Fractioned Fairy Tales

Enigma math in Santa Monica, Algerian tradition sourced downtown, New York City club dance at University Park, folkloric celebration in the Hollywood Hills, the 1960s onstage in Santa Monica, diversity dance in El Sereno, more SoCal dance this busy week and a peek at next week.

Live This Week

Déjà vu, again

Choreographer Laura Karlin had a long-simmering fascination with English mathematician Alan Turing that predated the 2014 film with Benedict Cumberbatch. Over several years the choreographer and her contemporary company Invertigo Dance Theatre previewed segments that went beyond the mathematician’s World War II role in decoding the German Enigma machine and post war persecution for homosexuality, to draw insights from how Turing’s fascination with Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs intertwined with his work, his life, his sexuality, and his death. Over time, those considerations were refined and expanded. In fall 2019, the finished Formulae & Fairy Tales premiered to critical praise for the concept, choreography, dancing, and interweaving of movement and visual technology. A scheduled spring 2020 tour, like so much else, was cancelled with the onset of the pandemic. Fortunately, the company is back to full performance mode, returning Formulae & Fairy Tales to the venue where it so successfully premiered. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 7:30 pm, $25-$70, Sat. (preshow soiree $250). Invertigo tickets.

A dancer is lifted, others on floor
Invertigo Dance Theatre. Photo by Joe Lambie

And then they are 20

Among senior members of LA’s vibrant folkloric community, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special concert. Since 2003, the troupe founded by Jose Vences has brought Mexican folk dance to SoCal stages. This anniversary program includes dance from Mexican regions of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Tabasco, and the LA premiere of the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) suite, just in time for the upcoming holiday. The Ford Theater, 2850 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 14, 8 pm, $49. The Ford.

Folkloric dancers in bright purple skirts
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Photo courtesy of the artists

And then they are one

This museum is turning one year old and celebrates with with a chance to enjoy the museum and a weekend of free events, including a performance by the excellent contemporary dance company Backhausdance. A full list of events at the website. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa; Sat., Oct. 14, 4 p.m. Orange County Museum of Art.

Two dancers in a garden
Backhausdance. Photo by Kira Bartoli

Four who blend

Drawing on ritual Algerian dance, in L’Onde (The Wave) the French Algerian choreographer Nacera Belaza brings a quartet of dancers who blend traditional and modern minimalist movement. The Saturday show includes a post-performance conversation Belaza. REDCAT, Disney Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 19-21, 8:30 pm, $30. REDCAT.

a woman in black extends her arms
Nacera Belaza. Photo by Isabelle Levy-Lehman

Son of the 60’s

The hope, the hippies, the music, and the turmoil that marked the 1960’s are the focus of DRIFTER, a new work from Keith Johnson/Dancers. As a choreographer, Johnson brings a personal perspective. Born in 1960, the son of Vietnam veteran, Johnson confronted the issues that gave rise to the era and its events. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 13-14, 8:30 pm, $20. Highways Performance.

A man's arm across a woman's front
Keith Johnson and Dancers. Photo by Gregory RR Crosby

Opera meets telenovela

Part of the LAX Festival presented by LA Performance Practice, Asunción: A Workshop offers an operatic telenovela from San Cha. LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Thurs., Oct. 19, 8 p.m. $14-$29. Asunción tickets.

Two men hold a woman's arms
San Cha. Photo courtesy of the artists

Style in the house

To capture the club scene in New York City from the 1970s to now, the choreographer Ephrat Asherie recruited dancers aged 28 to 80, plus three NYC club legends to join the Ephrat Asherie Dance company dancers. Rare archival footage is included as UNDERSCORED tours dance styles through the decades including funk, disco, house, hip hop, vogue, waacking, and hustle. USC Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park; Thurs., Oct. 19, 7:30 pm, free. Visions and Voices.

Two men jump in the air
Ephrat Asherie Dance. Photo by Matthew Murphy

Giving voice

Under the banner Latine and Indigenous Artists Showcase, the periodic event Voices provides a showcase for a changing line-up of dance and other performance artists. The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave., El Sereno; Sat., Oct. 14, 7:30 pm, derrick@stompinggroundla.org.

A dressed up person deals with a casually dressed person
Weirdo Night. Photo courtesy of the artists

Going for variety

One of the performance elements in this museum’s biennial Made in LA, the variety show Weirdo Night, curated by Dynasty Handbag (a.k.a. Jibz Cameron) features dance by HAAGS (Cameron in a dual role with Emilia Richeson of Ponysweat). The line-up also includes LA performers Marcel Alcalá, Pippa Garner (in absentia), Page Person, and Xina Xurner (Young Joon Kwak and Marvin Astorga) with travesdee. The Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Oct 14, 7:30 pm, free. Hammer Museum.

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; Thurs.-Sat. Oct. 12-14 & 19-21, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 27-28, 8 pm. $100-$140. American Contemporary Ballet.

A dancer kicks her leg
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Caleb Thal

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.

A dancer in black kicks his leg
Bret Easterling. Photo by Sophie Kuller

Just rehearsing

Last week, No)one Art House and Chris Emile began exploring the possibilities of a continuous rehearsal in a gallery space. The ongoing collaboration is planned for viewing 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; Wed.-Sat. to July 14, free, time and other details at ICA LA.

A woman in white smiles at a man holding her hand
LA Opera’s “Don Giovanni.” Photo by JC Olivera

Don Juan’s last arias

Choreographer Signe Fabricius provided the dance moves as LA Opera‘s 2023-2024 season opens with Mozart’s Don Giovanni (aka Don Juan). The Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs., Oct. 12, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 15, 2 pm, $24-$349 LA Opera.

A Peek at Next Week

Donna Sternberg & DancersMoonRock at Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Oct. 21, 2 pm, free w/required reservation at Donna Sternberg & Dancers.

Joaquín Cortés: The Essence of Flamenco at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $65-$205.Dolby Theatre.

Regina Klenjoski Dance Company:The Golden Apple at James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $35-$45. City of Torrance.

A woman jumps toward a man
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. Photo courtesy of the artists

Akram Khan CompanyJungle Book reimagined at The BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 26-27, 7:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 28, 4 pm, $55-$95. BroadStage.

Luminario BalletZarathustra! At the Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Sun., Oct. 22, 8 pm performance, $35-$125, 5:30pm gala reception $350-$550. Luminary Ballet.

Tiler Peck & FriendsTurn It Out at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Wed., Oct. 25, 8 pm, $51-$106. UCSB. Also at the Soraya, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Oct. 28, 8 pm, Sun., Oct. 29, 3 pm, The Soraya. Also at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego; Wed., Nov. 1, 7:30 pm, $25-$125. San Diego Civic Theatre. Also at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30 pm, Sun., Nov. 5, 2 pm, $29-$69. Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

A dancer in a black swirly skirt
Tiler Peck. Photo courtesy of the artist

State Street  BalletGiselle at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Oct. 21, 7:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 22, 2 pm,  $38-$121, $26 children. Granada Theatre.

Folklórico de Los ÁngelesOfrenda at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Sun., Oct. 22, 3 pm, $37-$78. Musco Center for the Arts.

LAX Festival: Hide & Hide at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Fri., Oct. 20, 8 pm, $14-$19. LA Performance Practice.

Marissa Brown / Lone King ProjectsHow lonely sits the city at LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown Arts District; Sat., Oct. 21, 8 pm, $14-$29. LA Performance Practice.

Two figures with flower netting on their faces
Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D). Photo by Guan Fang

Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival (D2D)Round 6 at Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar, Cheviot Hills; Sat., Oct. 21, 2 pm, 4 pm, 5:45 pm, 6:30 pm, $20-$60. Eventbrite.

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