeks of dense programming that this year expanded to two theaters. The final festival entry, from Hannah Millar + Imprints, includes the world premiere of One World, with a special performance of Way in Over My Head choreographed by Peter Chu. Dance at the Odyssey at Odyssey Theatre 3, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., Feb. 14, 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, $25 (+$3 for credit cards). Dance At the Odyssey.

A group of dancers lift their arms
Hannah Millar’s Imprints Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists

Backstage and onstage

 
This year’s jam-packed Laguna Dance Festival opens four days of dance. First up on Thursday, the festival offers an informal “backstage” showcase with Ohio’s Dayton Contemporary Dance in advance of its mainstage performance on Friday. Saturday’s Valentine-themed show Heart 2 Heart, features pas de deux from a line up of visiting dancers. Several SoCal dance companies take the stage on Sunday. Check the website for more details. All performances at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; Backstage with Dayton Contemporary Dance — Thurs., Feb. 12, 6 pm, free with ticket; Dayton Contemporary Dance — Fri., Feb. 13, 7 pm, $75, $25 students; Heart 2 Heart (multiple companies in pas de deux program) — Sat., Feb. 14, 7 pm, $75-$250, $25 students, So Cal dance companies–Sun., Feb. 15, 3 pm, $75, $25 students. Laguna Dance Festival.

A dancer in blue tights bends backwards
Dayton Contemporary Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists

Those who teach, also do

 
Choreography by the faculty of UCI Claire Trevor Department of Dance is showcased in Dance Visions 2026. Artistic directors Kelli sharp and Linsay Gilmour assembled a program reflecting a range of contemporary and classical dance. UC Irvine, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 8 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 & 8 pm, $34, $30 seniors, $13 students. The Barclay.

Dancers in different poses
UCI Dance Visions. Photo courtesy of the artists

Swans a-flutter

 
The LA-based touring company World Ballet brings its Swan Lake to four SoCal venues, two with a live orchestra. The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Tues.-Wed., Feb. 17-18, 7 pm, $67.05-$147.45 (w/fees). Swan Lake The Alex. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre (with live orchestra), 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Wed., Feb. 19, 7 pm,  $61.25 – $143.25. Swan Lake Fred Kavli Theatre. Also at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita; Fri., Feb. 20, 7 pm, $50-$115 (w/fees) Swan Lake — Santa Clarita. Also at Irvine Barclay Theatre (with live orchestra), UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tues.-Wed., Feb. 24-25, 7 pm, $91-146 (w/fees). Swan Lake-Irvine Barclay Theatre.

A male dancer leaps in front of a line of female dancers
World Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists

Guitar dancing

 
Known as a stunning guitarist and consummate showman, Benise is also known for surrounding his music with dancers adept at flamenco, tango, the many other genres he explores. This visit, the show is 25 Years of Passion. And yes, there will be dancers. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos; Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30 pm, $48-$142. Benise.

A guitarist walks in front of flamenco dancers
Benise. Photo courtesy of the artists

Ballet benefit

 
A half dozen ballet dancers perform in Gala of Love, a benefit for American Dance Project and its Reseda-based ballet program for Special Needs children. The Learning Center Blackbox Theatre, 7915 Lindley Ave., Reseda; $100 & $150, Sat., Feb. 14, 5 pm, American Dance Project, Sun., Feb. 15, 2 pm, American Dance Project, $100-$150.

A Peek at Next Week (February 20-26)

Kyreeana Breelin Alexander — We Cool at UCLA, The Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Feb. 21, 8 pm, $38.08-$48.67. Kyreena Breelin Alexander.

BODYTRAFFIC at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., Feb. 26, 8 pm, $42.85. BODYTRAFFIC.

Grupo Corpo/LA Phil — Revolución diamantina 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.

Dancer in gold jump
Grupo Corpo. Photo courtesy of the artists

USC Kaufman Dance — Fresh Sesh at USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Thurs., Feb. 26, 5:30 & 7:30 pm., free with reservation USC Kaufman.

Lineage Dance — Healing Blue at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $33.42, $23.02 students/seniors. Lineage Dance-Healing Blue.

Grand Kyiv Ballet — Snow White at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., Feb. 26, 7 pm, $49-$79. Tickets.

Alonzo King LINES Ballet — Ode to Alice Coltrane at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat. Feb. 21, 8 pm $46-$94. LINES Ballet.

Two dancers in gold
Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists

Thuy Vân Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $25. Thuy Vân Dance.

Colburn Tap — Tap Fest: Listen to This at Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat., Feb. 21, 7 pm, $35. Colburn School Tap.

Ann Haskins

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Ann Haskins has written about dance for L.A. Weekly since shortly after it began publishing. She also has written about local and national dance for Pointe Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. View, Coast Magazine, the Daily News, and the Herald Examiner. Among her broadcast projects, Ann hosted Inside Theater on KCRW-FM and contributed dance and theater features to both KLON-FM and KUSC-FM. She has received two Horton Awards from the Los Angeles Dance Resource Center for her coverage of dance in Los Angeles.

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