Open Hearts Take On Fearful Minds

Classical dance from India in Hollywood, final new works for NOW downtown, refugees’ plight pondered in Little Tokyo, Montana dance fest visits Redondo Beach, hula in San Fernando, and more SoCal Dance this week.

5.  Salsa at the Plaza

The official opening for the renovation isn’t for a few more weeks, but this salsa edition of Dance DTLA offers a chance to dance under the stars in the renovated Music Center Plaza. From now into September, the series affords different ways to move on most Friday nights. Free beginner dance lessons at 7 p.m. are followed by a chance to dance or to just watch and enjoy until 11 p.m. Each week’s dance style and specific location at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/events-by-the-music-center/danceDTLA/. Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Aug. 9, 7 p.m., free. https://www.musiccenter.org.

DanceDTLA. Photo by Javier Guillen.
DanceDTLA. Photo by Javier Guillen.

4.  Deathly dance

Closing out its 8th season, American Contemporary Ballet tackles Franz Schubert’s Death and the Maiden. Performed to live music with choreography from artistic director Lincoln Jones, the dancing is followed by a reception with wine, jazz and the artists. Fashion Theater at California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 8-10, 8 p.m., Sun., Aug. 11, 2 & 5 p.m., $45-$105. https://www.acbdances.com/.

American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Anastasia Petukhova.
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Anastasia Petukhova.

3.  Last of NOW

A known incubator for cutting edge dance and other performing arts, REDCAT’s New Original Works (NOW) Festival settles into its final weekend. Week 3 concludes the fest with a musical theater work from Source Material, Austyn Rich considering front-lined black and brown troops, and Poor Dog Group’s co-founder Jesse Bonnell going solo. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., thru Aug. 10, 8:30 p.m. $20, $16 students. https://www.redcat.org/now19.

REDCAT NOW Festival. Photo courtesy of REDCAT.
REDCAT NOW Festival. Photo courtesy of REDCAT.

2.  Big Sky state dance

Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Ballet Company, Beyond Ballet Borders expands to SoCal from its original home in Montana with four days of events including a Gala closing performance, ticketed classes and competitions, plus several free events along the way. Except for the gala, most of the activities are centered at Loyola Marymount University. Among the free events open to the public are a dance film (Thurs., Aug. 8, 6 p.m.), and a half day conference on the role of the arts in global communication (Sat., Aug. 10, 9 a.m.). The ticketed gala performance (Sat., Aug. 10, 6 p.m.) includes national and international dancers. Full schedule at https://www.rmbt.org/bbb. Loyola Marymount University, 1 Loyola Marymount University Dr., Westchester; Wed.-Sat., Aug. 7-10, Gala at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., Aug. 10, 6 p.m., $25-$90. https://www.rmbt.org/bbb.

Beyond Ballet Borders. Photo by Jean Celeste.
Beyond Ballet Borders. Photo by Jean Celeste.

1.  Forced to move on

It is poetic yet chilling that the Japan American National Museum is the venue for With Memories on Their Backs-Honoring the Plight of Refugees, from the performance group Voices Carry. Inside the JANM are exhibits capturing the sometimes harrowing incarceration of the Japanese American population in internment/detention/concentration (pick your preferred adjective) camps during World War II. At a time when refugees are drowning off North Africa as Europe closes its doors and refugees from Central America and Mexico trying to seek asylum in the U.S. are drowning in the Rio Grande or being incarcerated and children taken from their families, this performance could not be more timely. The event’s important proximity to the museum is underscored by the recent reactivation of a former WWII internment camp in Oklahoma to now house minor migrant children separated from their parents at the border. Japanese American National Museum Plaza,  Sat., Aug. 10, 2 & 3:30 p.m., free.  http://voicescarryinc.net/.

Voices Carry. Photo by Silvia Spross.
Voices Carry. Photo by Silvia Spross.

          Other dance of note:

The network of performers at Los Angeles Performance Practice invite fans to celebrate LAPP’s tenth anniversary. The evening includes dance, music and theater performances at both the dinner and after party. Announced performers include Milka Djordjevich, Anna Goodman, Jodie Landau, Netta Yerushalmy, Gina Young and Stephanie Zaletel. In true LAPP style, guests are invited to “dress to impress yourself.” Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, downtown; Thurs., Aug. 15, 6:30 p.m., $25 (9 p.m. after party), $150-$250 (cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m.). https://performancepractice.la/gala.

LA Performance Practice's Milka Djordjevich. Photo courtesy of the artist.
LA Performance Practice’s Milka Djordjevich. Photo courtesy of the artist.

While most of the popular Jam Sessions summer series are on Mondays at the Ford Theater in Hollywood, JAM Sessions also pop up occasionally at other venues and times, like this week. San Fernando Valley dancers can skip the commute to the Hollywood hills as Jason Arimoto brings the dance and music of Hawaii to both venues. Participants can learn hula with its swaying hips and graceful arm movements or pick up a provided ukulele and learn to strum. A full list and locations at the Ford website. San Fernando Recreation Park, 208 Park Ave., San Fernando; Fri., Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m., free.  https://www.fordtheatres.org/programs/jam-sessions-san-fernando. Ford Theatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Mon., Aug. 12, 7 p.m., free. https://www.fordtheatres.org/.

JAM Sessions-hula. Photo courtesy of the Ford Theatres.
JAM Sessions-hula. Photo courtesy of the Ford Theatres.

Classical kathak dance from Northern India is the specialty of Leela Dance Collective headlining this week’s installment of the hour-long family friendly Big World Fun series. On September 14, the ensemble takes the main stage for a full show, but this week is geared to kids. Nature and craft activities begin at 9 a.m. with the show at 10 a.m. Ford Theatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Aug. 10, 10 a.m., $5 adults, free for children. https://www.fordtheatres.org/calendar/big-world-fun-el-santo-golpe.

Leela Dance Collective. Photo courtesy of the Ford Theatres.
Leela Dance Collective. Photo courtesy of the Ford Theatres.

Unclear if the 16 street dancers on the floor will need the sponsor’s product as they compete in this round of Red Bull Dance Your Style. This is one of several regional qualifiers with the freestyle street-dance finals set for Las Vegas. Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine St., Hollywood; Sun., Aug. 11, 3 p.m. $10, $15. https://eventbrite.com.

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