Nowhere’s Where?

Storybook characters revisited in Pasadena, taiko drums at USC, livestreams from an Olympics master, a NY guest, and a Bharatanatyam dancer, plus a peek at next week and Covid updates.

Live Dance

(Note: as of press time, these events are live, but as Omicron does its thing, theaters are pivoting, postponing, and cancelling in response. Check with the venue for the latest)

From the page to the stage

Dancers from the contemporary company Lineage Dance join actors in Curiosity Tales, a family-friendly retelling of familiar storybook characters and their adventures. At Lineage, 920 E. Mountain St., Glendale; Sat., Feb. 13, March 6, 13, & 27, 4 pm, $40, $20 students & seniors. Info, tickets, & Covid protocols at Lineage Dance.

three actors sit in front of several dancers
Lineage Dance’s “Curiosity Tales.” Photo courtesy of the artists

Twirling drumsticks

Japan may be the acknowledged home of taiko, but East LA Taiko brings its distinctive SoCal brand of the drumming art with excursions into Afro-Cuban, ska punk, and Latin rhythms. It’s not just the drumming, these folks also know how to move. USC, Queens Courtyard (near the Bing Theatre), 3400 Watt Way, downtown; Tues., Feb. 15, 4pm, free. Info & Covid protocols at Visions and Voices.

Drummers lift their drumsticks
East LA Taiko. Photo courtesy of the artists

Livestream

When nowhere is here

Long before he strode into public consciousness as the theatrical architect of the 2004 Athens Olympics, Dimitris Papaioannou was celebrated in the European dance and theater world as an experimental choreographer, director, and visual artist. This triple threat brings his Nowhere for a free livestream performance presented by CAP UCLA. Created in 2009 with a cast of 26 dancers, Nowhere is often described as a contemplation on the very nature of theater and live performance. Previews and excerpts on vimeo and YouTube convey the power of the work. Complete livestream, Sat., Feb. 12, 7pm, free with registration.  CAP UCLA online; Sat., Feb. 12, 7pm, free w/registration at CAP UCLA.

Two figures are separated by slats
Dimitris Papaioannou’s “Nowhere.” Photo by Marilena Stafylidou

From the stage to a stream

Originally scheduled as a live performance, Doug Varone & Dancers shift to a livestream event. The contemporary choreographer, with hefty credits in dance, opera, theater, and film, is an artist-in-residence at USC. The performance includes company repertoire and a new work featuring dance department graduate students. A post-performance discussion with the choreographer is scheduled. From USC, Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, 849 W. 34th St., downtown; Fri., Feb. 11, 7pm & Sat., Feb. 12, 5pm, free w/reservation at Eventbrite.

A bald man in black stands on one foot
Doug Varone & Dancers. Photo courtesy of the artists

Classical from India

Under the banner A Symphony of Emotions, the classical Bharatanatyam dance from India is performed by an acknowledged mistress of the art, Ramya Harishankar accompanied by the solo voice of Visalini Sundaram and violinist Karan Athreya. The live zoom performance includes a post performance discussion with the artists. Sat., Feb. 12, 6:30pm, $25. Dhvani Ohio.

Two women in Indian sari dresses
Ramya Harishankar and Visalini Sundaram in “Symphony of Emotion.” Photo courtesy of the artists

A Peek at Next Week

(Note: Details, tickets, & Covid protocols at websites)

Nancy Evans Dance Theatre in Figures of Speech at ARC, 1158 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Sun., Feb. 20, 4pm, $20. Nancy Evans Dance Theatre.

A seated woman with a standing woman and a beige scarf flowing between them
Nancy Evans Dance Theatre. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Covid Updates

US premiere Covid-cancelled

The U.S. premiere of Aakash Odedra Company with Hu Shenyuan in Samsara, scheduled for The Broad Stage on Thurs. & Sun., Feb. 10 & 13, was cancelled due to increased travel restrictions. Info at The Broad Stage.

A dancer jumps against a backgroun of water and a mountain
Dance Camera West. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Postponed to March

As the Covid public health emergency shuttered theaters for live performance over the past two years, the world of dance film, video and streamed performances has flourished. Long before Covid, filmed dance was the specialty of LA-based Dance Camera West, recognized as one of the premiere dance film showcases. DCW’s 20th anniversary edition was to earlier this month with more than 75 films lined up for a dozen programs at two venues. Out of caution and safety concerns with the current surge in Covid cases, DCW postponed the festival to late March. Stay tuned or find details on the new schedule at Dance Camera West.

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