Legendary choreography moves downtown, dance miniatures in Lincoln Heights, Mexican Christmas traditions celebrated in Costa Mesa and Northridge, and Nutcracker season is in full bloom this week in SoCal dance.
5. Everything’s coming up Merce
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.
4. Folklorico holiday #1
The popular Fiesta Navidad celebrates Mexican Christmas traditions with dancing by Folklor Pasión Mexicana and Las Posadas, plus music by Mariachi Los Camperos. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa; Wed., Dec. 12, 8 p.m., $29-$89. https://scfta.org.
3. Folklorico holiday #2
In Mexico, Christmas Eve is Nochebuena, also the title of this seasonal celebration with the dancers of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles joined by the musicians of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime. The Soraya, Cal State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., Dec. 8, 8 p.m., $34-$79. 818-677-3000, https://www.thesoraya.org.
2. Carrying on the legends
For its 2018 Winter Dance Concert, Cal Arts’ dance department offers an impressive line up of dances from celebrated choreographers with each work set by a former member of that choreographer’s company. The works include Merce Cunningham’s Canfield (1969), Trisha Brown’s Solo Olos (1976), Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s Shelter (1988), Jiri Kylian’s Fallen Angels (1989), and Rennie Harris’ Facing Mekka (1998). The styles range from modern to post modern, from ballet to contemporary and hip hop. The performance travels to downtown after opening last week at CalArts. The show moves again with the final performance offering a shortened family friendly version. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 7-9, 8:30 p.m., $20, $16 students. https//www.redcat.org. Also at LA Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown; Sun., Dec. 9, 2018. https://dance.calarts.edu.
1. Quick, get to the point
The latest installment of Hi Solo # 7 again gathers ten artists each performing three-minute solos. This edition, co-curated by alexx shilling and devika vasanthi wickremesinghe, includes Samantha Blake Goodman, Miles Brenninkmeijer, Amelia Charter, Bradford Chin, Jessica Emmanuel, Carmela Hermann Dietrich, Tiara Jackson, DaEun Jung, Zaq Kenefick, and Roxanne Steinberg with Oguri. Pieter Performance Space, 420 W. Avenue 33, Lincoln Heights; Sat., Dec. 8, 8:30 & 10 p.m., free with non-monetary donation to free bar or boutique. Reservations strongly suggested at HiSoloSeries@gmail.com. https://pieterpasd.com
Nutcrackers this week:
Over the next weeks, ballet will bloom 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 this week’s Nutcracker performances:
Los Angeles Ballet – Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., Dec. 8, noon & 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, noon p.m., $46-$124. Also at 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 Contemporary Ballet – One California Plaza, 18th Flr., downtown; Fri., Dec 7, 14 & 21, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 15, & 22, 2 & 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 16 & 23, 2 & 5 p.m., Thurs. Dec., 20, 8 p.m., Mon., Dec 24, 1 p.m., $50-$98. https://www.acbdances.com.
Festival Ballet Theatre – Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; Sat., Dec. 8, 15 & 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 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.
Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre and School – Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Dr., East L.A.; Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 11:30 a.m. & 4:30 p.m., $42-$50. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2419796
Debbie Allen’s Hot Chocolate Nutcracker – Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach; Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 6-7, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 1 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., $60-$110. http://HotChocolateNutcracker.com.
San Pedro City Ballet – Warner Grand Theater, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro; Fri., Dec. 7, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec.9, 2 p.m., $29-$39, $19 seniors & children under 13. http://www.SanPedroCityBallet.org.
Pacific Dance Academy – Centinela Valley Center for the Arts, 14901 S. Inglewood Blvd., Lawndale; Fri., Dec. 7, 6 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 6 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., $18-$23 in advance, $20-$25 at door. (818) 346-4447, http://PacificDanceCenter.com.
Red Chair Children’s Production Company – Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., Dec. 8, 2 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 & 6 p.m., $25-$45. 626-683-3459. http://www.AlexTheatre.org.
Ballet Conservatory West – Smothers Theater, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Sat. Dec 8, 2 & 7 p.m., $30-$50. https://pepperdinearts.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=227.
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.
Conejo Civic Ballet Company – Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sun., December 9, 2:30 p.m., $20-$36. http://www.balletarts.org, http://www.ticketmaster.com.
Ventura County Ballet – Ventura College, 4700 Loma Vista, Ventura; Fri., Dec. 7, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., $25-$40. http://venturacountyballet.com/.
Santa Barbara Festival Ballet – Arlington Theater, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara; Sat., Dec. 8, 2:30 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m., $25-$50. http://www.theArlingtonTheatre.com.
City Ballet – Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego; Fri., Dec. 7, 14 & 21, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8, 15, & 22, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 16 & 23, 2 p.m., $25-$89. 858-272-8663, https://www.cityballet.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.
Sunrise Ballet – Servite Theater, 1952 La Palma Ave., Anaheim; Sat., Dec. 8, noon & 4 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, noon, $20. http://SunriseBallet.dance.
Ballet Etudes – Huntington Beach Historic Theater, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach; Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., $25-$35. 714-902-9423, https://www.tututix.com/client/balletetudes.
Antelope Valley Ballet – Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster; Sat., Dec. 8, 2 & 7 p.m., Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., $30. 661-723-5950, http://www.lpac.org/event.php?id=2017#shows.
Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet – Grand Terrace Performing Arts Theatre, 21810 Main St., Grand Terrace; Sun., Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m., $15-$25. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-nutcracker-ballet-tickets-27644357016.