Local dance from faraway goes downtown, Mexican Christmas traditions in Whittier, new choreography in Santa Monica, Nutcrackers everywhere and more SoCal dance through December.
5. Tackling piñatas
Dancers tackle a seasonal piñata as L.A.-based Danza Floricanto/USA returns with the 14th edition of Navidad en Whittier with Mexican dance, music and song of the season. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, Whittier College, 6760 Painter Ave., Whittier; Sat., Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., $25, $20 seniors, students & children. http://shannoncenter.org.
4. New Year’s mit schlag
Salute to Vienna celebrates Austria’s famous Neujahrskonzert (New Year’s Concert), a nationally televised event somewhat akin to New York City’s New Year’s eve crystal-ball countdown. In Austria, dancers perform in one of Vienna’s elaborate palaces to live music in a live national broadcast, offering a peek back at an era when Austria ruled an empire. This touring show arrives at two local venues offering waltzes, polka, ballet, singing and lots of music from the Strauss Symphony of America. Definitely mit schlag, but a fun way to stretch the New Year’s celebrating with a post concert glass of champagne before committing to those resolutions. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Sat., Dec. 29, 8 p.m., $49-$129. https://www.scfta.org/events/2018/salute-to-vienna. Also at Music Center, Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sun., Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m., $39-$145. https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/Visiting-Artists/salute-to-vienna-new-years-concert.
3. Locavore dance from far away places
The 59th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration brings a line up of polished amateur and recognized professional L.A.-based dance, music and choral groups including the Gay Men’s Chorus. The dance contributions sample the spectrum of L.A.’s diversity including Le Ballet Dembaya (West African dance), Kayaanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, Infinite Flow (able and wheelchair-bound ballroom dancers), Halau Keali’i o Nlani (Hawaiian), Jung-im-Lee Korean Dance Academy, Paso de Oro Dance Company and Pacifico Dance Company (both Mexican folkloric). The performance airs live on KOCE, rebroadcast at 9 p.m. & midnight. Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Mon., Dec. 24, 3 p.m., free (also free parking!). https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/events-by-the-music-center/holidaycelebration.
2. A glimpse of what’s coming
Catch a preview of choreographer Seda Aybay and Kybele Dance Theater’s newest as Aybay and Alan L Perez perform an excerpt from KiRiLMA. The event, in collaboration with digital composer Erik Fine, is offered as part of the Loft at Liz gallery exhibition of Luminosity 2.0. Then see the work at the open house at Lois Lambert Gallery. Loft at Liz’, 453 South La Brea Ave., mid-City; Thurs., Dec. 13, 8& 8:45 p.m., free. Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamont Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica; Sat., Dec. 15, 5 & 5:30 p.m., free. https://www.loislambertgallery.com.
1. A “forever” special edition
The long running, mostly monthly Forever Flamenco usually has one or two dancers backed by a singer and musicians. For this Gala Flamenco a full quartet of dancers–Vanessa Albalos, Maria Bermudez, Wendy Castellanos and Manuel Gutierrez–take the stage with singer José Cortes, percussionist Gerardo Morales, and guitarists Kai Narezo and Antonio Triana. This holiday edition from presenter Deborah Culver and associate producer James Bennett is the dance version of a glass of sparkling cava in a season otherwise dominated by eggnog sweet Nutcracker ballets. Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Silverlake; Sun., Dec. 16, 8 p.m., $40-$50, $30 seniors & students. 323-663-1525, http://fountaintheatre.com.
Other dance of note:
A harbinger of 2019 centennial activities celebrating the life and legend of the late modern dance choreographer Merce Cunningham, Clouds and Screens, includes two large works by Andy Warhol and Charles Atlas, both artists associated with Cunningham’s company. The installation also includes two early videos of Cunningham’s work with performances and more to come during the exhibition’s run. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park; Thurs.-Tues., thru March 31, $25, $21 students& seniors (museum admission). http://www.lacma.org/event/memprev_merce2.
Dancers, musicians and singers are among the 150 performers ringing in the holidays in the second year of Southern California Christmas. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, One University Dr., Orange; Sun., Dec. 16, 4 p.m., $25-$55. http://chapman.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=1770&cid=68.
Nutcrackers!!!
Ballet blooms across SoCal as the seasonal favorite, the Nutcracker arrives. Sugar plum fairies, mice armies, toy soldiers and dancing snowflakes take the stage in dozens of productions ranging from ballet studios to visiting professional companies. Here are upcoming Nutcracker performances.
December 14-20
Los Angeles Ballet – Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., Dec. 15, 1 p.m. & 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16, 1 p.m., $36-$104, Also at UCLA Royce Hall, Westwood.; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 22-23, 1 & 5 p.m., Mon., Dec. 24, 11 & 3 p.m., $36-$104, 310-998-7782, http://www.LosAngelesBallet.org.
American Ballet Theatre – Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15 & 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec 16 & 23, 12:30 & 5:30 p.m., Wed.-Fri., Dec. 19-21, 7 p.m., $49-$269. 714-556-2787, http://scfta.org.
Long Beach Ballet -Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; Sat., Dec. 15 & 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16 & 23, 2 p.m., Fri. Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., $34-$115. 877-852-3177, http://www.LongBeachNutcracker.com
Pasadena Dance Theatre –San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 Mission Dr., San Gabriel; Sat.-Sun., Dec. 15-16 & Fri.-Sat., Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m., Sun., Dec., 23, 1 p.m., $22-$68. http://www.PasadenaDance.org
Laguna Ballet – McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo; Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 13-14, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16, 1 & 6 p.m., $26, $24 students & seniors, $22 children 12 & under. 949-582-4656, http://www.lagunadancetheatre.com/nutcracker.
Festival Ballet Theatre – Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; Sat., Dec. 15 & 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16 & 23, 1 & 6 p.m., Fri., Dec. 21, 2 & 7 p.m., Mon., Dec. 24, 11 a.m., $45-$90. 949-854-4646. http://www.theBarclay.org.
State Street Ballet – Granada Theater, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Dec. 16, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 17, 2 p.m., $24-$104. 805-899-2222, https://www.statestreetballet.com.
American Contemporary Ballet – One California Plaza, 18th Flr., downtown; Fri., Dec 14 & 21, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, & 22, 2 & 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16 & 23, 2 & 5 p.m., Thurs. Dec., 20, 8 p.m., Mon., Dec 24, 1 p.m., $50-$98. https://www.acbdances.com.
Pacific Festival Ballet Company – Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sat.-Sun., Dec. 15-16, 2 & 7 p.m. $28-$44. http://www.pacfestballet.org/. https://www.civicartsplaza.com.
Maple Youth Ballet – Irvine Valley Performing Arts Center, 5500 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine; Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Dec. 15-16, 2 & 7 p.m., $33, $28 children under 12 years. http://mapleconservatory.com/performances-tickets/
Santa Clarita Ballet – College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita; Sat., Dec. 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16, 2 & 7 p.m., $32-$38, $32 seniors & children 10 & under. 661-251-6844, http://santaclaritaballet.net, https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=93296.
Inland Pacific Ballet – Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; Fri., Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Also at Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way, Claremont; Fri., Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m., $23-$62, discounts for seniors & children 12 & under. 951-779-9800, http://www.IPBallet.org.
Ballet Repertory Theatre – Golden West College Mainstage Theater, 15751 Gotherd St., Huntington Beach; Sat., Dec. 8, 15 & 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 16 & 23, 1 & 5 p.m., Fri., Dec. 14 & Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Mon., Dec. 23, 1 p.m., $20, $16 seniors & under 12 years. 714-895-8150 x1, http://www.gwctheater.com.
Moscow Ballet The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, 1 p.m., $43-$123.50. Also at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert; Mon., Dec. 17, 7 p.m., no tickets as of press time. http://www.mccallumtheatre.com. Also at Valley Performing Arts Center, the Saroya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff, Northridge; Wed., Dec. 19, 7 p.m., $30-$250. https://www.thesaroya.org. Also at Jacobs Music Center, Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego; Thurs., Dec. 20, 3 & 7 p.m., $28-$89. http://www.nutcracker.com/buy-tickets.
California Ballet – San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 3rd. Ave., San Diego; Fri., Dec. 14 & 21, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15 & 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16 & 23, 1 p.m., Wed.-Thurs., Dec. 19-20, 7 p.m., $21-$91. 858-560-5676, http://www.sandiegotheatres.org/the-nutcracker.
City Ballet – Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego; Fri., Dec. 14 & 21, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, & 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16 & 23, 2 p.m., $25-$89. 858-272-8663, https://www.cityballet.org.
Palos Verdes Ballet – Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Dr., Rolling Hills Estates; Sat., Dec. 15, 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 16, 1 & 5 p.m., $38, $28 age 10 & under. 310-377-6663,https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=93516.
South Bay Ballet – The respected ballet school brings its charming version to Marsee Auditorium. El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance; Sat. & Sun., Dec. 15 & 16, 2 p.m., $34, $24 children under 13. 310-329-5345, http://www.SouthBayBallet.org, http://elcaminotickets.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp.
December 21-27
Los Angeles Ballet – UCLA Royce Hall, Westwood.; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 22-23, 1 & 5 p.m., Mon., Dec. 24, 11 & 3 p.m., $36-$104, 310-998-7782, http://www.LosAngelesBallet.org.
Long Beach Ballet -Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m., Fri. Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., $34-$115. 877-852-3177, http://www.LongBeachNutcracker.com
Inland Pacific Ballet – Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way, Claremont; Fri., Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m., $23-$62, discounts for seniors & children 12 & under. 951-779-9800, http://www.IPBallet.org.
Festival Ballet Theatre – Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 1 & 6 p.m., Mon., Dec. 24, 11 a.m., $45-$90. 949-854-4646. http://www.theBarclay.org.
Pasadena Dance Theatre –San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 Mission Dr., San Gabriel; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m., Sun., Dec., 23, 1 p.m., $22-$68. http://www.PasadenaDance.org
American Contemporary Ballet – One California Plaza, 18th Flr., downtown; Fri., Dec 21, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. & 22, 2 & 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 & 5 p.m., Thurs. Dec., 20, 8 p.m., Mon., Dec 24, 1 p.m., $50-$98. https://www.acbdances.com.
California Ballet – San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 3rd. Ave., San Diego; Fri., Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 1 p.m., $21-$91. 858-560-5676, http://www.sandiegotheatres.org/the-nutcracker.
City Ballet – Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego; Fri., Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m., $25-$89. 858-272-8663, https://www.cityballet.org.
West Coast Ballet Theatre – California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido; Sat.-Sun., Dec. 22-23, 2 p.m., $18.50-$42. 800-988-4253, http://www.SanDiegoNutcracker.com.
Metropolitan Ballet Company – James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance; Sat., Dec. 22, 7 p.m., Sun., Dec.23, 2 p.m., $20, $18 children. 652-685-5403, http://dancewest.org.
Moorpark Civic Ballet -Agoura Hills Performing Arts Education Center, 28545 W. Driver Ave., Agoura Hills; Sun., Dec. 23, 2 & 6:30 p.m., $35-$40. http://www.MoorparkBallet.com, https://performingarts.lvusd.org/upcoming-events/ .
Coast City Ballet – Huntington Beach Historic Theater, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach; Fri., Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 21, 2 p.m., $22-$24, $21-$22 children & seniors. 714-963-9771, http://www.coastcityballet.com.
Los Angeles Youth Ballet – Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Fri., Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Sat., 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m., $25-$59. http://www.AlexTheatre.org.
Southern California Dance Theater – Downey Civic Theater, 8435 Firestone Blvd.; Sat., Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 23, 2 p.m.; $28-$32. 562-861-8211, http://DowneyTheatre.org., https://tickets.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&w=bfede039157c0c9f99056f948c4415ca&vqitq=31a287a8-8e47-49ad-8696-efcb4006d980&vqitp=1da90bf9-9c90-4bd5-a9df-5d9c8493d14d&vqitts=1543270186&vqitc=vendini&vqite=itl&vqitrt=Safetynet&vqith=8de27c4382ca4f5bb402a6498b391205
Anaheim Ballet – City National Grove, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim; Sun., Dec. 23, 12:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m., $25-$45. 714-520-0904, https://www.AnaheimBallet.org, http://www.CityNationalGroveofAnaheim.com.
December 28 – January 3
San Diego Ballet – Jacobs Music Center, Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego; Sat., Dec. 29, 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 30, 2 p.m., $35-$100. 619-294-7311, https://sandiegoballet.tix.com.