Ann HaskinsThis week's dance events include a danced soccer game, the start of the Nutcracker season, and dance as part of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion's golden anniversary fetes
5. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 50th anniversary
The 1960s may evoke images of the Beatles, anti-war protests, and hippies, but also marked the opening of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and what became L.A.’s Music Center. The now four theater complex celebrates the Pavilion’s golden anniversary with a Saturday gala performance looking back and a dance-filled Sunday show dubbed The Next 50 looking forward. The dance component in Saturday’s gala is a commission for New York choreographer Justin Peck and the L.A. Dance Project with the L.A. Philharmonic. Sunday is focused on local dance with contemporary dance troupe Ate9 Dance Company, Ballet Folclorico do Brasil, and Korean Classical Music. And anyone who ever dreamed of dancing on the Pavilion’s stage has the chance as Sunday concludes with an onstage dance party. At the Music Center Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Gala Performance: Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; $35-$150. The Next 50: Sun., Dec. 7, 6 p.m., $150-$250. 213-972-4322, www.musiccenter.org.
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L.A. Dance Project; Credit: Photo by Benjamin Millepied
4. Christmas in Mexico
The locally-based folkloric troupe Grandeza Mexicana Ballet Folklorico provides the dancing with music from Sol de México de José Hernández and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles in Merry-Achi Christmas. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos; Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m., $35-$86. 562-467-881, www.cerritoscenter.com.
3. Don't those feet get tired?
This edition of the long-running Forever Flamenco features dancers Manuel Gutierrez, Pamela Lourant, Bianca Rodriguez and Mizuho Sato with guitarist Antonio Triana, singer Antonio de Jerez; percussionist Gerardo Morales and guest guitarist Garbriel Osuna. At the Fountain Theater, 5060 Fountain Ave., E.Hllywd.; Sun., Dec. 7, 8 p.m., $40. 323-663-1525, www.fountaintheatre.com.
Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson
2. Let the Nutcrackers begin…
That rumble isn’t just your post-Thanksgiving tummy, but the delightfully inexorable march of approaching sugarplum fairies, waltzing flowers, and handsome princes disguised as Nutcrackers, all lined up and ready to land like a stream of planes off LAX. Los Angeles Ballet’s Nutcracker, aptly set in 1912 Los Angeles, remains the most polished and professional of this season's productions. After this week’s opening in Glendale, LAB adds Hollywood’s Dolby Theater to its existing venues in Glendale, San Fernando Valley, Redondo Beach and Westwood as it tours metro L.A. over the next weeks. Info and tickets at www.losangelesballet.org or 310- 998-7782. For L.A. Weekly’s annual listing of this season’s Nutcracker ballets visit our list of Nutcrackers. Los Angeles Ballet at the Alex Theater, 216 North Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 7, 2 p.m., $31-$99, $24.50-$79 seniors, students & children 12 & under. 818-243-2539, alextheatre.org.
Sarah Leddy Dance Project; Credit: Photo y Nguyen Nguyen
1. Soccer dance
This month’s installment of High Voltage, the free, monthly late night dance series spotlights choreographer Sarah Leddy and her Sara Leddy Dance Project with A Beautiful Game. Drawing inspiration from soccer (football to the rest of the world), dancers compete to score and enact replays while commentators call the play by play. Upping their game are dancers Alexx Shilling, Devika Wickremesinghe, Gwyneth Shanks, Loren Fenton, Samantha Mohr and Leddy with guests Heather Coker, Meena Murugesan and Nguyen Nguyen. At Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave, Venice; Fri., Dec. 5, 9 p.m.; free. 310-306-1854, www.electriclodge.org.
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