LA Weekly

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Jennifer Backhaus & LAB

Award-winning choreographer Jennifer Backhaus, best known in the modern-dance mode, expands her choreographic reach as she unveils new work in collaboration with Los Angeles Ballet’s young, athletic dancers. Backhaus’ piece is part of LAB’s final repertoire program of the season, which also includes The Evangelist, originally created by legendary choreographer Lar Lubovitch for LAB artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary when they were principal dancers at Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet. In addition to extending its reach into contemporary choreography, LAB offers up a 20th-century George Balanchine classic, Allegro Brillante, and reprises the festive “Pas de Six” and “Tarantella” from the 19th-century August Bournonville classic Napoli. This weekend marks the second stop on LAB’s tour of four venues. Next up: The company expands into Orange County with its debut at the Irvine Barclay (May 17), then does the season finale at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (May 24). If you miss these shows, you’ll have to wait until next Nutcracker season to catch this rising star. To see video clips of LAB on Dance Channel TV, go to www.laweekly.com/stage and click on the Dance Pick. Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Ave., Glendale; Sat., May 3, 7:30 p.m. Also at Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Sat., May 17, 8 p.m. And at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., May 24, 7:30 p.m. $30-$95, $24-$76 students & seniors. (310) 998-7782 or www.losangelesballet.org.