Cranes fly into Santa Monica, a choreography carnival moves downtown, flamenco marks an anniversary in Echo Park, a genius heads to Long Beach, a contemporary dance fest continues in West L.A., celebrated L.A. dance troupe brings it in Beverly Hills, and more SoCal dance this week.
5. Trafficking to OC
The inventive L.A. contemporary troupe BODYTRAFFIC offers a sampling of its repertoire in this performance in Orange County before heading out on a tour of California and Italy. Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs., Jan. 30, 8 p.m., $24-$100. https://www.thebarclay.org/buy-tickets/bodytraffic.html.
4. Festival Week 4 by four
Week 4 of the Dance at the Odyssey Festival also launches LA Contempoary Dance Company‘s 15th anniversary season. For the occasion, this LA-based repertory company commissioned new works from Roya Carreras, Alice Klock, Roderick George and WHYTEBERG who tackle topics ranging from vintage video game characters to motherhood, the cycles in nature to identity. More about LACDC at https://www.lacontemporarydance.org//. The closing weekend is Victoria Marks (Feb. 7-9). Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; Wed.-Fri., Jan. 29-31, 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 1, 5 p.m., $15-$25. http://odysseytheatre.com/.
3. Festival week 3 by 2
A bastion for live theater for four decades, over the past four years the Odyssey Theatre also has extended a welcome mat for dance with Dance at the Odyssey, presenting five weeks of LA-based, mostly contemporary dance companies. Week 3 of the Dance at the Odyssey Festival is a shared concert with Capezio award-winning choreographers Jordan Johnson and Aidan Carberry’s JA Collective unveiling Wrenz Kaloogy. Sharing the program is Slauson Rec bringing choreography by Scott Felix, Diana Valencia and Dominick Peterson with another new work Principium. Later in the week, it’s LA Contemporary Dance Company (Jan. 30-Feb. 2), and the closing weekend is Victoria Marks (Feb. 7-9). Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 24-25, 8 p.m., Sun., Jan. 26, 5 p.m., $15-$25. http://odysseytheatre.com/.
2. Lots of Love
With a focus on social and humanitarian issues, particularly from an African-American perspective, Lula Washington Dance Theatre has been a popular and significant force on the L.A. dance scene for more than 40 years. Continuing its laudable presentation of significant L.A.-based dance companies, this venue hosts the world premiere of To Lula with Love by Christopher Huggins and A Testimony by Tommie Waheed Evans. Both choreographers are LWDT alumni. The program also includes excerpts from Washington’s Fragments, Esie Mensah’s Zayo, and hip hop pioneer Rennie Harris’ Reign. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., $29-$79. https://thewallis.org/.
1. Kyle Abraham at Long Beach Carpenter
In just the last few years, contemporary choreographer Kyle Abraham has picked up a MacArthur “genius” award, received stunning reviews for his 2018 ballet for New York City Ballet (his first ballet and NYCB’s first work by an African American choreographer in a decade), been a visiting professor at UCLA, and created works for American Ballet Theater’s Misty Copeland and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater among other commissions. Such recent awards and adventures have brought to a wider public to Abraham’s distinctive, often sly, blending of hip hop and contemporary dance that began and continues with his own company A.I.M. (Abraham.In.Motion). The company plays a not to be missed visit this week. The three Abraham works include Drive (2017) drawing on house music, The Quiet Dance (2011) set to Bill Evans’ jazz rendition of Some Other Time, and a solo Show Pony (2018) which provides a homecoming for the L.A.-born soloist Marcella Lewis. The company also pays homage to modern dance legend Trisha Brown with her Solo Olos (1976). Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts. Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $55. http://carpenterarts.org.
Other dance of note:
Respected dancer Briseyda Zárate leads the first anniversary celebration of the series Flamenco Tablao. Loosely translated as a venue or the platform where flamenco is performed, Briseyda Zárate & Company have occupied the floor in what some consider among the most authentic flamenco forms. Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Echo Park; Sun., Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m., $30 & $40. https://www.bootlegtheater.org/.
It may not have entirely grown up but Choreographers Carnival turns 21. The long-running showcase for mostly contemporary dance celebrates with an event the organizers promise will be epic with more than 100 professional dancers and a Lifetime Achievement Award for choreographer Barry Lather. Must be over 21 years. Exchange LA, 618 S. Spring St., downtown; Jan. 29, 10:30 p.m. (doors open at 9 p.m.), $22.50. http://www.choreographerscarnival.com.
Anna Ialeggio and Robyn O’Dell explore trans-species connection in Crane and Man. Described as a devised experimental performance, the focus is on a crane protagonist’s long-term trans-species kinship with an ornithologist. Dance, theater, clowning and ecology come into play in the multi-media event. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri., Jan. 24, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students & seniors. https://highwaysperformance.org/event/crane-man/.
Since 1960, Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano has toured the world with dance and live music drawn from Mexico’s many distinctive regions. The ensemble opens the first of two local performances. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Thurs., Jan. 30, 8 p.m., $36-$79. https://www.thesoraya.org/calendar/details/ballet-folclorico-nacional-de-mexico. Also at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr., Cerritos; Sat., Feb. 1, 8 p.m., $50-$85. https://tickets.cerritoscenter.com/events.
In its 41st and latest endeavor Volta, Cirque Du Soleil spotlights bicycle street sports and acrobatics associated with the world of BMX including a full-blown BMX park for what is billed as a “breath-taking finale of non-stop acrobatics on wheels.” The action will fill the signature Big Top here before moving to Orange county. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave., Elysian Park; Tues. thru Sun., March 8, various dates, times & ticket pricess at https://cirk.me/VOLTA. Orange County Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa; Wed., March 18 to Sun., April 19, various dates, times & ticket prices at https://cirk.me/VOLTA.
Entertaining cirque troupes seems to be a major Canadian export. This week, Montreal’s Cirque Éloize arrives with a family friendly romp called Hotel. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., Sun., Jan. 26, 3 p.m., $36-$65. https://www.thesoraya.org/calendar/details/cirque-eloize.