A street dance master in Hollywood, recreating Mayan dance in Westwood, old guard Merce Cunningham collaborates in Santa Ana, multi-media love considerations in Santa Monica, the L.A. Phil accompanies dance downtown and at the Bowl, plus more So Cal dance this week.
5. Collaborative Cunningham
The dancers of the respected youth troupe The Wooden Floor have been working with Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener, alumni of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company on Cunningham’s chance procedures and indeterminacy techniques. The collaborative result of this Co-Creation Lab is premiered along with a MinEvent described as an original arrangement of Cunningham work plus a Cunningham dance film, all part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial Celebration. The Wooden Floor Studio Theatre, 1810 N. Main St., Santa Ana; Thurs.-Sat., July 18-20, 8 p.m., $10-$20. https://www.thewoodenfloor.org/. https://www.eventbrite.com.
4. The Mayans are coming
In Guatamala, six towns still speak the Mayan language Q’anjob’al. In Concert: A Maya Q’anjob’al Fiesta, the folkloric dance group Maya Xumak and musical group Eb’ Aj’son from one of those six towns perform traditional Mayan dance. The program includes dance-dramas including Bailé de la Conquista (Dance of the Conquest) and Bailé del Torito (Dance of the Little Bull), and a participatory dance known as Saca la Tuya. The event is offered in conjunction with a current exhibition of Guatamalan masks. UCLA Fowler Museum Amphitheater, 308 Charles E. Young Dr. North, Westwood; Sun., July 14, 2 p.m., free. https://www.fowler.ucla.edu/.
3. Getting lost in love
Interactive video and sound installations augment choreographer Koryn Ann Wicks’ I love you so much, SQUEEZE ME TO DEATH. Wicks considers ways individuals lose themselves when loving someone else. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri-Sat., July 12-13, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students. https://www.highwaysperformance.org.
2. The L.A. Phil does dance: Episode One
After last weekend’s performances of a full length story ballet, Britain’s Royal Ballet caps off its first visit in a 25 years with a contemporary turn from its resident choreographer Wayne McGregor. In Adès & McGregor: A Dance Collaboration, composer Thomas Adès conducts the L.A. Phil for three McGregor ballets, all set to Adès’ music. Royal Ballet dancers will dance the world premiere of McGregor’s Inferno, a rare instance of the company premiering something outside of London’s Covent Garden Opera House. McGregor’s own contemporary company will dance a second premiere. In the third piece, McGregor’s troupe will be joined by Royal Ballet’s Sarah Lamb and Lauren Cuthbertson in Outlier, originally set on New York City Ballet. Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri.-Sat., July 12-13, 7:30 p.m., $38-$138. https://www.musiccenter.org/.
1. The LA Phil does dance: Episode Two
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the L.A. Phil in the lush Sergei Prokofiev ballet Romeo and Juliet with segments danced by members of the L.A. Dance Project. In the first installment last October at Disney Hall, Dudamel conducted, while LADP artistic director Benjamin Millepied choreographed and filmed the dancers as they moved offstage and around parts of Disney Hall with the dancing streaming on screens in the theater. This time when the dancers move off the Bowl stage, the wandering-about will have new and different possibilities. The video screens should provide fine viewing since beyond the first few top ticket sections, dance at the Bowl is viewable primarily on the video screens. As if R&J is not enough, the program also includes Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with cellist Pablo Ferrández. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Tues., July 16, 8 p.m., $1-$168. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Other dance of note:
Summer’s JAM Sessions continue with Rennie Harris Puremovement introducing attendees to social street dance including the wop, cabbage patch, running man, electric slide, and dab. Don’t know what those are? Come find out and get a preview of next week’s full performance with two more street dance troupes that promises to rock Cahuenga Pass! This week, prepare to learn new dances or just enjoy those who are dancing. This Monday series offers an array of free dance classes that take participants around the world without leaving town. A full list and locations at the website. Ford Theatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Mon., July 15, 7 p.m., free. https://www.fordtheatres.org/.
Drawing on skills as a choreographer, artist and writer, Will Rawls unveils his latest, a work-in-progress blending of dance and stop-motion animation. The performance is part of Rawls’ current residency at the museum. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Tues., July 16, 7:30 p.m., free with tickets available one hour before show. https://hammer.ucla.edu/.
Spend a balmy evening in Spain as Siudy Flamenco Dance Theatre joins the L.A. Phil for a performance of Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo (The Love Wizard). Assistant conductor Paolo Bortolameolli also conducts the orchestra in selections from Falla’s Three Cornered Hat and Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso (Morning Song of the Jester). Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Thurs., July 11, 8 p.m., $1-$162. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Samba dance and music from Brazil is the specialty of Viver Brasil, headlining this week’s installment in the hour-long, family friendly Big World Fun series. Nature and craft activities begin at 9 a.m. with the show at 10 a.m. Ford Theatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., July 13, 10 a.m., $5 adults, free for children. https://www.fordtheatres.org/calendar/big-world-fun-el-santo-golpe.
Warm summer nights mean it is time to dance under the stars with Dance DTLA. From now until 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. This summer includes three new entries including this week’s addition of Hip-Hop. With the Music Center Plaza still closed off for renovation, the action moves around, this week shifting to Grand Park’s Performance Lawn. Each week’s dance style and specific location at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/events-by-the-music-center/danceDTLA/. Grand Park Performance Lawn, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., July 12, 7 p.m., free. https://www.musiccenter.org.
Hoofers rejoice! The tap-filled musical Dames at Sea has extended its run to August 3. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., thru Aug. 3. $45, $40 senior, $25 21 & under. http://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/.
