Dance festivals bloom in Lincoln Heights, West LA, and Hollywood; al fresco around-town dancing moves to a Hollywood cemetery, a downtown plaza, and a Mid-City museum; a New York visitor brings ballet downtown; locavore ballet blossoms in University Park and downtown; taiko choreography has the beat in Santa Monica; art and dance downtown; more SoCal dance performance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live this Week (thru June 25, 2026)
Stepping into an underground past
Choreographer Bernard and his bbmoves amplify the ongoing exhibition SISSIES: Something Perfect Between Ourselves, underscoring LA’s legacy of Black Queer parties and clubs that created a vital, underground cultural ecosystem. The dancers’ movements extend the immersive exhibition’s elements of film, fashion, and sound to capture that environment of the past like a living time capsule. At Pieter Performance Space, 2701 N. Broadway, Downtown LA; Fri.-Sun., June 19-21 (exhibition 1-5 pm w/appointment, performance 8:30 pm), $30-$45. SISSIES.
Exhibition articulation
Dancer/choreographer Bernard Brown is a busy man, with his own work Sissies the prior weekend, mid-week he joins singers Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Imani Archer. The trio bring movement and vocal dimensions to the exploration of black grief in Harmony Holiday’s current exhibition Spectacular Brooding: D’Angelo Elegies. A conversation about public and private loss follows. At REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown LA; Wed., June 24, 7 pm, $5+$2 fee. REDCAT.
Big Apple ballet
The venerated New York City Ballet makes a rare visit with two mixed bill programs with a bit of the George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins works that built the company’s reputation and a large dose of newer works reflecting its current directions. Program A (Wed.-Fri.) has Jerome Robbins’s A Suite of Dances set to J.S. Bach and danced by Roman Mejia, Gianna Reisen’s Signs set to Philip Glass, Red Angels by Ulysses Dove to music by Richard Einhorn, and Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing with music by Dan Deacon. Program B (next Sat.-Sun) offers two works by George Balanchine, plus one from Christopher Wheeldon and one from Tiler Peck. Justin Peck employs Dan Deacon’s 2012 album while most of the other works involve solo musicians, playing live. Compete program details and some casting at the website. At the Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Wed.-Fri., June 24-26, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., June 27-28, 2 & 7:30 pm, $55-$204. New York City Ballet.
En plein aire
Last June, Paris saw four days of outdoor dance performances that toured the city, an effort led by Benjamin Millepied, French-born choreographer whose Paris Dance Project was behind the event. Now, his LA Dance Project brings an expanded edition to LA. After opening in Century City and Hancock Park, City of Dance runs through this weekend, touring al fresco sites from downtown to Santa Monica. Set to Philip Glass’ score for Koyaanisqatsi, choreography is provided by Dmitri Chamblas, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, Madeline Hollander, and Millepied. The closing performance at LACMA includes accessibility services (ASL interpretation and live audio description). LA is used to being an outdoor sound stage for film and tv, why not for dance? At Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood on Wed., June 17, 7 pm, free. Also at Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. N. Grand Ave., DowntownLA on Thurs., June 18, 5 pm, free. Also at Hollyhock House, Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood on Sat., June 20, 11 am, free. Also at LA County Museum of Art, Plaza near Geffen Galleries, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-City on Sun., June 21, 3 pm, free. LA Dance Project-City of Dance.
Down to the wire
Last week, The Realm offered a sneak preview in Santa Monica of artistic director Chasen Greenwood’s Wires & Whispers. This week the contemporary chamber ballet company moves downtown for the official premiere of its newest work juxtaposing ghosts and an unstable reality, set to an original score by Taylor Briggs. The program also includes choreographer Bruce McCormick’s Crow Sky commissioned for the company. At Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, USC, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Sat., June 20 & 27, 7 pm, Sun., June 21 & 28, 4:30 pm, $65 The Realm-performances.
Ballet bites
Excerpts from various ballets by George Balanchine are assembled by American Contemporary Ballet under the banner Spectacular Balanchine. Listed items on this terpsichorean tasting menu include Union Jack, Western Symphony, Who Cares?, and Stars and Stripes. At American Contemporary Ballet, 333 S. Hope St., CO 150, Downtown LA; Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Sat., June 20, $65-$105. American Contemporary Ballet.
Odyssey Dance Festival #1
Curated by co-founder Barbara Müller-Wittmann, the summer season of Dance at the Odyssey returns with three weeks of contemporary and experimental dance. Opening the series, the compelling Kybele Dance Theater led by artistic director Seda Aybay brings works under the banner Reminiscence, exploring family dynamics and the world premiere of Anima. At the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., June 20, 8 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
Odyssey Dance Festival #2
At last summer’s Dance at the Odyssey Festival, Kate Myers danced in Annie Kahane’s Four Seasons of Hamadan. This summer, Myers returns to the festival, this time as a choreographer, bringing the world premiere of her Vestibule, considering possible feminist futures at the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sun., June 21, 2 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
Odyssey Dance Festival #3
Exploring themes that resonate in the increasingly K-shaped economy, Dance at the Odyssey Summer Edition brings Lincoln Seymour and Emma Shane in a shared concert. In her world premiere, Return to Instructions, Shane explores and questions the realities of power, obedience, and expectation. In Rat Race, Seymour captures relentless worker wear and tear fueling corporate power and greed. Seymour returns on Friday, June 26, in a split bill with Lineage MVMT. At the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs., June 25, 8 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
LA Dance Festival week #1
Hosted by Deborah Brockus and her contemporary company BrockusRED, LA Dance Festival‘s Summer Solstice Series opens for two weekends. Under the banner Experience Inside, Thursday’s quartet offers structurally immersive and Butoh performances with Corin Wiggins, Jayden Spiegel, Charlotte Katherine Smith, and the host company. The focus shifts to contemporary dance as Thursday brings more from Smith, plus Marissa Mahoney, Santiago Rivera, Nia Mason, Maria Ewald, Erika Alexx, and Bruno Gill. Saturday’s line up includes Makenna Tondro, José Argueta, Emilio Castellon, Deborah Brockus, plus Rivera, Gill, and Smith. Sunday brings Marissa Mahoney, Nia Mason, Waeli Wang, Jill Collins, Rebecca Lee & Denali Huff, José Argueta, Carter, Sean Greene, Alondrea Perez. Information on workshops, classes, and next week’s line up at the website. Brockus Project Studios, 618B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Thurs., June 18, 8 pm, Fri., June 19, 8:30 pm, Sat., June 20 & 27, 8 pm, Sun., June 21 & 28, 6:30 pm, $20 Zelle 56-412-7429 or Venmo @brockusProjectStudios or cash at door.
Hollywood Fringe Festival #1
In her solo dance theatre piece Split, Between Two Nervous Systems, Dimple Kaur explores migration, women, the cost of staying strong, and those who have had to reinvent themselves. At the Hudson Main Stage, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., June 20, 4:30 pm, $20. Dimple Kaur.
Hollywood Fringe Festival #2
Performer Damaris Perez offers multiple opportunities to view her solo performance, Dance Show. At LA City College, Caminito Theater, 855 N. Vermont Ave., East Hollywood; Thurs., June 18, 8 pm, Tues.-Wed., June 23-24, 7 pm, free. Damaris Perez.
Hollywood Fringe Festival #3
Burlesque & Chill – The Little Mermaid at Cat’s Crawl, 660 N. Heliotrope Dr., East Hollywood; Sat., June 20, 7 pm, Sun., June 21, 1 pm, $35-$60. Burlesque & Chill.
Come one, come all
Expect a spectrum of dance styles as LA Unbound returns with an eclectic mix of jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary, musical theater, ballet, and heels! At the Mainstage Theatre, Glendale Community College, 1601 E. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., June 20, 4 & 7:30 pm, $20-$30 (plus fees) Unbound.
Moving with the beat
Under the banner Rhythmic Relations, the exuberant drummers and movers of Taiko Project are joined by sister taiko groups Bombu Taiko and Kitsune Taiko. The program follows up last summer’s 25th anniversary show with new works and updated arrangements of favorites. At the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sat., June 20, 5 pm, $26.50-$36.50. Taiko Project.
Sign of summer
Watch or join in as the Friday night summer series Dance DTLA returns. The opening includes a 5 pm pre-show ¡DALE! Fútbol Watch Party with the Spain vs. Uruguay game, streamed live on giant LED screens. Aptly, the evening’s dance style is dubbed Global Mix. Complete list of upcoming dance genres at the website. At the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Fri., June 24, July 10, 17, 24 & 31, Aug. 7 & 14, 7-11pm, free. Dance DTLA.
Another sign of summer
Part public performance, part participatory dance party, and free! — the outdoor Tuesday Night Dance series hosts two Tuesdays devoted to line dance. See the website for dance styles coming up on Tuesdays thru Aug. 25. Line Dance Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Tues., June 23 & 30, 6:30 pm. free. Tuesday Night Dance.
Moving along
Dancers and other performers are invited to join LACMA x Jeffrey Deitch – The Art Parade. Watch the procession dance along Wilshire Blvd, celebrating the opening of the significant museum remodel and new David Geffen Galleries. LA County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park; Sat., June 20, 6 pm, free. The Art Parade.
Pairing Pärt
In Eternity, the acrobatic theatre company Circa pairs cirque with the music of Arvo Pärt. As of press time, performances are sold out. No wait list info was available. At the Judy Morr Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Thurs.-Fri., Jun 18-19, 7 pm, Sat., June 20, 3 & 7 pm, $54. Eternity.
A Peek at Next Week (June 26 to July 2)
Heidi Duckler Dance — Ebb & Flow: Scorched at Vista Hermosa Natural Park, 1234 Colton St, Echo Park; Sat., June 28, 2 pm, free w/reservation at Heidi Duckler Dance.
Keith Johnson/Dancers -—SERIES: Guns at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., June 26-27, 8 pm, $25, $20 students/seniors. Keith Johnson/Dancers.
Butch Ballet at Outside In Theater, 1517 York Blvd., Highland Park; Fri.-Sat., Mon.-Tues., June 26-27, 29-30, 8 pm, Sun., June 28, 3 pm., $30, $15 students/seniors. Butch Ballet.
Shriya Kashyap — Shri, the goddess of grace and beauty at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., June 27, 6 pm, by invitation at rangolidancecompany@gmail.com.
DaEun Jung at Grand Performances, California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Fri., June 26, 6-9 pm, free w/reservation at Grand Performances-Cola Artists.
The Great Clown Bank Show at the Open Fist Theater Company @ the Atwater Village Theater, 3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village; opens Sat., June 27, 8 pm, then Fri., 9 pm, Sat., 8 pm (except Sat., July 4, 5 pm), Sun., 7 pm, thru Sat., Aug. 1, $35.25, $31.25 seniors, $22.25 students. The Great Clown Bank Show.
Lineage MVMT and Lincoln Seymour — Dance at the Odyssey Summer Edition at the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri., June 26, 8 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
Donofrio Dance Collective and Ricky Medina — Dance at the the Odyssey Summer Edition at the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Sat., June 27, 8 pm, Sun., June 28, 2 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
Maggie Ogle — Dance at the Odyssey Summer Edition at the Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Thurs., July 2, 8 pm, $25 ($3 credit card fee). Dance at the Odyssey.
LA Dance Festival — week #2 At Brockus Project Studios, 618B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat., June 27, 8 pm, Sun., June 28, 6:30 pm, $20 Zelle 56-412-7429 or Venmo @brockusProjectStudios or cash at door.