Legendary Jose Limón’s Take on Shakespeare’s Othello

Last chance for Los Angeles Ballet’s three Balanchine masterworks in Westwood, Vannia Ibarguen explores motherhood in Santa Monica, Alfonso Cervera blends Mexican folklorico and modern dance in Lincoln Heights, and a modern dance legend Jose Limón’s company makes its Beverly Hills debut.

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5.  Dance at a theatre festival

The world of a woman becoming a mother inspired Vannia Ibarguen’s Inhabited Woman, a dance event that is part of the 24th annual L.A. Women’s Theatre Festival. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Sat., March 25, 3 p.m., $18-$20, 818-760-0408, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/24th-annual-la-womens-theatre-festival-tickets-31340744009?aff=es2

Vannia Ibarguen in Inhabited Woman Photo by Prin Rodriguez
Vannia Ibarguen in Inhabited Woman. Photo by Prin Rodriguez.

4.  Dancers sounding off

From the producer of the Los Angeles Dance Festival, Voices is an informal black box showcase that is something of a sampler of local choreography. This edition includes Damion Diaz, Ballet d’Hommes, Bernard Brown/bbmoves, Jose Costas, Contempo Ballet, Robyn O’Dell, Jamie Carbette’s Pony Box Dance Theater and Deborah Brockus’ BrockusRED. BP Studio, 618 B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat., March 25, 8 p.m., $12. http://BrockusProject.org.

BrockusRed Photo by Denise Leitner
BrockusRed. Photo by Denise Leitner.

3,  Layering dance genres

Regarded as a signature dish in Mexico’s Yucatan, Poc-Chuc is a simple and simply divine layering of charcoal grilled pork, grilled onions and a habanero salsa to counter the citrus marinade. Poc-Chuc is also the title of Alfonso Cervera’s adventurous fusion of Mexican folklorico and modern dance. Cervera’s goal is to create a new and distinctive multi-layered dance idiom from the two different dance traditions. As with other Pieter events, the venue’s non-monetary admission is a non perishable food or beverage for the free bar or items of clothing or wares for the free boutique. Pieter, 420 W. Avenue 33, Lincoln Heights; Sat., March 25, 8:30 p.m., No $, only appropriate contribution. http://pieterpasd.com.

Alfonso Cervera's Poc-Chuc Photo by Jonathan Godoy
Alfonso Cervera’s Poc-Chuc. Photo by Jonathan Godoy.

2.  A slice of Limón

Founded by the legendary modern dancer/choreographer Jose Limón in 1946, the Limón Dance Company performs a quintet of Limon’s acclaimed dances including The Moor’s Pavane, his masterfully succinct retelling of Othello. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills; Fri.-Sat., March 24-25, 8 p.m., $39-$99. 310-746-4000, http://thewallis.org.

1. Last chance for Balanchine

Only a select few companies receive permission from the Balanchine Trust to present a George Balanchine ballet, let alone three ballets in the same program, but Los Angeles Ballet’s artistic directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen have deep roots with Balanchine. Neary was personally selected by Balanchine to set his ballets on companies all over the world (recently at the Paris Opera Ballet). Three different faces of Balanchine’s genius take the stage as LAB’s’s 11th season continues. Mr. B’s classical inclinations are illustrated in Divertimento No. 15, an LAB premiere set to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  The dramatic Prodigal Son dates from Balanchine’s time with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, the only time Balanchine worked with composer Sergei Prokofiev. This Prodigal Son was set on LAB by Colleen Neary’s sister Patricia Neary regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of the sexy, avaricious Siren who leads the Prodigal to his ruin. The joyfully jazzy finale Who Cares?, set to some of George Gershwin most beguiling tunes, harkens back to Balanchine’s time choreographing for Hollywood movies in the 1930’s. UCLA Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Westwood; Sun., March 26, 2 p.m.; $31-$99, 20% discount for students, seniors & military. 310-998-7782, http://losangelesballet.org.

Other Dance of Note:

In the latest installment of American Contemporary Ballet’s episodic Ballet School, different dancers tackle the same variation with commentary from director Lincoln Jones and others. A light reception and chance to chat with the dancers follows the event. ACB Studios, 700 S. Flower St., downtown; Sun., March 26, 4 p.m., $100. http://acbdances.com. http://brownpapertickets.com/event/2823539.

Dancer Manuel Gutierrez headlines FIVE, this month’s edition of Forever Flamenco with singer José Cortez, guitarist Andres Vadin, Grammy Award-winning percussionist Diego Alvarez “El Negro”, and Joel Nuñez on sax and piano. Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., East Hollywood; Sun., March 26, 8 p.m., $40-$50, $30 seniors & students.  323-663-1525 or http://FountainTheatre.com.

Not Man Apart Physical Theater in Paradise Lost Photo courtesy of NMAPY
Not Man Apart Physical Theater in Paradise Lost Photo courtesy of NMAPY

Led by Diavolo alum Jones (Welsh) Talmadge and Laura Covelli, Not Man Apart Physical Theater has a strong track record successfully taking on contemporary issues filtered through historical prisms often Greek mythology as in the recent Ajax in Iraq which considered parallels between U.S. military involvement in Iraq and the great warrior Ajax from the Trojan War.  For Paradise Lost: Reclaiming Destiny opening this week, NMA takes aim at John Milton’s epic poem about the battle of angels vs demons and the fall from grace of Adam and Eve.  An original score and live digital animation, video and lots of other technical goings on underscore the dance, acrobatics and onstage theatrics. More details at http://NotManApart.com. Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 7 p.m. thru Sun., April 2. $20-$30, $15-20 students & military. 323-673-0544, http://GreenwayCourtTheatre.org/paradiselost.

Actress/dancer Christina Carlisi evokes the spirit of the late modern dance legend Martha Graham in MARTHA, the one-woman show by Ellen Melaver. Whitefire theater, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; Sun., 7:30 p.m. thru April 16, $25. http://brownpapertickets.com/event/2816838.

Celebrating its 18th anniversary, the Choreographers Carnival features work by top pros including Derrell Bullock, Kenya Clay, Hamilton Evans, Bobby Newberry, Elm Pizarro, Brian Drake, Sayquon Keys ft Wet Dreamz, Maryann Chavez, Lindiwe Rose, Yung$ir Music, Jimmy Weeden, Estefano, Rafael Quintas, Dexter Mayfield, Stefanie Santiago, Dupree Welcome, Leah LaGrange and Carey Ysais ft Razberry Jam. Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Wed., March 29, 9 p.m.; $17-$21. http://choreographerscarnival.com.

Amaral Repertory Dance Ensemble Photo courtesy of ARDE
Amaral Repertory Dance Ensemble. Photo courtesy of ARDE.

Flamenco and Spanish dance take the stage with Roberto Amaral and his Amaral Repertory Dance Ensemble in Pasión Española! Valley Performing Arts Center, Plaza del Sol, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Northridge St., Northridge; Sun., March 26, 7 p.m., $39-$59. 818-677-3000, http://ticketmaster.com.

The respected training company Festival Ballet Theatre welcomes American Ballet Theater stars Marcelo Gomes and Hee Seo in the leads for Don Quixote. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., March 25, 7 p.m., Sun., March 26, 2 p.m., $42-$55. http://thebarclay.org.

Hee Seo with Festival Ballet Photo by Dave Friedman
Hee Seo with Festival Ballet Photo by Dave Friedman

While Pantsula 4 Lyf is not live performance, this celebration of popular dance in South Africa offers photographer Chris Saunders’ intriguing photos and videos capturing pantsula’s adaptation of hip hop and American fashion. Featuring crews of young men and women in Johannesburg, pantsula performers favor American-name brands like Converse All-Star shoes and Dickies brand work pants. UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E Young Dr. N, Westwood; Wed., noon – 8 p.m., Thurs.-Sun., noon – 5 p.m. thru Sun., May 7, free. http://fowler.ucla.edu.

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