Percussive tap al fresco in the Hollywood Hills; seasonal instruments dance in Venice; ballet preview in Mar Vista; percussion versus dancer rematch in the Arts District; Canadian cirque comes to downtown; Mexican culture celebrated in Orange; Trojan War moves in Malibu; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
Lucky 7
The Canadian force of nature known in English (and French) as The 7 Fingers (Les 7 doights de la main) blends dance with acrobatics, along with lots of humor. Visits in recent years solidly established the troupe’s appeal and distinctive identity, far more impressive than its usual comparison to the bigger tent Cirque du Soleil. Yes, there is cirque, but so much more, especially more dance. The troupe brings all their powers to Duel Reality opening for a two week run on a Music Center main stage. Ahmanson Theatre, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Wed. Sept. 11, 8 pm, then Thurs.-Fri., Sept. 12-13 & 19-20, 8 pm, Sat., Sept. 14 & 21, 2 & 8, pm, Sun., Sept. 15, 1 & 6:30 pm, Sun., Sept. 22, 1 pm, $25-$125, Center Theatre Group.
Tip top tap
Arguably the reigning tap dance queen, Michelle Dorrrance brings an entourage of equally stellar tap mistresses to this al fresco venue in the Hollywood Hills. Dorrance’s MacArthur ‘genius’ Award drew wider attention to her abilities, influence, and collaborative tap ventures such as this. For Michelle Dorrance & Friends, announced friends include Jillian Meyers, Josette Wiggan, and special guests Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies. Several are familiar feet on local stages, yet never before gathered like this to show their individual and collective powers. The Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Fri., Sept. 6, 8 pm, $25-$40. The Ford.
Consider the possibilities
Explore the possibilities of two dancers with different blends of live music in Hatsu-kaze (First Autumn Breeze), this season’s installment from Bodyweather Laboratory. The first of two weekends titled Sparrows on the Road Join the Flock opens Friday with dancer/hosts Oguri and Roxanne Steinberg, with Alicia Byer on clarinet and Paul Chavez on digital and original instruments. On Saturday, Oguri and Steinberg are joined by saxophonist Patrick Shiroshi and percussionist Breeze Smith. On Sunday, the two dancers return with Vinny Golia on woodwinds, and Kozue Matsumoto on koto. Next week’s line up with different musicians is at the website. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 6-7 & 13-14, 8 pm, Sun., Sept. 8 & 15, 3 pm, free w/reservation at Eventbrite.
Together again
Dancer/choreographer Jobel Medina engages with multi-media artist Elliott “L” Sellers in IMMDED IMMGEWD. This 50-minute work expands an earlier ‘conversation’ between Medina’s intense movement and Sellers’ percussion and cello. That initial encounter was so promising, this venue provided a platform for more of this inventive partnership. LA Dance Project, 2245 E Washington Blvd., Arts District; Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 5-7, 8 pm, $26-$35. Tickets.
Dancing with Greeks
This summer’s Getty Villa theater offering is a world premiere considering possibly the least known hero of the Trojan War. Tiffany Rea-Fisher provides the choreography for Classical Theater of Harlem’s Memnon, written by Will Power and directed by Carl Cofield. And no, Memnon is not a nickname for Agamemnon, a much better known and completely different fellow. These excellent late summer theatrical excursions provide a special experience, live and in an outdoor amphitheater, just as the Greeks intended. Getty Villa outdoor theater, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 5-28, 8 pm, $45 (Thurs.), $50 (Fri.), $55 (Sat.), $40 students & seniors (Thurs. only). Getty.
Pointy preview
Later this month, The Realm Company performs as part of a showcase of SoCal ballet, but this week the company offers a Preview Rehearsal of choreographer/director Chasen Greenwood’s latest. The evening also includes a live performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles. Grace Ballet, 12952 W. Washington Blvd., Mar Vista; Thurs., Sept. 5, 7 pm, The Realm Company.
In residence
Performances by artists m and Ryan O’Byrne culminate their WeHo residencies in Dust to Dust: Pieter/WeHo AiR Showcase. Plummer Park, Great Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; Sat., Sept. 7, 7 pm, free w/reservation at Pieter.
Aztec to folkloric
Celebrating the history and culture of our southern neighbor, Heartbeat of Mexico features dance and music groups including Aztec dance from Kalpulli Hueyatl Wanawna and Mexican folkloric dance from Relámpago Del Cielo. Aitken Art Plaza, Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman College, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Sept. 8, noon to 7 pm, free w/registration at Musco Center for the Arts.
All electric
For the September edition of High Voltage, this mostly monthly event offers an eclectic blend of live performance including some hip hop this month. Timed to coincide with the First Friday on nearby Abbot Kinney Blvd., guests can check out the food truck and open galleries before heading to the show. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., Sept. 6, 8:30 pm, $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Electric Lodge.
A Peek at Next Week (September 13 to 19)
Brockus Presents — Women in Concrete at Plummer Park, Fiesta Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; Fri., Sept. 13, 7:30 pm, Sat., Sept. 14, 2:30 & 7:30 pm, $15 cash at door or Venmo @brockusprojectstudios (note day and time you are attending).
Entity Contemporary Dance — in honor of all the times I wasn’t myself at Stomping Ground LA, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Fri-Sat., Sept. 13-14, 8 pm. $30. Entity Contemporary Dance.
Benise — Fiesta! at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside; Fri., Sept. 14, 7:30 pm, $35-$96. Info & Tickets. Also at Fred Kvli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Fri., Sept. 20, 7:30 pm, $36-$115. Info & Tickets. Also at Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Sept. 21, 7:30 pm, $48.50-$101.50. Info & Tickets.
SoCal Ballet Scene — 2024 Ballet Festival at Carpenter Center, Cal State Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Sept. 14, 2 & 7 pm, $46.50-$66.50. SoCal Ballet Scene.
Los Angeles Indian Dance Fest 2024 at TAXCO Theater, 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park; Sat.-Sun., Sept. 14-15, 3:30 pm, free w/reservation at Eventbrite.
San Pedro ♥ Festival of the Arts 2024 at Peck Park, upper lawn next to the Community Center, 560 N Western Ave, San Pedro; Sat., Sept 21, 1-4:15 pm, free. San Pedro ♥ Festival of the Arts 2024.
Vanessa Sanchez & La Mezcla — Ghostly Labor at Bovard Auditorium, USC, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Thurs., Sept. 19, 7 pm, free w/reservation at Eventbrite.
Diablada Espectacular Zulemar de Bolivia at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Julianne and George Argyros Plaz, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Sept., 14, 3 pm, free. SCFTA.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Sept. 14, 7:30 pm, $44.07-$134.47. SCFTA.
World Ballet Company — Swan Lake at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., Sept. 19-20, 7 pm, $64-$110. The Barclay; Also at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Ave., Glendale; Sat., Sept. 21, 7 pm, $58-$123. Ticketmaster. Also at Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sun., Sept. 22, 7 pm, $57-$132. Tickets. Also at Fred Kavli Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sun., Sept. 25, 7 pm, $58-$143. Ticketmaster.
Dancing Through Parkinson’s (DTP) — Cartography of Hope: A Journey of Change at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Sat., Sept. 14, 7:30 pm, Sun., Sept. 15, 2 pm, $28.52, Highways Performance Space.
Azuma Kotobuki Kai — Memorial Tribute to Sensei Azura Sumako II at James Armstrong Theater, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sun., Sept. 15, 1 pm, limited ticket availability through email.