Tap Man/Piano Man

Slinky cabaret dancers in Pasadena, jazz tap in Westwood, a venue seeks future dance as the new year start slowly, plus a peek as next week picks up speed with more dance.

Live This Week

Tip Tap

Known for performance credits from Broadway to Michael Jackson, and especially for his tap showings with his sister Josette, Joseph Wiggan brings his solo tap chops to the stage, teaming up with jazz pianist Robert Turner. The pianist has been described as recalling Erroll Garner. Wiggan and Turner are presented by the beloved Jazz Bakery, which has a history presenting live jazz with dance, including the great Gregory Hines. For several years, the Jazz Bakery has been nomadic since losing its long-time Culver City home, but now is setting down roots as a resident of UCLA’s newest theater. A hopeful start to the new year with a promise of more pairings of dance with live music. The Jazz Bakery Performance Space, the Nimoy, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood; Sat., Jan 6, 8 pm, $35, $25 students. The Jazz Bakery.

A tap dancer in front of a band
Joseph Wiggan. Photo courtesy of the artist

Your table’s waiting

Those slinky ladies are back to dance around the Kit Kat Club as Lineage Dance presents Cabaret. The theater has been transformed into the 1930’s German cabaret with the audience seated at tables to observe and be part of the hi-jinks and ominous political rumblings as Sally Bowles, the emcee, and those dancers perform. Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena; Fri.-Sun., Jan. 12-14, Tues., Jan. 16, & Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 18-20, 7 pm, $50. Lineage Performing Arts Center.

A man has legs draped over his shoulder
Lineage Dance “Cabaret.” Photo courtesy of the artists

A Peek at Next Week

Diavolo Architecture in Motion – Existencia at the Soraya, Cal State University Northridge; Wed. & Fri. Jan. 17 & 19, 8 pm, $39-$129. The Soraya.

Dancer jumps from metal tower
Diavolo Architecture in Motion. Photo courtesy of the artists

Camile A Brown & Dancers – Ink at the Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 12-13, 7:30 pm, $49-$79. The Wallis. Also at Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University 415 N. Glassell, Orange; Fri., Jan 26, 7:30 pm, $32.75 to $73. Musco Center.

Dance at the Odyssey Week # 1: Rebecca Pappas – We Are Destroying Ourselves: A Dance Wrecking. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West LA; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 12-13, 6:30 pm pre-show, 8 pm show; Sun., Jan. 14, 12:30 pm pre-show, 2 pm show, $25. Full festival at Odyssey Theatre.

Two dancers with flowered costumes
Rebecca Pappas Dance. Photo by John Atashian

Arena Dance at Beyond the Beat Dance Studio, 41990 Cook St., Ste. 401, Palm Desert; Thurs., Jan. 12, 5:30 pm, >free with donations accepted. Eventbrite.

Step Afrika! at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine ; Wed., Jan. 17, 8 pm, $45-$105. Irvine Barclay.

Notes

A venue invites submissions

The ever-audacious Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica is seeking proposed projects in dance, performance, music, visual art and film for its April to August 2024 calendar. Contact patrick@highwaysperformance.org with proposed project or details. Deadline is January 21.

What are you looking for?