This week's dance shows include a festival with an impressive gathering of local troupes, a 5th and 35th anniversary celebration, a dual debut and Brazilian dance via France.

5. Just hoofin’ it

Now in its fifth year, Tap Fest returns with a free performance by professional guest tap dancers culminating a day filled with workshops ($25-$30) led by Jason Samuels Smith, Melinda Sullivan, Steve Zee, Jerry Kalaf, and Aaron Williams. Join the fun. Stay for the show. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown.; Sat., Apr. 4, 5:30 p.m.; free. 213-621-1085, colburnschool.edu

Steve Zee at Tapfest; Credit: Photo courtesy of Steve Zee
4. What drought? 
Led by Mourad Merzouki, Compagnie Käfig boasts 11 dancers drawn from Brazil but now based in France who specialize in dance drawn from hip hop and Brazilian capoeira. This visit offers Correria/Agwa (Running Water) The first half explores the act of running. The second half involves hundreds of cups of water. A curious choice of metaphor with a drought in both Brazil and here. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine; Tue., April 7, 8 p.m.; $36-$45. 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org.

3. Finding a pulse
This debut project pairs choreographers Andrea Gise’s dance aegis and Rebecca Lemme’s Acts of Matter with performer/composers Andreas Levisianos and River Song Quintet in a program of related new works titled T E T H E R I N G. Gise’s Pulsar considers the dual concepts of pulse and the neutron star known as a pulsar while Lemme’s as may be felt explores human pulse as a metaphor for the unexpected in life. Live Arts Los Angeles, 4210 Pinamint St., Eagle Rock; Fri.-Sat., Apr. 3-4, 7:30 p.m., $20, $15 student advance purchase, $25, $20 student at door. 323-739-0804, liveartsla.com.

Rebecca Lemme's <i>Acts of Matter</i>; Credit: Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lemme
2. 35 is the new 25
Louise Reichlin and her company arrived on the local dance scene in 1979 with The Tennis Dances, which quickly became their signature work, but last revived in 1999. The company enjoying a more recent success with its multimedia Tap Dance Widows Club, inspired by Reichlin’s own loss of her husband and collaborator, the widely admired tap dancer Alfred Desio. For its 35th anniversary, the company presents both works. Bootleg Theater 2220 Beverly Blvd., dwntwn.; Thurs.-Sat., Apr. 9-11, 7:15 p.m., Sun., Apr. 12, 2:00 p.m.; $20 in advance, $25 at door, 10% discount students & seniors. 213-389-3856, bootlegtheater.org, LAChoreographersAndDancer.org. 

Louise Reichlin's <i>Tennis Dances</i>; Credit: Photo by Alfred Desio
1. A stellar sampling of L.A.’s dance best

Ironically, dance from L.A. often draws sold out audiences on tour, but here at home is often ignored until rave reviews come in from New York and San Francisco. Some of the troupes that have gained such outside attention return home to be among the local companies coming to this year’s Los Angeles Dance Festival. The emphasis is contemporary dance and the organizer Deborah Brockus has drawn some gems like Ate9 dANCE cOMPANY, Diavolo / Architecture in Motion, JazzAntiqua Dance and Music Ensemble, LA Contemporary Dance Company, Invertigo Dance Theatre, BODYTRAFFIC, and Lula Washington Dance Theatre to name some of the best known among the 30 troupes divided among four different shows. Diavolo Dance Theater and Brockus Project Studios in The Brewery Arts Complex, 616-618 b Moulton Avenue, dwntwn.;Thurs., Apr.9, 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat., Apr. 10-11, 7 & 9 p.m., Sun. Apr. 12, 6 & 9:00 p.m., $25-$35. 562-412-7429, LADanceFest.org.

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