Soft Opening

Voguing at downtown’s Music Center, a contemporary dance festival in Laguna Beach, Baz Luhrmann’s Paris sizzles in Hollywood; new ballets in Brea, a bit more SoCal dance in a slow summer week, plus a peek at a busy next week.

Live This Week

Let the fest begin

In something of a soft opening to its official festival performances in a more traditional theater setting, the Laguna Dance Festival and the Laguna Art Museum partner for dance within the town’s free August Art Walk series. This year, dancer/choreographer Justin Pham arrives with San Diego county’s Murietta Dance Project. (See A Peek at Next Week for next week’s festival offerings.) Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach; Thurs., Aug. 4, 6 & 6:30pm, free. Laguna Dance Festival.

A man in a dark suit jumps in the area
Justin Pham. Photo courtesy of the artist

Tour jeté

Two entrepreneurial sisters made good use of the two year lockdown establishing Ballet Project. tv, which aired videos of their nascent company Ballet Project OC and other companies during the pandemic lockdown. Now the sisters, Ally and Emily Helman have gone live, touring three SoCal venues with a program of five new works by mostly California choreographers. This weekend offers the last live performance, also with a livestream option. Brea Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea; Sat., Aug. 6, 3 & 7pm, $35 live or livestream. Brea Curtis Theatre.

A group of ballet dancers pose around a dancer leaning back
Ballet Project OC. Photo courtesy of the artists.

En vogue

The popular summer series continues with Dance DTLA Voguing. A free lesson is followed by open dancing. Come to dance or to enjoy the music and free show. Music Center, Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri., Aug. 5, 7-11pm, free. Music Center.

A group strikes poses
Music Center’s Dance DTLA. Photo courtesy of the Music Center.

Last chance

Last chance to catch Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and Anthony Veneziale’s street dance and improvisation infused Freestyle Love Supreme. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; Fri., Aug. 5, 8pm, Sat., Aug. 6, 2 & 8pm, Sun., Aug. 7, 2 & 7 pm, thru Sun., Aug. 7, $34-$106. Pasadena Playhouse.

Hop hop performers
“Freestyle Love Supreme.” Photo by Joan Marcus

Everything’s coming up exclamation points!

Baz Luhrmann’s misbehaving Parisians moved from Hollywood film to Broadway hit, and now they return to Hollywood in Moulin Rouge! The Musical! The strong dancing cast struts its stuff for this run at the Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Tues.-Thurs., 8pm, Sat., 2 & 8pm, Sun., 1 & 6:30 pm, thru Sept. 4, $39-$199. Broadway In Hollywood.

Dancers in Can-Can dress
Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Photo by Matthew Murphy

A Peek at Next Week

Achinta S. McDaniel, Lindsey Red-tailX’ene Sky at REDCAT NOW Festival Week #1 at REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 18-20, 8:30pm, $20, $16 students. REDCAT.

Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet at Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., East LA; Sat., Aug. 13, 8pm, $25-$45. Luckman Arts.

A male dancer in blue lifts a female dancer horizontally
Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet Photo courtesy of the artists

Laguna Dance FestivalBODYTRAFFIC Laguna Beach High School Artist’s Theater, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach; Fri., Aug. 12, 7:30pm., $50, $30 students. Laguna Dance Festival.

Laguna Dance FestivalStars of Dance Skylar Campbell Dance Collective at Laguna Beach High School Artist’s Theater, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach; Sat., Aug. 13, 7:30pm., $50, $30 students. Laguna Dance Festival.

Re:borN Arts Dance Festival at PYULSD Performing Arts Center, 1651 N. Valencia Ave., Placentia; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 12-13, 7:30pm, $25-$30. Re:borN Arts Dance Festival.

A dancer on the floor looks up
Re:borN Dance Festival. Photo courtesy of the artists

American Contemporary BalletBallet School at ACB, Two California Plaza, Suite 2850, downtown; Sat., Aug. 13, 1pm, $55-$95. PatronBase.

Heidi Duckler Dance in Counter Intelligence: The Story of Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka at the Bendix Building Rooftop, 1206 Maple Ave., Suite 1100B, Arts District; Aug. 14, 7pm, $15-$40. Eventbrite.

A bearded man pours a drink
Heidi Duckler Dance. Photo courtesy of the artists

Nonosina at The Ford Theatre, Sun., Aug. 1, 10:30am, $10, 2 free kids tix with each adult ticket. The Ford.

Getty 25 Celebrates Crenshaw at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Parking Lot, 3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Crenshaw; Sat.-Sun., Aug. 13-14, 11am to 5pm, free. Destination Crenshaw.

Flamenco/Folklórico Benefit at St., Casimir’s Roman Catholic Church, 2718 Saint George St., East Hollywood; Sun., Aug. 14, 12:30pm, $30-$50 at door. El Rocío.

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