Jazz-fueled ballet in Northridge; fairy tale ballet in Hancock Park; swan ballet in Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, and Irvine; compelling contemporary in West LA and Downtown LA; French/North African urban dance in Beverly Hills; tap mastery in Downtown LA; Vietnamese dance in Sierra Madre; faculty dancemakers in Irvine and Downtown LA; a multi-discipline diarist with teddy bears in West LA; more SoCal dance this week, and a peek at next week.
Live This Week (thru February 26)
They fought back
The Grammy-winning, LA Phil-commissioned ballet score, Revolución diamantina (Glitter Revolution), is composer Gabriela Ortiz’ consideration of the 2019 feminist uprising confronting Mexico’s epidemic of violence against women. Now the work has choreography by Cassi Abranches and Rodrigo Pedermeiras created on the Brazilian contemporary company Grupo Corpo. The Brazilian dancers join Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil for the premiere. Four performances at Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 26-27, 8 pm, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 28-March 1, 2 pm, $84-$364.50. LA Phil.
Grupo Corpo. Photo courtesy of the artists
Self-helper
In her one-woman show, We Cook, talented Kyreeana Breelin Alexander dances, and much, much more. She taps with speed and clarity. With contemporary dance she displays impressive command of her body as she moves from hip hop to modern to jazz. Then her dance skills are woven into a diary-like narrative that she wrote with music that she composed. LA Dance Chronicle writer Leah Bass-Bayliss, who dubiously journeyed 40 miles for the debut concert, was rewarded by a widely accomplished, joyful talent, and drove home wanting to see more. That wish has been granted (with a shorter commute.) Read the full review at Review-We Cool. At UCLA Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Feb. 21, 8 pm, $38.08-$48.67. Kyreena Breelin Alexander.
Kyreena Breelin Alexander – Photo courtesy of the artist
From French streets
With its distinctive blend of urban street dance, Capoeira, polished contemporary movement, and an enormous swath of gold fabric that can create worlds, the French/North African Compagnie Hervé Koubi concludes the four-city California leg of its current U.S. tour. The calling card is the critically acclaimed Sol Invictus, described by the choreographer “as a celebration of hope in dark times that comes from antiquity, celebrating bonds that unite intertwined with the cycle of the seasons.” Read an interview with the co-founder at Compagnie Hervé Koubi. At the Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 7:30 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 pm, $42.90-$110.90. The Wallis.
Compagnie Hervé Koubi in “Sol Invictus” – Photo by Melanie Lhote.
Displaced dancing
An ousted princess, a jealous stepmom, seven newfound friends, and a prince prone to kissing–the Grimm’s fairy tale Snow White is the latest offering as the Grand Kyiv Ballet returns. Its laudable Nutcracker was a late entry at the end of December and this venue has brought the company back for another visit. Home to dancers with Ukrainian connections who sought US refuge after the Soviet Invasion, the company now tours from its base in Washington state to help fund rebuilding in Ukraine. At the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., Feb. 26, 7 pm, $49-$79. Tickets.
Grand Kyiv Ballet in Snow White. Photo courtesy of the artists
SF visitor
The welcome mat should always be out for the dazzling dancers of San Francisco’s Alonzo King LINES Ballet. The celebrated choreographer and the distinctive dancers of his eponymous contemporary ballet company are often at their best working with jazz music. This visit brings King’s Ode to Alice Coltrane with music from her 1971 album Journey in Satchidananda, along with The Beauty of Dissolving Portraits set to jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. At the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat. Feb. 21, 8 pm $46-$94. LINES Ballet.
Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
Swans a-flutter
The LA-based touring company World Ballet brings its Swan Lake to SoCal venues, including two with live orchestra. At Fred Kavli Theatre (with live orchestra), 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Wed., Feb. 19, 7 pm, $61.25 – $143.25. Swan Lake Fred Kavli Theatre. Also at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita; Fri., Feb. 20, 7 pm, $50-$115 (w/fees) Swan Lake — Santa Clarita. Also at Irvine Barclay Theatre (with live orchestra), UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tues.-Wed., Feb. 24-25, 7 pm, $91-146 (w/fees). Swan Lake-Irvine Barclay Theatre.
World Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artists
They dance and create
Any chance to enjoy the outstanding dancers of LA-based BODYTRAFFIC should be seized. For this rather intimate performance dubbed BT Creates, the contemporary company brings works by its dancers anchored by artistic partner Trey McIntyre’s homage to singer Sam Cooke. Baguette sandwiches and a cash bar greet early arrivals. At Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., West LA; Thurs., Feb. 26, 8 pm, $42.85. BODYTRAFFIC.
BODYTRAFFIC – photo courtesy of the artists
The feet have it
For the event Tap Fest: Listen to This, Colburn Tap fields a sterling line up of tap masters and musicians. Among the tappers, look for the alums from LA’s beloved Jazz Tap Ensemble, and JTE’s drummer/music director Jerry Kalaf fills those roles for this show. Announced dancers are Derick Grant, Sam Weber, Josette Wiggan, Johnnie Hobbs III, Melinda Sullivan, Joseph Wiggan, Colburn’s level V tap students, and Denise Scheerer, who does extra duty as Colburn tap chair and the show’s producer. At Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA; Sat., Feb. 21, 7 pm, $35. Colburn School Tap.
Sam Weber. Photo by Judith Francesconi
Reflective encore
Often focused on humanities’ concerns using dance and spoken word, Lineage Dance reprises Healing Blue, a thoughtful consideration of life after and while navigating a cancer diagnosis. At Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $33.42, $23.02 students/seniors. Lineage Dance-Healing Blue.
Lineage Dance. Photo by Steven Delas Heras.
Those who teach, also do
Choreography by the faculty of UCI Claire Trevor Department of Dance is showcased in Dance Visions 2026. Artistic directors Kelli Sharp and Linsay Gilmour assembled a program reflecting a range of contemporary and classical dance. UC Irvine, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 19-20, 8 pm, Sat., Feb. 21, 2 & 8 pm, $34, $30 seniors, $13 students. The Barclay.
UCI Dance Visions Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Dance Department
Incoming dance
The showcase Fresh Sesh offers choreography and dance from the fresh incoming class of USC Kaufman Dance. As of press time, the time and reservation link for the free show was not yet live on the website. At USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Thurs., Feb. 26, time ?, free with reservation USC Kaufman.
Vietnamese new year
Just in time for the Tết, SoCal-based Thuy Vân Dance brings traditional Vietnamese dance in a family-friendly program. At the Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., Feb. 22, 4 pm, $25. Thuy Vân Dance.
A Peek at Next Week (February 27 – March 5)
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company – Still/Here at UCLA, Royce Hall, 10756 Dickson Ct., Westwood; Thurs., March 5, 8 pm, $42-$64. Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company
Benita Bike’s DanceArt at Manhattan Beach Library, 1320 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach; Sat., Feb. 28 2 pm, free, limited seating. Benita Bike’s DanceArt
Will Rawls – Unmade at Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Feb. 28, noon to 4 pm, free. Hammer Museum
HomeLA – Marcella Lewis: Home Under One’s Skin at Historic Belmar Park, Pico Blvd. at 4th St., Santa Monica; Sat., Feb. 28, 3, 4, & 5 pm, free w/reservation at HomeLA
Marcella Lewis – Spectacle of Ritual – Photo by Sylvia Drav
Ballet Festival-Jerome Robbins at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Tues.-Wed., March 3 & 4, 7:30 pm, $75-$95. Ballet Festival-Jerome Robbins
Barcelona Flamenco Ballet – Carmen at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sun., March 1, 6 pm, $18-$108. Barcelona Flamenco Ballet
Red Bull Dance Your Style – Qualifier at Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St., Downtown LA: Fri., Feb. 27, 7 pm, $10 (spectator tix), Red Bull Dance Your Style-spectator & registration
USC Kaufman Dance – Spring Works in Progress at USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., University Park; Fri., Feb. 27, free w/reservation at USC Kaufman
Featured image: Grupo Corpo – photo courtesy of the artists
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com