SoCal ballet company debuts with the LA Phil in the Hollywood Hills, dynamic Philadelphia ballet troupe brings contemporary ballet to Orange; Mexican folkloric dancers join mariachi ensembles in Hollywood; Aztec dance illustrates a Greek tragedy in Malibu; more SoCal dance this week, a peek at next week, plus dance news of note.
Live Performance This Week (ending September 10)
Al fresco debut
With a choreography commission from the LA Phil, the Los Angeles Ballet makes its Hollywood Bowl debut with the orchestra. In 2021, the LA Phil commissioned and premiered composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, and this year commissioned LAB artistic director Melissa Barak to choreograph the exuberant 7-½ minutes of music. LAB also dances and choreographer George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, his ballet tribute to Hollywood. With the giant video screens, even the seats highest up can see the dancing. The program also includes three orchestral works without dancing. Full program details at website. The Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood; Tues., Sept. 8, 8 pm, $12-$178. Los Angeles Ballet.
Los Angeles Ballet. Photo by Cheryl Mann Productions.
X marks the spot
Based in Philadelphia, Ballet X visits with its dynamic dancers and distinctive brand of contemporary ballet. The company is distinguished by its curated programs reflecting some of the best contemporary choreography to be found and with a troupe of dancers to do the moves justice. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Fri., Sept. 4, 7:30 pm, $38-$58. Ballet X.
Ballet X. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Mariachi meets folklorico
The vibrant dancers of Ballet Folklorico Ollin join three of LA’s women-led mariachi ensembles for ¡Viva La Tradición! The three mariachi groups are Las Colibri, Mariachi Las Catrinas and Grupo Bella, the latter led by Grammy-winning vocalist and composer Vanessa Ramirez. At the Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Sept. 5, 8 pm, $56-$113. The Ford Theater.
Ballet Folklorico Ollín. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Emperors will be emperors
Exploring parallels between classical Greece and pre-Hispanic Mexico, LA’s Latino Theater Company reimagines and adapts Sophocles’ Antigone, using dance to bring onstage the battles and other important actions that usually are offstage and only described. Set in the Getty Villa’s replica Greek amphitheater, Antigone: The Language of Kings employs subtitles as the actors move among English, Spanish, and the Aztec language Nahuatl to tell the timeless tale of someone caught between a new emperor’s decree to leave a vanquished rival unburied and Antigone’s family and religious duty to observe burial rituals despite the penalty of her own death. And complicating matters, the emperor is Antigone’s uncle and the unburied body is her brother. The annual fall amphitheater events have a history of adventurous presentations of classical theater that capture the past and resound with today. Getty Villa Amphitheater, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; opens Sept. 10, 8 pm, then Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, to Sat., Oct. 3. $30-$45. Antigone: In the Language of Kings.
Latino Theater Company’s “Antigone”. Photo courtesy of the artists.
It’s a ten
Ten performers, frequently including dancers, each with ten minutes to win over the audience. It’s the long-running, mostly monthly, ever-changing first Monday series Max 10. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., Sept. 7, 7:30 pm, $10. Max 10.
A Peek at Next Week (September 11-17)
SoCal Ballet Scene – Annual Ballet Festival at Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., Sept. 12, 7 pm, $45-$85. SoCal Ballet Scene.
Mixed E-Motion Theatrix – Gatsby Redux at Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista, Beverly Hills; Wed.-Fri., Sept. 16-18, 6 pm, $35. Great Gatsby.
Mixed eMotion Theatrix “Gatsby Redux.” Photo by Barry Weiss
Mixed eMotion Theatrix “Gatsby Redux.” Photo by Barry Weiss.
Sandhi ft. Rukhmani Mehta – Kathak Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Sun., Sept. 13, 4 pm, $12-$35. Sandhi ft. Rukhamani Mehta.
Ballet of Lights at the BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Sun., Sept. 13, Sun., Oct. 4, 4 & 6 pm, $43-$69. Ballet of Lights.
SoCal Dance News of Note
Performance Opportunity & Application Deadline – The deadline is October 1 to apply to be part of the Brand Associates Dance Series 2027 at Glendale’s Brand Library & Art Center. Presented by the Library Associates and curated under the experienced eye of producer/choreographer/teacher Jamie Nichols, the series annually presents four or five companies with at least five years’ experience performing site specific works in non-traditional spaces around this picturesque library nestled in the Glendale foothills. Application and info at Application-Brand Dance Series.
Feature image: Ballet X. Photo by Candice L. Detore.
Ann Haskins’ Blog appears at CulturalDaily.com
