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This week’s L.A. area dance events include a trio of troupes in Torrance, BODYTRAFFIC goes solo in Santa Monica, Heidi Duckler’s Chinatown finale, Los Angeles Ballet in the South Bay, a Japanese troupe in Hollywood, flamenco in West L.A. and Hancock Park, Akram Khan in Irvine, and three major ballet companies celebrate choreographer William Forsythe.
5. A threeway
A trio of local contemporary ensembles, each with a distinctive style and each with an impressive track record join forces for An Evening of Dance Theatre. Expect a chuckle or two as Arianne Macbean’s Big Show Company targets the triumphs and failings of language. Song and dance plus chatty and scripted conversations are casebolt and smith’s recipe to explore the gender and sexual politics inherent in male/female partnerships. Issues of human rights is grist for dance theatre from Liz Hoefner Adamis/Immediate Action Dance. El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance; Sat., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., $21. 310-329-5345, 800-832-ARTS, http://centerforthearts.org.
4. Searching for the shift key
Perhaps apocryphal, perhaps true, but the story goes that Lillian Rose Barbeito and Tina Finkelman Berkett first met in a professional ballet class when they walked over to say how impressed they were with the others’ dancing. Since combining their talents as artistic directors of BODYTRAFFIC, the duo has drawn dancers of similar high caliber that in turn has attracted internationally known choreographers. Recently, the L.A.-based troupe has been busy in impressive company–performing at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Ate9 and Benjamin Millipied’s L.A. Dance Project, as well as at the Laguna Dance Festival alongside San Francisco’s Lines Ballet and Philadelphia’s Ballet X. Those offered only a taste of the company’s depth and range. This concert presents BODYTRAFFIC alone in three recent additions to the repertoire from choreographers Arthur Pita, Richard Siegel, and Anton Lachky. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 27-29, 7:30 p.m., $40-$90. 310-434-3200, http://thebroadstage.com.
3. A last picture show
Film director Quintin Tarantino is rumored to be buying Chinatown’s long neglected King Hing Theater, but first the dancers, musicians, singers and other performers of the Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre open the theatre to the first audience to enter in 20 years. Known for employing overlooked L.A. cultural institutions in site specific considerations, HDDT promises to turn the theatre into a walkable art installation while taking on the subject of personality cults in When I Am King. What does it mean to be a public figure in a world where individuals are now brands. Duckler teams with long-time collaborators designer Dan Evans and composer Amy Knoles. King Hing Theater, 647 N. Spring St., Chinatown; Sat., Oct. 29, 8 p.m., $50, $25 students & seniors. http://heididuckler.org. 
2. Three centuries of modern
After two seasons emphasizing its ability to stage ballet’s full length classics, Los Angeles Ballet shifts gears with a triptych of shorter works as it opens its 11th season with The Modernists. The newest is Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton’s Untouched set to music by saxophonist and composer Curtis Macdonald, pianist Njo Kong Kie, and Russian-born violist Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin. Dipping into its repertoire, LAB reprises George Balanchine’s architectural and elegant Stravinsky Violin Concerto and the exuberant, tambourine infused Tarantella and Pas de Six from August Bournonville’s Napoli. After opening in Glendale, the company continues its metro tour in Redondo Beach this week, then concludes at UCLA, beginning a new decade as L.A.’s own professional ballet company bringing great ballet to greater L.A. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. Also at UCLA Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Westwood; Sat., Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.; $29.50-$84, discounts for children, seniors & military. 310-998-7782, http://losangelesballet.org.
1. What becomes a legend most?
He made his reputation in Europe helming Germany’s Frankfort Ballet, but choreographer William Forsythe also developed ongoing relationships with U.S. ballet companies, three of which arrive to launch the Music Center’s dance season with Celebrate Forsythe. Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet and San Francisco Ballet perform in this homage to the master, the culmination of a month-long series of events that included a site-specific event at LACMA and a lecture demonstration at USC’s new Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where Forsythe is on the faculty. Regarded as one of the most significant forces in contemporary ballet, Forsythe’s work has been seen here in bits and pieces. This month-long series of events and especially this performance are a rare opportunity to experience the range and depth of his impact. Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Fri.-Sat., Oct. 21-22, 7:30 p.m., Sun., Oct. 23, 2 p.m., $34-$125. 213-972-7211, http://musiccenter.org.
Other dance of note:
Blending ballet, contemporary and street dance with gymnastics, martial arts, animation, oh, and a bit of juggling, the Japanese troupe Enra arrives with Proxima. Led by video artist Nobuyuki Hanabusa, this visiting company promises a high energy, high tech experience. Ricardo Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood; $49. 323-461-6999, http://themontalban.com/buy-tickets.
From Spain, dancer Leilah Broukhim helms this edition of the long running Forever Flamenco entitled ¡Viviré! with dancer Manuel Gutierrez, singer José Cortez, guitarist Andres Vadin, and percussionist Gerardo Morales. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; Sun., Oct. 23, 8 p.m.; $45-$55, $40 seniors & students. 323-663-1525, http://fountaintheatre.com.
With a story spanning Britain to Bangladesh, Chotto Desh is the latest from Britain’s cross cultural choreographer Akram Khan and his eponymous Akram Khan Company. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Thurs-Sat., Oct. 27-29, 8 p.m., $20-$100. http://thebarclay.org.
Something of an acrobatic sequel to The Little Prince, Flight has soared since its debut last year in Long Beach with turns at two Fringe Festivals and a stint off Broadway before returning for these shows. The address for this site specific event provided with ticket purchase. Sat.-Sun., 7 p.m. thru Oct. 23; $16-$20. http://FlightThePlay.com.
Dancer Jose Maya joins celebrated flamenco guitarist Tomatito as part of the Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival. Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W.8th St., Hancock Park; Fri., Oct. 21, 8 p.m., $30-$57. http://LAFlamencoFestival.com.
The family friendly circus troupe Flip FabriQue arrives from Quebec. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., Sun., Oct.23, 4 p.m., $22-$60. http://thebarclay.org.
Ann Haskins has written about dance for L.A. Weekly since shortly after it began publishing. She also has written about local and national dance for Pointe Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. View, Coast Magazine, the Daily News, and the Herald Examiner. Among her broadcast projects, Ann hosted Inside Theater on KCRW-FM and contributed dance and theater features to both KLON-FM and KUSC-FM. She has received two Horton Awards from the Los Angeles Dance Resource Center for her coverage of dance in Los Angeles.