They’re Dancing Outdoors plus a Potluck

A modern dance duo in Eagle Rock, dancing beyond Parkinson’s disease in Venice, sampling Tchaikovsky’s ballets downtown, celebrating family and potucks in Santa Monica, drums and manhood in Hollywood, and more.

5.  What can a dancer do with a Taiko drum?

In Ascent, choreographer Adam Kerbel employs Taiko drumming in his dance theater exploration of masculinity. Part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  Studio/Stage, 520 Western Ave., Hollywood; Wed., June 14, 7:30 p.m., Thurs., June 15, 8:30 p.m., Wed., June 21, 11:30 p.m., Fri., June 23, 6 p.m., $15. http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/4483.

Adam Kerbel Photo courtesy of the artist
Adam Kerbel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

4.  Sharing the stage

This shared bill includes Rebecca Brooks and this month’s Pieter artist in residence Nickels Sunshine. Pieter, 420 W. Avenue 33, Lincoln Heights; Sun., June 11, 8 p.m., donation of food or boutique or donation for new floor. https://pieterpasd.com.  

Nickels Sunshine Photo by Des'Mon Omega Fair
Nickels Sunshine. Photo by Des’Mon Omega Fair.

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3.  Lots and lots of Tchaikovsky

The music that now belongs to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s male partner in the Nutcracker was choreographed originally for eight women. Reconstructed from notation, American Contemporary Ballet includes a performance of that octet in Tchaikovsky in Ballet along with excerpts from other ballets set to the composer’s music including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Mozartiana and Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3. American Contemporary Ballet, 700 S. Flower St., Suite 3200, downtown’ Thurs.-Fri., June 15-16, 8 p.m., Sat., June 17, 6 & 8 p.m., Sun., June 18, 2 & 4 p.m., $50-$105. http://www.acbdances.com/music-dance-la//.

American Contemporary Ballet Photo by Will Davidson
American Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Will Davidson.

2. MOVEMENT al fresco

The free, al fresco performance series under the banner Art @ Tongva wraps up the 2017 season with Mecca Vazie Andrews and her ensemble MOVEMENT. Tongva Park, 1615 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; Wed.-Thurs., June 7-8, 7:30 p.m., free. smgov.net/tongvapark/events.

Mecca Vazie Andrews Photo courtesy of the artist
Mecca Vazie Andrews. Photo courtesy of the artist.

1.  All in the family

SuarezDanceTheater’s latest, Family Dinner, began with three hosted potlucks with games and improvisation that led to consideration of parallels between the Bible’s Book of Ruth and contemporary issues of immigration, politics and family. The resulting work promises the Christine Suarez’s distinctive blend of dance, music and spoken word and also reunites Bernard Brown, Kai Hazelwood and Nguyen Nguyen, the three dancers who dazzled in Suarez’ highly praised Mother Father. Suarez “tours” to multiple venues rather than presenting all the shows in one place. These performances are followed by a potluck with audience members encouraged to bring a dish to share. All shows are free, but with limited seating, reservations encouraged by e-mail to familydinnerpotluck@gmail.com. Info at http://suarezdance.org. Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., (parking at Pico Blvd. at 23rd St.), Santa Monica; Christine Reed Park, 1133 7th St., Santa Monica; Sat., June 10, noon. Also in private home (address provided with reservation), Sun., June 11, 5:30 p.m., free reservations encouraged by e-mail to familydinnerpotluck@gmail.com. http://suarezdance.org.

SuarezDanceTheater Photo courtesy of SDT
SuarezDanceTheater. Photo courtesy of SDT.

Other dance of note:

Dancers, live music and food are part of The Secret City celebrating the City of Angels in a revival meeting atmosphere. Attendees are invited to wear white, a flowered hat and to bring a picnic. Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sun., June 11, noon., free. http://www.grandperformances.org/secret-city.

Come to watch, come to dance as the summer series JAM returns and expands beyond its home base at the Ford Theatre to locations Marina del Rey, Newhall and San Fernando.  Complete listings at https://thefordtheatres.org. Geared to beginners and taught by pros, JAM is fun way to learn about different dance styles and pick up some new moves. This week it’s hip hop in Marina del Rey.Marina Beach (aka Mothers’ Beach)4101 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey; Sat., June 10, 2 p.m., free. https://thefordtheatres.org.

Anecdotal reports of the benefits of dance to those with some degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s are increasingly finding scientific support in programs like Invertigo Dance Theatre’s Dancing Through Parkinson’s hosting its second annual open house. With an advisory board comprised of professionals in neurology, physical and emotional therapy, DTP now offers weekly classes at six regular locations with classes are by donations. This 90- minute open house welcomes individuals living Parkinson’s as well as family, friends and caregivers to attend and learn more. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Mon., June 12,1:30 p.m., free. http://www.invertigodance.org/dtp.

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