A tap master in Hollywood, folkloric from a female view in Cahuenga Pass, participatory dance in West L.A., a modern dance legend in Costa Mesa, a delightfully mixed up dance festival returns in Santa Monica and more this week in SoCal dance.
5. Lenny gets another birthday tribute
Two new works debut at Summer Premieres from American Contemporary Ballet and choreographer Lincoln Jones. Just in time for the Leonard Bernstein centennial celebrations, the first new dance is set to Bernstein’s exuberant Candide Overture. The second new work takes on Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. ACB Studios, The Bloc, 700 S. Flower St., Ste. 3200, downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 9-11, 8 p.m., Sun., Aug. 12, 4 p.m., $40-105. https://www.acbdances.com.
4. Tapping into Cole Porter
Tap master Savion Glover joins jazz singer Gregory Porter and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza in an evening celebrating the music of Cole Porter. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; Wed., Aug. 15, 8 p.m., $12-$142. http://hollywoodbowl.com.
3. Folkloric from a female perspective
In La Mujer Mexicana (the Mexican woman), Pacifico Dance Company explores Mexican history as seen through female eyes, including the female warriors who fought alongside male soldiers in the Mexican Revolution. The dancers get live music from Mariachi Los Toros. Ford Theatres, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Aug. 11, 8:30 p.m., $38-$56, $32-$46 students w/i.d., $24-$34 children. 323-461-3673, http://fordtheatres.org.
2. Mix and Matching it up
Now in its 12th year, the Mix Match Festival always delivers what it promises, a swirl of hip hop, ballet, tap, modern, tribal, contemporary, jazz, belly & other dance from SoCal and U.S. choreographers. Each of the four shows boasts a different roster with troupes performing in multiple shows but often lined up with different companies and in a different order. Too many to list here, but a complete line up is at host company Hart Pulse Dance’s website www.HartPulseDance.com. The Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 9-11, 7:30 p.m., Sun., Aug. 12, 2 p.m., $17. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3556500.
1. What becomes a legend more than another legend?
Regarded by many as “the” ballerina of this generation, Natalia Osipova starred at Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet before moving to international stardom, guesting with American Ballet Theater and currently the reigning ballerina at Britain’s Royal Ballet. In Isadora, Osipova steps away from classical ballet tutus and into the world of Greek tunics favored by modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan. Osipova is no stranger to contemporary movement, her versatility has become legendary. The choreographer Vladimir Varnava is a rising star in Russia gaining his own international reputation. True, the drive to Orange County for Isadora’s world premiere is daunting, but the alternative is heading to Moscow in September, the only other scheduled performances for what is a significant event. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Fri., Aug 10, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Aug. 11, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Aug. 12, 1 p.m., $29-$169. https://www.scfta.org.
Other dance of note:
Warm summer nights mean it is 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 disco with the final sessions devoted to Bollywood (Aug. 24) and the eclectic 90’s Night (Sept. 7). 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 at http://www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Aug. 10, 7 p.m., free. http://www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla.
The West Coast opening of Letters to Dance is part of a world-wide free, interactive project where workshop participants can share their love and memories of dance in their everyday lives and help turn their participation into a performance. Launched in workshops led by German choreographers deufert&plischke this iteration offers three opportunities to join in plus a communal final performance with a live musician for participants and invited friends and family. More info and workshop reservations (required) at http://OdysseyTheatre.com. Odyssey Theatre, 2955 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A., Sat., Aug. 11, 1-4 p.m., Mon., Aug. 13, 7-10 p.m. (this one open to observation only), Sun., Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., final event Sat., Aug 25, 5 p.m., free with reservation. 310-477-2055 ext. 2, http://www.OdysseyTheatre.com.
Sizzling tango to match the sizzling temperatures takes the stage in #Tango with tango dancers Claudio Otero and Lauren Woods plus breakdancer turned tango dancer Stella Fernandez. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica, Fri.-Sat., Aug. 10-11, 8:30 p.m., $25. http://www.Highwaysperformance.org.
At this week’s JAM session, Cuban choreographer Kati Hernandez invites participants to learn high energy dance from the Afro-Cuban diaspora. Free, but reservations advised. Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Mon., Aug. 13, 7 p.m., free. 323-461-3673, http://fordtheatres.org.
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