Devilish dance for the season in Hollywood and Beverly/Fairfax; a contemporary return from reflective hiatus in Cheviot Hills; site-specific excursions in Culver City and Pasadena; new choreography nurtured in the Arts District; ballet with Russian roots in Santa Barbara; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.

Live This Week (through October 31, 2024)

Heating up

After a period of reflection and a pause in performing, L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) returns from that hiatus with where the water is warm. The program boasts world premieres from Mario Glez, Myles Lavalee, Spenser Theberge, and LACDC artistic director Jamila Glass. The four are LA-based or Spanish-based choreographers. Gloria Kaufman Performing Arts Center, 3200 Motor Ave., Cheviot Hills; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 25-26, 7:30 pm, $25-$65. where the water is warm.

Taking off

Presented by LA Dance Project, Launch: LA 4 showcases new work by Kevin Zambrano, Julia Eichten, Charissa Kroeger, and Evan Sagadencky. The dances are the product of LADP’s residency program that provided each choreographer with rehearsal space, monetary support, and production resources to create new dance for these premieres. LA Dance Project, 3325 E. Washington Blvd., Arts District; Fri., Oct. 25, 8 pm, Sat., Oct. 26 2 & 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 27, 6 pm, $25, $20 seniors & students. LA Dance Project.

And then they were 30

Joined by the Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet opens its 30th season with Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Stravinsky’s The Firebird. Autumn Eckman and William Soleau choreographed. Top tickets include cocktails and a 3-course dinner. Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Oct. 26, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 27, 2 pm, $35-$125. Granada Theatre.

Time travel

Venture back from the 1950’s to 1999 as the dancers and storytellers of Lineage Dance unveil a site-specific performance series at the historic Pasadena edifice known as the Gamble House. In A Matter of Time, the audience follows the dancers through the house, as each room tells a tale of that era’s important cultural, political and historical events. The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Pl., Pasadena; Thurs., Oct. 24, Sat.- Sun., Oct. 26-27, Wed., Oct. 30, Fri.-Sun., Nov. 1-3, 7 pm, $75, $45 students & seniors. Lineage Dance.

Schindler’s Stone House

The site-specific performance Set in Stone from Heidi Duckler Dance was created in response to the architectural legacy of cantilevered stone that distinguishes the historic Schindler House. Always a welcome opportunity to enjoy the environs and marvel at Schindler’s creativity and enjoy HDD’s embrace of the particular performance site. MAK Center, 835 Kings Rd., West Hollywood; Thurs., Oct. 24, 6 pm, $20. Heidi Duckler Dance.

Nightclub with museum preview

The selection of a nightclub as the venue to host three Tuesday previews of the Performing Arts Museum suggests the eclectic nature of the new museum opening next year. Under the banner 21 & Over, the previews sample the dance, art, music, opera, nightlife, and rave culture the museum will showcase. The line up this final show includes Rocío Boliver (La Congelada de Uva), Nao Bustamante, Patrisse Cullors, Hugo Hopping, and Keioui Keijaun Thomas, with host Dynasty Handbag. Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., Arlington Heights; Tues., Oct. 29, 8 pm-12 am, $38.27. Tickets.

Seasonal spooky #1

For the Halloween season, American Contemporary Ballet puts three of artistic director Lincoln Jones’ ballets in rotation, two each 90-minute show. Inferno rifts on Dante’s poem, Rite takes on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, and Burlesque is just that. Which shows are which night are at the website. The audience on Halloween is invited to come in costume. These performances also mark ACB’s move to a new venue. CBS Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Beverly-Fairfax; Fri.-Sat., 25-26, Thurs., Oct. 24 & 31, 8 pm, $65-$140. ACB.

Seasonal spooky #2

The Devil made them do it in Blood/Love: A Vampire Popera. The immersive rock musical is in residence this month at the aptly named Crimson, a Hollywood pop up gothic nightclub. Running through November 2, the vampire-meets-rock-star event injects a devilish romance into the spooky season. The Crimson, 6356 Hollywood Blvd., First Floor, Hollywood; Thurs.-Sat., thru Sat., Wed.-Sat, Oct. 23-Nov. 2, 7 & 9:30 pm, $59-$119. Blood/Love.

Back on the Beach

The granddaddy of all the cirques, Cirque du Soleil, returns with its signature tent and the show Kooza, brimming with acrobats and clowns. The two month run offers lots of time to catch the show, maybe more than once? Under the Big Top at Santa Monica Pier, 1550 Pacific Coast Hwy., thru Sun., Jan. 5, $58-$344. Details on the many dates and times at the website. Cirque du Soleil.

Teasing

The title says it all: The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody. The show returns after its 2022 run at this venue. The Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri., 7 pm, Sat., 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun., 4 pm, thru Dec. 1. $44-$109. The Empire Strips Back.

A Peek at Next Week (November 1-7)

New Original Works (NOW) Fest — Bernard Brown, Meena Murugesan at REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs., Nov. 7-9, 8:30 pm, $25, $20 students. REDCAT.

Heidi Duckler Dance — What Remains Un/Seen at Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Nov. 2, 4-8 pm, free w/reservation ($20 donation suggested) at Heidi Duckler.

Luminario Ballet — LedZAerial Symphony at the Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Sun., Nov. 3, show 8 pm, $40-$125, pre-show gala 5:30 pm $400-$600. Eventbrite.

Vanessa Hernández Cruz — Void Decryption ERROR at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 1-2, 7:30 pm, $25, $20 students. Highways.

Work in Progress/LA — Marissa Brown and Daria Kaufman. G-Son Studios, 3218 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village (enter through the alley); Mon., Nov. 4, 7:30 pm, $15. WIP/LA.

Mummenschanz — 50 Years at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Nov. 2, 3 pm, $43-$95. The Soraya.

Max 10 at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Nov. 4, 7:30 pm, $10. Electric Lodge.

High Voltage — World Music & Dance at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., Nov. 1, 8 pm, $10 pre-sale, $15 at door. High Voltage.

LA Opera — Romeo & Juliet at the Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Nov. 2 & 23, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 10 & 17, 2 pm, Thurs. Nov. 14 & Wed., Nov. 20, 7:30 pm, $33.50-$400. LA Opera.

East West Players — Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures at David Henry Hwang Theater in the Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Little Tokyo; opens Thurs., Nov. 7, 8 pm, then Thurs, Fri. & Mon, 8 pm, Sat. 2 & 8 pm, Sun. 5 pm, thru Dec. 1. $15-$74. East West Players.