Machete mastery downtown; toe shoes tiptoe in Torrance and downtown; Hollywood fest on the fringe; more SoCal dance this week, plus a peek at next week.
Live This Week
All that glitters
American Contemporary Ballet artistic director Lincoln Jones has long sought to emulate the legendary ballet choreographer George Balanchine, both by bringing in works by Balanchine and in Jones’ own choreography for the company. In his most ambitious and perhaps audacious effort, Jones latest, Sapphires, purports to provide a fourth act to Balanchine’s Jewels. Set to Schoenberg’s Suite for Strings, Sapphires can be judged alongside excerpts from La Source, an actual Balanchine ballet. Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., C-150, downtown; Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, thru Sat., June 29, $60-$140. SEASON XII 2023 – 2024.
Double bill ballet
The respected ballet training company, San Pedro City Ballet, offers a double bill with Night, a new work by co-artistic director Patrick David Bradley, and an abridged version of the ballet classic Don Quixote. Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Fri., June 14, 7 pm, Sat., June 15, 2 pm, $45. San Pedro City Ballet.
Cultural art of the machete
Rooted in the fight for independence from Spain and resistance to enslaving landowners, the Afro-Columbian martial art Esgrima de Machete is described as ‘machete fencing’ that has evolved into a cultural art form. This performance/demonstration culminates a three week workshop. Miguel Lourido Velez, a recognized Escrima master, will conduct the lecture. Sonny Batata and Miguel Lourido, who led the workshop will be featured along with some of the workshop participants. Pieter, 2701 N. Broadway, downtown; Sun., June 16, 2:30 pm, free w/reservation at Pieter.
Book to stage
Following up on the burlesque parody, The Empire Strips Back, Russall T Beattie riffs on his coffee table book that tracked Gotham’s caped crusaders in comic books from 1919. What originally was announced as Gotham Follies of 1939, now is billed as Batette Follies of 1939. There will be dancing with vaudeville and burlesque along with irreverent parodies of the times and comic book personalities. Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; Thurs.-Sun., thru Fri., July 14, 8 pm, $39-$154. Montalban Theatre.
French Fridays
Promising a French flavored performance, Cabaret Versatile presents Ohlala! Nights. Cat’s Crawl, 660 Heliotrope Dr., East Hollywood; Fridays, thru June 28, $32-$114. Eventbrite.
Hollywood Fringe Festival
Drawing comparisons between the career and legacy of legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova and her signature solo Dying Swan, Devil’s Dice Productions brings Death of a Swan to the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Maddie Natoli is Anna, Mason Williams is Death. The show won Best Dance/Physical Movement at the 2023 Tucson Fringe Festival. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; Fri., June 14, 10 pm, Fri., June 21, 8:45 pm, Sun., June 23, 12:45 pm, Sat., June 29, 5:15 pm Tickets.
Ashley Wren Collins provided the choreography for the seven member cast of the Hollywood Fringe Festival event Foxy Ladies Love Boogie 70’s Explosion! Three Clubs Stage Room, 1123 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Sat., June 15, 8 pm, Sun., June 16, 4:30 pm, Fri., June 21, 10:15 pm, Mon., June 24, 7 pm, $25. Tickets.
Employing movement and magic, Liz Toonkell appears in Magic for Animals, part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. LGBT Center, Davidson/Valenti Theatre, 1125 N. McFadden Pl., Hollywood; Thurs., June 13, 8 pm, Sat., June 22, 5 pm, Fri., June 28, 10:30 pm, Sun., June 30, 3:30 pm, $15. Tickets.
The mental health and trauma of a single individual and those around her are the subject of DRIP. The cast in this Hollywood Fringe Festival entry includes Gia Ochsenbein, Sadie Luce, Melody Tay, Romy Kim, Christopher Martin, and Ashwath Ram. Actors Company (Other Space Theater), 916 N. Formosa Ave., Hollywood; Sat., June 15, 3 pm, Fri., June 21, 11:30 pm, Sat., June 29, 9 pm, Sun., June 30, 5:30 pm, $15. Hollywood Fringe.
Suggesting a blend of movement and yoga, Mayuri Bhandari embodies The Anti “Yogi” for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; Sun., June 16, 6:30 pm, Thurs., June 20, 7 pm, $15. Tickets.
A Peek at Next Week (06-21 to 27)
The Joffrey Ballet — Anna Karenina at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri.-Sat., June 21-22, 7:30 pm, Sat.-Sun., June 22-23, 2 pm, $34-$138. Music Center.
Jay Carlon at Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 21, 6 pm, free. Grand Performances.
Hollywood Tap Fest All-Star Concert 2024 Shonda Rhimes Performing Arts Center, 1850 S. Manhattan Place, West Adams; Sat., June 22, 7:30 pm $45. Hollywood Tap Fest.
Armstrong Dance — Celtic Throne: The Royal Journey of Irish Dance at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tues.-Wed., June 25-26, 7:30 pm, $30-$60. Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Dance DTLA — Bollywood at the Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., June 21, 7 pm, free. Music Center | Dance DTLA.