Ann Haskins
This week's dance shows include a collaborative work from L.A. Contemporary Dance, dance about community from Israel and JazzAntiqua celebrating American jazz.
5. High voltage to low watt dance
After an opening weekend jam-packed with energized dance, the debut edition of the performance festival Alternate Currents takes a more reflective turn as recognized Butoh master Oguri takes the stage. He is joined by Roxanne Steinberg, Eric Losoya, Michelle Lai and Annick Chung who currently comprise Body Weather Laboratory, the venue’s resident company. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/897852. The festival is at Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Sat.-Sun., Nov. 15-16, 8 p.m.; $20 in advance, $25 at door, $17 students. 310-823-0710, www.electriclodge.org.
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Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company; Credit: Photo by Uri Nevo
4. They dance more than the hora
Led by choreographer Rami Be’er, the Israeli modern dance ensemble Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC) brings If At All, which considers how humans begin as individuals then connect with others forming a community. Community is a central theme for KCDC, which was founded on a kibbutz by Yehudit Arnon, an Auschwitz survivor who established a company in 1959 and developed a Dance Village, which continues as the company’s home base. Be’er, who has led the company since 1996, continues that tradition, having first joined the company as a dancer in 1980. At Bram Goldsmith Theater, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills; Wed.-Fri., Nov. 19-21, 8 p.m., $39-$99. 310-746-4000, www.thewallis.org.
Tara Coker, Michelle Kolb, and Teya Wolvington of Lineage Dance Company; Credit: Photo by Mario Barberio
3. Toe to Toh
The suicide of composer Brian Toh was the starting point for choreographer Hillary Thomas’ Ceiling in the Floor. Thomas and Toh were close friends in school and Toh's music provides the score as Thomas’ and her Lineage Dance Company pay homage to friendship and lives cut short by depression. At Lineage Performing Arts Center, 89 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena; Fri., Nov. 14, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 16, 7 p.m.; $20. 626-844-7008, www.lineagedance.org.
2. Nothing antique here
Choreographer Pat Taylor and her JazzAntiqua Dance and Music continue their commitment to jazz dance and music filtered through an African American sensibility with Taylor's latest, Song in a Strange Land. The ensembles signature electric dancing gets an extra boost from guest artists, the inventive and ironic Frit and Frat Fuller. At Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., W. Adams District; Sat., Nov. 15, 8 p.m.; $20-$50. 323-964-9766 www.ebonyrep.org.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Company in Into the Fray; Credit: Photo by John Esinger
1. Don’t be a-Fray-ed
The locally based repertory troupe L.A. Contemporary Dance Company consistently does interesting work and seldom repeats itself. One of its strengths is artistic director Kate Hutter has never made LACDC all about her, bringing in strong choreographers from outside and developing dancemakers within the company ranks. This repertory concert emphasizes the latter with Into the Fray, an evening length work with live music composed by Eric Mason and choreography from Hutter and company members Genevieve Carson, Erik Speth and Kevin Williamson (Williamson is a busy boy with his work showcased last weekend in Electric Lodge’s experimental performance festival.) Tickets at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/939473. At L.A. Theater Center, 514 S. Spring St., dwntn.; Fri.-Sat., Nov. 14 & 15, 8 p.m.; $25, $20 students. 866-811-4111, www.thelatc.org.
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