What’s Worth Its Weight in Gold?

Autobiographical tap in Sherman Oaks, dancing for donations in Canoga Park, faculty choreographers in Long Beach, marking 21 downtown, dancing hands tell stories in Westwood, flamenco in Canoga Park, and more SoCal dance this week.

5.   Giving back to those who give

In addition to producing projects like the annual Los Angeles Dance Festival, teaching, and heading up her dance company BrockusRED, Deborah Brockus annually recruits companies and dancers for the charitable effort Dance/BACK. The tickets are free with a donation to one of four designated charities.  This year the designated charities are the Kincaid Fire Relief (provides assistance to victims of the Sonoma fire), the International Rescue Committee (provides assistance to refugees) and SaveLACougers.org (working to build a wildlife crossing over the 101 freeway). The fourth charity, Family Rescue Center provides food, clothing, medical care and vocational training to families and will accept food, clothing and/or monetary donations. Donations may be made at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/danceback-2019 or at the door, including food and clothing that will be delivered to the Family Rescue Center. Madrid Theater, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park; Fri., Nov. 15, 8 p.m., Nov. 17, noon (youth program) & 7 p.m., free with donation. http://www.brockusproject.org/brockusproject.org/Dance_BACK_2019.html.

Brockus Project's "Dance/BACK." Photo by Denise Leitner.
Brockus Project’s “Dance/BACK.” Photo by Denise Leitner.

4.   Four who take to the floor (with a guest)

A guest choreographer and a quartet of respected dancemakers who also are faculty bring new works and a revival to CSULB Dance in Concert. Rebecca Lemme draws on a Janis Joplin song for Tell Me Why Not; Keith Johnson explores themes of intimacy, memory and prophecy; Andrew Vaca turns to electronic dance music selections for his new ensemble piece; and Sarah Swenson remounts two movements from Fimmine (women) set to music by Philip Glass. Guest choreographer Marjani Forté contributes a new work exploring race, community and individuality. California State University Long Beach, Martha B. Knoebel Theater, 6200 Atherton Dr., Long Beach, Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 20-22, 8 p.m., Sat., Nov. 23, 2 & 8 p.m., $22, $16 students & seniors.  www.csulb.edu/dance/csulb-dance-events, https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1174/1572580800000.

CSULB Fall Dance Concert. Photo by Gregory R.R. Crosby.
CSULB Fall Dance Concert. Photo by Gregory R.R. Crosby.

3.   The hands have it

Known for distilling long, complex stories into entertaining performances using only his hands and face, Andrew Dawson draws on his background as a dancer, actor and puppeteer in two different works, each only 30 minutes long. In Space Panorama, Dawson recounts the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by Spirit of the Ring, his distillation of Wagner’s 16-hour Ring Cycle. UCLA Royce Hall Rehearsal Room, 10745 Dickson Ct., Westwood; Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 14-16, 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Nov. 15-16, 3 p.m., $28-$49. https://cap.ucla.edu/calendar/details/dawson19205.

Andrew Dawson. Photo by Nitin Vadukul.
Andrew Dawson. Photo by Nitin Vadukul.

2.  A 21 salute

Too often dancers in LA are offered “exposure” or “experience” or only paid for actual performances, not rehearsals. Among her many virtues creating committed, insightful and illuminating choreography, throughout the 21 years directing her eponymous Rosanna Gamson/World Wide, Gamson has been in the forefront of the LA dance troupes who consistently pay dancers for performances and rehearsals. As with other similarly committed SoCal choreographers, Gamson has been rewarded with a cadre of loyal performers committed to exploring her restless and probing aesthetic. In that vein, proceeds from this celebration of the contemporary company’s 21st anniversary go directly to pay dancers for upcoming rehearsals and performances. The event includes special guests, dance, music, desserts and drinks. Navel, 1611 S. Hope St., downtown; Sun., Nov. 17, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.$30-$100, $20 students.  http://www.rosannagamsonworldwide.org/support.

Rosanna Gamson/World Wide. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Rosanna Gamson/World Wide. Photo courtesy of the artist.

1.  A golden touch

Last year A Room to Create, better known as ARC, unveiled a new dance performance series dubbed Gold Series No. 1, featuring original works considering the glory and showmanship of the precious metal. The series returns with Gold Series No. 2, with some of the same choreographers, and with the conviction there is more to say about the weight of gold and humanity’s golden hour. The six new works sport suggestive titles about the precious metal and its precious and not so precious effects: mine by Madison Clark; Golden Nuggets: Harbor Noetic Gestures and Soft Rise from Sarah Leddy, Carol McDowell, Daniel Miramontes, and alexx shilling; Glacial erratics (for those who harbor) by Tayler Rai; CONFLUENCE from Heyward Bracey, Rosemary Cadelario and Nguyên Nguyên; plus X01RA7R from Richard Rivera. ARC (a room to create), 1158 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 15-16, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students/seniors. https://goldseries2.brownpapertickets.com/.

Gold Series No. 2: Richard Rivera. Photo by Paula Lobo.
Gold Series No. 2: Richard Rivera. Photo by Paula Lobo.

          Other dance of note

After a several week hiatus, the LA Dance Project resumes and wraps up the roughly six week festival, LA Dances. The third segment Program C, includes two works from LADP director Benjamin Millepied, reprise of the highly praised revival of Bella Lewitzky’s Kinaesonata which was part of Program B, plus offerings from dancemakers Tino Sehgal and Madeline Hollander. The company announced part of the festival will be reprised in February 2020.  LA Dance Project, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown; Thurs.-Sun., Nov. 14-17 & 21-24, 8 p.m., $45. http://ladanceproject.org/18-19-season.

LA Dance Project: LA Dances. Photo by Josh Rose.
LA Dance Project: LA Dances. Photo by Josh Rose.

Yolanda is the dancer.  Paco is the guitarist. Together they are Paco and Yolanda Arroyo and their Flamenco Flamenco takes the stage for the first of three weekends. The pair are joined by some of their promising students. LA Connection Theater, 3435 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; Sun., Nov., 16, 23 &  30, noon, $25. 818-974-3208 or 818-507-4426, flamencoarroyo@gmail.com.

Yolanda Arroyo. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Yolanda Arroyo. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Whether appearing as a dancer, as a choreographer or in this instance as a producer, James MahKween is a striking and frequent presence on the local dance scene. He has titled the first edition of his new showcase Reflect: On Gratitude. Convinced that the art of dance should always leave a message to resonate with the audience, MahKween’s stated intent is to bring different backgrounds together, to initiate an awakening conversation through dance and also help people to empathize with one another. To launch the new series, he is joined by choreographers Rachel Turner, Jamie Carr, Maili Schlosser, Christina G. Morales-Grace, Roberta Wolin-Tupas, Laurie Marie, plus Evolution Dance Company and Go To Heaven Dance Company. Brockus Project Studios, 618-B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., $15 at door or venmo@james-Mahkween.

James MahKween. Photo courtesy of the artist.
James MahKween. Photo courtesy of the artist.

In their first full-length show, DAGDAG Dance unveils three works exploring the concepts of right, liberty and permission implied in the definition of Passage. The 18 dancers also perform Argonauts and Garner Suite, plus contributions from guest choreographer Irishia Hubbard. Diavolo Performance Space, 616 Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Sat., Nov. 16, 2:30 & 8 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 at door. https://www.dagdagdance.com/current-production.

DAGDAG Dance. Photo by Ron Mariano.
DAGDAG Dance. Photo by Ron Mariano.

A blend of tap dance, autobiographical theater, and comedy show, Lynne Jassem’s Tapping My Way to the Nuthouse returns. She was a child tap star, appearing on Perry Como and other tv shows. Yes, she is that old. 70 in fact and she still can dance, winning a Best in Festival award at the San Francisco Fringe Festival, getting delightful reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival most recently at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; Sat., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Sun., Nov. 17, 2 p.m., $20. https://www.whitefiretheatre.com, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4406498.

Lynn Jassem. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Lynn Jassem. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Excerpts from its ballet/aerial version of Firebird set to the Stravinsky score, plus drinks, dinner and a silent auction are part of Luminario Ballet’s Gala Bacchanal. The event will honor choreographer Anita Mann with a Lifetime Achievement Award and celebrate the company’s first international tour to India in 2020 sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the National Endowment for the Arts. Beverly Hills Women’s Club, 1700 Chevy Chase Dr., Beverly Hills; Sat., Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m., $300-$500. https://luminarioballet.org/fundraisers.

Luminario Ballet. Photo by Emerson Chen.
Luminario Ballet. Photo by Emerson Chen.

This edition of LA Performance Practice’s mostly monthly, work-in-progress series Casual is hosted by choreographer Marike Splint. The series focuses on works-in-process at an early or mid-stage that would benefit from an audience performance. Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Dr., Echo Park; Tues., Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., $5-$20. https://performancepractice.la.

LA Performance Practice's "Casual." Photo courtesy of the artists.
LA Performance Practice’s “Casual.” Photo courtesy of the artists.

Choreographer Gillian Walsh provides the moves in Hunter Hunt-Hendrix’ multi-disciplinary opera Origin of the Alimonies. The performers get help from a twenty-piece amplified chamber orchestra combining Hunt-Hendrix’ black metal band Liturgy and Ulrich Krieger’s Sonic Boom. The concert opens with Krieger’s musicians performing an excerpt from The Integration of JC Meyers by Echo Rose. Matthew Schreiber provides the lighting and large scale video. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown; Sat., Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m., $22, $18 students. https://www.redcat.org.

REDCAT: Origin of the Alimonies. Photo courtesy of the artists.
REDCAT: Origin of the Alimonies. Photo courtesy of the artists.

What are you looking for?