A Greek classic moves in West L.A., two-stepping downtown, performance installation in a Westwood museum, among the SoCal dance this week.
3. Dance al fresco
Warm summer nights mean it’s time to dance under the stars with Dance DTLA. From now until September, the series, actually two different series, affords different ways to move on alternating Friday nights. Dance Downtown offers free beginner dance lessons at 7 p.m. followed by a chance to dance or to just watch and enjoy until 11 p.m. Alternate Fridays take on a more contemporary flavor with DJ Nights starting at 9 p.m. This Friday Dance Downtown spotlights line dancing and the two-step with future weeks devoted on salsa, disco, Bollywood and the eclectic 90’s Night. With the Music Center Plaza closed off for renovation, the action moves to nearby Grand Park. Specific locations each week and a complete schedule of dance styles for Dance Downtown and DJs curating DJ Nights are at http://www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., July 6, 7 p.m., free. http://www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla.
2. Institutional critique
One of only two dance artists in the Hammer’s “Made in L.A. 2018,” taisha paggett has both an installation and a performance component. She describes her work as “durational actions” that raise issues of how institutions represent and sometimes distort matters of race and history. Paggett intends to raise those issues by moving black and brown dancers in a series of solos and duets within the museum’s galleries over four hours in this event and again in September. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sun., July 8, noon to 4 p.m., Sat., Sept. 1, noon to 4 p.m., free. 310-443-7000. https://hammer.ucla.edu.
1. When enough is enough
The latest 21st century exploration of classical plays involving movement mavens Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble considers another Greek classic in Lysistrata Unbound. Considered a comedy, Aristophanes’ original considers what would occur if Greek women withheld sex to protest the ongoing war with Sparta. Choreographer John Farmanesh is also directing with assistant choreographers Alina Bolshakova, Jones Welsh Talmage and the Not Man Apart company. See website for additional stray performances, special wine nights and other events. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8, p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., thru Sat., Aug. 4, $32-$37, $25 seniors, $22 under 30, $17 students. http://www.odysseytheatre.com.
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