Sig Alert dancing on a Hollywood rooftop; English ballet classic via New York in Costa Mesa; contemporary dance in West LA, Santa Monica, and Van Nuys; street dance takes the stage in Hancock Park; ballet fundraisers downtown and Beverly Hills; “escape” artists persist in Lincoln Heights; South Asian dance in Santa Monica; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week (thru April 16)
Ballet with arrows
With a score Tchaikovsky considered superior to his own for Swan Lake, and choreography from a British master for a reigning ballerina at the peak of her powers, American Ballet Theatre brings Sir Frederick Ashton’s full-length Sylvia. Created for Dame Margot Fonteyn, ABT showcases four of its current reigning ballerinas in the central role. At Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., April 9-10, 7:30 pm, Sat., April 11, 2 & 7:30 pm., Sun., April 12, 1 pm, $59-$169. American Ballet Theatre – Sylvia.
Mesmerizing
From flashy appearances in the Emmy and the Grammy awards, and America’s Got Talent, to years of world wide tours, the jaw-dropping, split second choreography of artistic director Jacques Heim and his LA-based Diavolo/Architecture in Motion has earned popular and informed acclimation. The company is home, reprising Escape that finds the dancers and gymnasts in a visceral exploration of individuals trying to break free. The tv appearances may have spread the word, but can’t begin to capture the interplay of the movers and crescendo of powerful movement in a live Diavolo performance. This chance for the live experience of Diavolo should not be missed. At L’Espace Diavolo, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 6 pm, thru Sun., June 14, $39. Diavolo-Veterans Project.
When a body meets a body…
In an international exchange with the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, this venue hosts contemporary artist Silvia Gribaudi’s R.OSA – 10 Exercises for New Virtuosities performed by Claudia A. Marsicano. Already presented internationally, the solo work strikingly challenges perceptions of beauty, performance, and the female body. At Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., April 9, 8 pm, free with RSVP at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz.
Unmasking
Our masks (and also pants), why we wear them and what we think they hide are explored by Adie San Diego in Terms of Agreement. An LA-based, Filipina-American choreographer, San Diego created the work in collaboration with her dancers, who brought their own thoughts…and masks. At Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., April 10-11, 8 pm, $28, $20 students/seniors. Adie San Diego.
Best traffic jam dance, ever!
It’s not live dance per se, but the Mandy Moore-choreographed traffic jam opening number for the film La La Land deserved an Oscar (Oh yeah, they don’t give one for choreography), but still, the dance-drenched film is the opening of the spring/summer rooftop screening series at a true Hollywood setting, the rooftop of the Montalbán Theater, just south of Hollywood, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; Fri., April 10, 7:30 p.m., $29-$56 (loveseat for 2) LaLa Land screening.
Ballet and more
In Mutate, LA-based choreographer Masha Cherezova brings an evening of dance, film screenings, and spoken word that is also a fundraiser for Blood Cancer United. Cherezova, a former professional ballet dancer and leukemia survivor, has recruited fellow dancers to perform, including Sklyar Campbell, former principal dancer at National Ballet of Canada and Houston Ballet. At LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., LA Downtown Arts District; Sat., April 11, 8 pm, $30-$500. Masha Cherezova.
Street Dance show and tell
The electrifying dancers and choreographers of Versa Style Street Dance Company take the stage to demonstrate the Origins of Street Dance. At the Ebell Theater, 4401 8th Street, Hancock Park; Sun. April 12, 4:30 pm, free with reservation at Versa Style Street Dance Company.
Something old, something new
For the finale of its residency with students of CHAMPS (Charter High School of the Arts), Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers joins CHAMPS student dancers for an afternoon of contemporary dance. The program includes Heart, the newest work from artistic director/choreographer Louise Reichlin, and selections from Tennis Dances, Reichlin’s first work for her company in 1979. At CHAMPS Blackbox Theater, 6842 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys; Thurs., April 9, 3:30 pm, free, reservation optional at CHAMPS Charter High School.
A bit more ballet
The pre-professional dancers of Orange County Ballet Theater perform in Momentum. At Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Fri., April 10, 7:30 pm, $44-$54. The Barclay.
Gala season
Los Angeles Ballet — 20th Anniversary Gala at Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., April 11, 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:30 dinner & performance, $1,000-$2,500. Los Angeles Ballet gala.
A Peek at Next Week (April 17-23)
Backhausdance at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown Arts District; Sat., April 18, 8 pm, Backhausdance Backhausdance.
Donna Sternberg & Dancers — Awe and Wonder at L’espace Diavolo, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights, 90031; Sat., April 18, 8 pm & Sun., April 19, 3 pm, $39.19, $33.85 students. Donna Sternberg & Dancers.
LA Dance Festival 2026 at Brockus Project Studios, 618 B Moulton Ave., (free street parking), Lincoln Heights; Fri.-Sat., April 17-18, 8 pm, Sun., April 19, 6 pm, $20, $50 festival pass. Zelle 562-412-7429 or Venmo @brockusProjectStudios or cash at door. (Note your DATE when buying , tickets will be held at the door.)
Bodies in Play — Dance is Pleasure at Renberg Theater, LA LGBT Center, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Hollywood; Fri., April 17, 7:30 pm, $35-$72. Bodies in Play.
Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener — Open Machine at REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown LA; Fri., April 17, 8 pm, Sat., April 18, 2 & 8 pm, $27. Rashun Mitchell + Silas Riener.
New Classics Ballet Theatre — The Secret of the Clock at Liya Art Center, 216 W. Las Tunas Canyon, San Gabriel; Fri., April 17, 2 & 7:30 pm, $8-$35. New Classics Ballet Theatre.
Majestic Tango at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine, Sat., April 18, 8 pm, $34-$120. The Barclay.
LA Phil/Liquid Music/Thorton School of Music — Crossing Open Ground at Elysian Park, Griffith Park;Sat.-Sun., April 18-19, 6 pm, $20. Crossing Open Ground.
Parsons Dance — 40th Anniversary Season at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat. April 18, 7:30 pm, Sun., April 19, 2 pm, $52-$99. Parsons Dance.
Nickerson-Rossi Dance — The Dance Platform Gala at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Dr., Palm Springs; Sat., April 18, 2 pm, $25. Nickerson-Rossi Dance.
MashUP Contemporary Dance — Choreography Open Mic Night at the Pickle Factory, 2926 Gilroy St., Frogtown; Sat., April 18, 8 pm, $15. Choreography Open Mic Night.
Japanese Dance — Cherry Blossom Festival at Shoseian ‘Whispering Pine’ Teahouse, Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale; Sun., April 19, 10 am – 3 pm, free (tea service $25 with reservation, call 310-849-5432). Cherry Blossom Festival.