Ann HaskinsThis week's dance includes more of Los Angeles Ballet's Quartet, two Savion Glover shows, home-invasion dance and Viver Brasil's latest
5. Celebrating locavore dance
In light of L.A.'s status as the major touring destination outside of New York City, it's almost unfair to ask local companies to compete with underwritten major national and international companies, who bring their best when they visit. Don't tell that to Jamie Nichols, producer of Celebrate Dance, who believes that, with a major venue and top-notch technical support, home troupes can hold their own. Now in its ninth year, Celebrate Dance provides all that, and its perennially sold-out performances reflect how much dance fans rely on this showcase to keep them current on what established companies are up to and which emerging companies to watch. Having helmed her own company before donning her producer's hat, Nichols is well grounded in locavore dance. The quality of the curated event also reflects Nichols' omnipresence at local dance performances and festivals throughout the year. This year's lineup has a contemporary emphasis with the hot but shift key – challenged Ate9 dANCE cOMPANY, Commonality Dance Company, LollieWorks, Marrow Dance and SoleVita Dance Company, plus urban tap from BPM beatsperminute and two out-of-towners: San Francisco's LEVYdance and San Diego's Mizerany Dance. At the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., March 8, 8 p.m.; $18-$38, 10 percent discount for students & seniors; $12, children with an adult. (818) 243-2539, www.alextheatre.org.]
Ate9 dANCE cOMPANY in Celebrate Dance; Credit: Photo courtesy of Celebrate Dance
4. But where will the audience sit?
Can it really be called home-invasion dance if the homeowners are complicit during the three-month rehearsal process? Find out as the fourth installment of HomeLA's performance series joins forces with Summercamp's ProjectProject and an ensemble of 14 artists for experimental dance, live performance and body-based videos inspired by the target home in El Sereno. For tickets and residence address, email homela.hello@gmail.com. Private residence, (address given with resv.); Sun., March 9, 5 p.m., $15, www.homela.hello.com
Savion Glover in STePz; Credit: Photo by Lois Greenfield
3. Savion Glover STePz out
He's been on Broadway and won Tony Awards, but Savon Glover continues to carve out new worlds in percussive tap, often as a solo performer with a live jazz ensemble. He returns with the HooFeRzCLuB in Savion Glover's STePz celebrating Glover's jazz-infused, percussive tap style at two local venues. At Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Fri., March 7, 8 p.m., $25-$65.
818-677-8800, www.valleyperformingarts?center.org. Also at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; March 8-9, 8 p.m., $40-$52, $25-$35 under 30. 949-854-4646, www.thebarclay.org.
4. Just in time for Mardi Gras
In Intersections/Ajê expect Viver Brasil's patented brand of explosive and joyful Afro-Brazilian dance and live music. At Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles; Fri., March 7, 8 p.m., $15-$25; $75 VIP tickets include post-party with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live music.
323-964-9768, www.viverbrasil.com.
Los Angeles Ballet Dancers in Return to a Strange Land; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson
5. What happens when ballet dancers let their hair down?
In Quartet, the dancers of Los Angeles Ballet are reveling in two world premieres, as well as dancing two 20th-century masterpieces that only the best dance companies are allowed to perform. Choreographer Sonya Tayeh (from TV's So You Think You Can Dance) returns for her fourth commission for the company, Beneath One's Dignity. The second world premiere is Christopher Stowell's first Los Angeles Ballet commission. A recognized choreographer and former artistic director of the respected Oregon Ballet Theatre, Stowell teamed up with composer Noah Agruss for his ballet Cipher. As for the classics: The choreography of European master c has been seen here thanks to Nederlands Dans Theater and American Ballet Theatre, but Kylián severely restricts who can perform his work – especially Return to a Strange Land, a luminous series of pas de deux and trios set to music by Leoš Janá?ek. Kylián's permission is another benchmark of the international reputation that LAB has established under co-artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary. Last season featured the company's inaugural Balanchine Festival, and Quartet's finale returns to Balanchine for the company premiere of his terpsichorean sparkler, Stars and Stripes. Set to John Philip Sousa's exuberant marches, Balanchine's Valentine to his adopted home country invariably leaves the audience cheering. Performing in multiple theaters throughout March, LAB continues its commitment to make ballet a short drive for all of metro At Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.; Sat., March 8, 7:30 p.m. At Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., March 15, 7:30 p.m. At UCLA Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive, Wstwd.; Sat., March 22, 7:30 p.m., $30-$95, $24-$76 students, children & seniors. (310) 998-7782, www.losangelesballet.org.
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