Deadly East L.A. Festivities Go Hollywood

Two all male troupes send up the Nutcracker in West Hollywood, contemporary troupe opens a residency in Beverly Hills, a Santa Barbara visitor with an L.A. host in Pasadena, an open rehearsal in West L.A., a deadly holiday fete in West Hollywood; site specific fish dancing in Culver City, and more SoCal dance this week.

5.  Moon movements

LA-based Jessica Kondrath/The Movement is joined by Santa Barbara’s Weslie Ching Dance, live music from Wolvez and Diana Baumbach’s art installation in a show called Overlay. Kondrath premieres Many Moons influenced by lunar cycles and gravitational pull. The Santa Barbara visitor brings three works considering a summer thunderstorm, the prismatic spectrum and principles of mechanics. More details at http://jessicakondrathtm.com. ARC Pasadena, 1158 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Sat., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Sun., Nov. 5, 4 p.m., $20. http://overlay.brownpapertickets.com.

Jessica Kondrath/The Movement's Kathee Miller in "Many Moons". Photo courtesy of JK/TM
Jessica Kondrath/The Movement’s Kathee Miller in “Many Moons”. Photo courtesy of JK/TM

4.  Opening “Nut” of the season

The all-male troupes Pony Box Dance Theatre and Ballet D’Hommes join forces to launch an early Nutcracker season with Just Nuts, promising the newest and nuttiest take on the seasonal ballet. Former Trocadero and Ballet D’Hommes director Daniela Diaz is Clara, Jack Virga Hall is the brother Fritz, and Brandon Forrest is the Cavalier. Pony Box director Jamie Carbetta promises to set the Nutcracker in a West Hollywood house party in the disco 1970s. Fiesta Hall, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; Fri., Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Nov. 4, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $25-$35. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3120841.

Pony Box Dance and Ballet D’Hommes' "Just Nuts". Photo courtesy of the artists.
Pony Box Dance and Ballet D’Hommes’ “Just Nuts”. Photo courtesy of the artists.

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3.  Beats the alternative

Drawn from interviews at the Culver City Senior Center, Donna Sternberg & Dancers unveil LifeStories considering growing older in a youth obsessed culture. Older performers join the troupe’s professional dancers in this premiere, just a short distance from the senior center where it all began. Garden Room, Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City; Sat., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Sun., Nov. 5, 3 p.m., $20, $15 seniors & students. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3078798.

Donna Sternberg & Dancers' "Life Stories". Photo courtesy of DS&D.
Donna Sternberg & Dancers’ “Life Stories”. Photo courtesy of DS&D.

2.  Taking up residence

Three works by company director Benjamin Millepied–all west coast or company premieres–and the revival of Merce Cunningham’s MinEvent comprise the program for L.A. Dance Project’s initial performance as this venue’s resident company. While much of the company’s time has been out of town on tour, this new resident company relationship, the opening of a new downtown studio, and Millepied’s return after his stint at the Paris Opera Ballet augurs for an increased local presence. Bram Goldsmith Theater, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 2-4, 7:30 p.m., $45-$125. http://thewallis.org.

L.A. Dance Project. Photo by Erin Baiano.
L.A. Dance Project. Photo by Erin Baiano.

1.  Dancing for the dead

Considerable attention is afforded the dead and undead surrounding Halloween, but throughout Latin American and Latin American communities in the U.S., another celebration follows with Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), combining reverent remembrance of forbearers and a solid dose of revelry, perhaps fueled by heightened appreciation of being alive. Now in its 16th year, Gema Sandoval and her Danza Floricanto/USA offer a most polished combination of reflection and jubilance. In addition to its home performances in East L.A. next week, the troupe brings its popular Dia de Los Muertos celebration to West Hollywood. Lee Strasberg Creative Center, Marilyn Monroe Theater, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; Sat., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., $15 in advance, $20 at door.  Also at Floricanto Center for the Performing Arts, Sat., Nov. 11, 8 p.m., Sun., Nov. 12, 5 p.m., $40 dinner and show package Nov. 11 only, $15-$20, $15 students & seniors, $5 children 10 & under. http://www.danzafloricantousa.com/store.php.

DanzaFloricanto/USA's "Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)". Photo by Frank Sandoval.
DanzaFloricanto/USA’s “Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)”. Photo by Frank Sandoval.

Other dance of note:

With Behind the Oculus, Laurie Sefton and her Clairobscur Dance Company open the doors for an open rehearsal and fundraiser. The afternoon includes the open rehearsal of Sefton’s newest, the troupe’s VR360 short film Edge of the Sky, wine, appetizers and live music from Amy Shigekawa and her Westside Jazz Collective. Details at http://clairobscurdance.org. Los Angeles Ballet Center, 11755 Exposition Blvd., W.L.A.; Sun., Nov. 5, 3 p.m., $35. http://behindtheoculus.bpt.me/.

Clairobscur Dance Company. Photo courtesy of CDC.
Clairobscur Dance Company. Photo courtesy of CDC.

Parked on a scenic overlook, Alex Ward’s stunning architectural sculpture at the center of FishEyes always draws attention and takes another turn as the centerpiece of Heidi Duckler Dance Theater’s site specific work of the same name. The performance includes a collaboration with Culver City dance students followed by a performance by HDDT dancers. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, 6300 Hetzler Rd., Culver City; Fri., Nov. 3, 6 p.m., free with reservation. https://www.eventbrite.com.

Heidi Duckler Dance Theater's "FishEyes". Photo courtesy of HDDT.
Heidi Duckler Dance Theater’s “FishEyes”. Photo courtesy of HDDT.

Julia Eichten, a founding member of L.A. Dance Project, teams with No)One Art House for an interactive creation New Work inspired by the art gallery that provides the setting. Hauser & Wirth, North Breezeway, 901 E. Third St., downtown; Thurs., Nov. 9, 8 p.m., free with RSVP. https://www.hauserwirthlosangeles.com/events/no-one-art-house-performance-in-the-breezeway-20171109

In this innovative show from the producers of Forever Flamenco, Spanish dancer Cihtli Ocampo “La Gallardí” provides the dance component of an impressive assemblage of musicians and singers exploring the intersection of Gypsy flamenco, Latino boleros, African-American jazz and blues under the banner Voces. The gathering includes guitarist Ethan Margolis, upright bass and Venezuelan cajón player Reggie Hamilton, percussionist Diego Álvarez, and singers Stephanie Amaro, Luis de la Tota, and Maiya Sykes. Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., East Hollywood; Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 9-10, 8 p.m., $40-$50, $30 seniors & students. 323-663-1525, http://fountaintheatre.com.

Voces' Cihtli Ocampo "La Gallardi". Photo courtesy of the artist.
Voces’ Cihtli Ocampo “La Gallardi”. Photo courtesy of the artist.

There will be dance, not just music when the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new principal guest conductor Susanna Mälkki conducts Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with choreographic contributions from Kitty McNamee. The music will be interspersed with scenes from the Shakespeare play. Disney Hall, 151 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 2-4, 8 p.m., Sun., Nov. 5, 2 p.m., $60-$194. http://laphil.com.

A flamenco dance soloist is part of this tribute to the music of Paco de Lucía, performed by his original band led by Latin Grammy award winner Javier Limón. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, One University Dr., Orange; Sun., Nov. 5, 4 p.m., $30-$55. http://chapman.universitytickets.com.

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