A tap master tribute in Northridge, duo duel in Westwood, Etta James meets Ravel in Beverly Hills, scary season starts downtown, a centennial celebration in Santa Barbara, rising choreographers in the arts district, a peek at next week, and more SoCal dance this week.
Live This Week
Coming home
Launching an expanded 2023-2024 season, the contemporary company BODYTRAFFIC returns to this dance-friendly venue. Artistic director Tina F. Berkett and this company of technically versatile dancers know how to wow and satisfy an audience. That combination of skills has attracted name dancemakers to create on the company, this time with two world premieres, Patria Y Vida from Joan Rodriguez with live music and Fernando Hernando Magadan’s new work to Ravel’s Bolero. Not to be missed are Trey McIntyre’s Blue Until June set to Etta James songs and Micaela Taylor’s Snap with music by SHOCKEY and James Brown. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri-Sat., Oct. 6-7, $7:30 pm, $49-$79. The Wallis.
How he grew up
Once the prodigy tap dance kid, Savion Glover has grown into a master of the percussive art. In his latest, SoUNDz’ SaCRoSaNCt, Glover pays tribute to Gregory Hines, another tap legend and one of his mentors. With live music from a jazz combo, the show does homage to Glover’s tap lineage. Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 pm, $39-$109. The Soraya.
Survival?
Shinichi Iova-Koga and Dana Iova-Koga from the USA/Swiss-based experimental dance and theater company, inkBoat, are the movers in These Are the Ones We Fell Among. The hour-long duet from interdisciplinary artist Ann Carlson employs humor and a touch of Samuel Beckett to consider “elegance in the face of extinction.” UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat.-Sun., Oct. 7-8, 8 pm, $32. CAP UCLA.
Dualities
Opening its 2023-2024 season, American Contemporary Ballet brings two ballets from artistic director Lincoln Jones. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring provides the score for The Rite while Burlesque draws on music from several composers.The winter brings ACB’s Nutcracker Suite and spring promises ballets titled Jazz and Sapphires. ACB Studios, Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2850, downtown; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 6-7 & 27-28, Thurs.-Sat. Oct. 12-14 & 19-21, 8 pm. $100-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.
Centenary Celebration
Under the banner Graham 100, Martha Graham Dance Company starts a three year lead in to the company’s centenary. After last week’s season opener in Northridge, MGDC moves north this week to Santa Barbara for another show with a Graham work from 1915, a reworking of Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo with live music, and CAVE by Hofesh Schecter. The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara, Wed., Oct. 4, 8 pm, $51-$106. UCSB.
They are
Four choreographers are featured in We Are, a collaborative one night event involving Congress and LA Dance Project. The quartet of choreographers include Mike Tyus + Luca Renzi, JA Collective, Bret Easterling, and Bobbi Jene Smith + Or Schraiber. The evening includes paid bar and tacos at 6:30 pm and an after party with paid bar. The show may be sold out. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Thurs., Oct. 12, 8 pm, $45, $25 students. LA Dance Project.
Mozart meets Don Juan
Choreographer Signe Fabricius provided the dance moves as LA Opera opens its 2023-2024 season with Mozart’s Don Giovanni (aka Don Juan). The Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Oct. 7, & Thurs., Oct. 12, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 15, 2 pm, $24-$349 LA Opera.
Just rehearsing
Starting this week, No)one Art House and Chris Emile explore the possibilities of establishing a continuous rehearsal in a gallery space. The ongoing collaboration is planned for Wednesdays through Sundays, now until January 14, 2024. Announced participants include Shauna Davis, Marcella Lewis, Jobel Medina, Jordan Slaffey, Qwenga, and Emile. Institute of Contemporary Art, Project Room, 1717 E. 7th St., downtown; Sat., Oct. 7, then Wed.-Sat. to July 14, free, time and other details to come. ICA LA.
Sited
A benefit gala celebrates Heidi Duckler Dance’s 38 years. The event offers a taste of the site specific performances this band of varied performers have conducted all over metro LA showing audiences lesser known, often historically significant sides of the city. Historic Warehouse, 205 S. Mission Rd., downtown Arts District; Sat., Oct. 7, 5 pm, $300 (tix for two) Heidi Duckler Dance.
All electric
Timed to coincide with First Friday events on nearby Abott Kinney Boulevard, High Voltage offers an eclectic, ever-changing line-up of performers, often including dance and movement performers. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri., Oct. 6, 8 pm, $10. Electric Lodge.
A Peek at Next Week
Invertigo: Formulae & Fairy Tales at The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 7:30 pm, $25-$70, Sat. (includes preshow soiree $250). Invertico tickets.
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet at the Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 14, 8 pm, $49. The Ford.
Photo by Gennia Cui
Nacera Belaza: L’Onde (The Wave) at REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 19-21, 8:30 pm, $30. REDCAT.
Keith Johnson/Dancers: Drifter at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 8:30 pm, $20. Highways Performance.
San Cha: Asunción: A Workshop at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Thurs., Oct. 19, 8 p.m. $14-$29. Asunción tickets.
Ephrat Asherie Dance: UNDERSCORED at USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Thurs., Oct. 19, 7:30 pm, free.
Voices: Latine and Indigenous Artists Showcase at the Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Oct. 14, 7:30 pm, derrick@stompinggroundla.org.
Dynasty Handbag: Weirdo Night at the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Oct 14, 7:30 pm, free. Hammer Museum.
Backhausdance at Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa; Sat., Oct. 14, 4 p.m. Orange County Museum of Art.