This week's dance shows include an unseen teen coming of age via text messages  and dance festivals in Long Beach and San Pedro

5. Stardust from Roussève and Reality

The lush, wistful elegance of Nat King Cole's iconic recording of “Stardust” contributes the title and the soundtrack for Stardust, David Roussève's consideration of a gay African-American teenager who appears to the audience only through a series of projected text messages. In Roussève's Stardust, the dancers articulate the emotional content of those texts, with Cole's track augmented by d. Sabela grimes' original score. Cari Ann Shim Sham provides the video art projecting the text messages. Even in its earlier unfinished state, Stardust was dubbed one of the best dance performances of 2013 by the L.A. Times. This expanded version has toured nationally, appearing in the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and returns with Roussève's troupe REALITY, a roster of some of L.A.'s most compelling contemporary dancers. Reviews have praised Roussève's poignant solo segment as the boy's grandfather, a strong hint as to why this L.A.-based choreographer's mantel is heavy with CalArts' Herb Alpert Award, a NYC Bessie Award and L.A.'s Horton Award, among others. At Cal State University Long Beach, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach; Sat., Sept. 27, 8 p.m. $35-$40. (562) 985-7000, www.carpenterarts.org/stardust, www.web.ovationtix.com/trs/ pe/9890679.

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Marina Magalhães' (UN)BRIDALED; Credit: Photo courtesy of Marina Magalhães

Marina Magalhães' (UN)BRIDALED; Credit: Photo courtesy of Marina Magalhães

4. Here come the brides

Marina Magalhães leads an all- female cast in (UN)BRIDALED, freely blending bossa nova, Brazilian funk, Afro-Latin and contemporary dance to explore women as brides and immigrants. Tickets: (310) 855-4353 or www.marinamagalhaes.com. At Le Studio, 9500 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City; Thru Sat., Sept. 27, 8:30 p.m., $15, $12 students & seniors. 310-855-4353, www.lestudiola.com.

3. Gamboling at the Gamble House

Two choreographers took inspiration from Pasadena's famed Gamble House for separate, site-specific choreography being performed intermittently throughout the day. The embroidery framed along the hallway inspired Nick Duran’s solo Waterfall, which embodies falling water and is performed on the main stairwell that contains that embroidery. Milka Djordjevich and her MASS (at home) presents dancers as sculptures, who then move around the house. The performances are part of the Machine Project Field Guide to the Gamble House, which itself is part of the larger AxS Festival 2014 | Curiosity (ak-sis) exploring the intersection of art and science. A complete list of Machine Project events is at www.machineproject.com/gamblehouse; the larger festival details are at www.axsfestival.org.2. At Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland, Pasadena; Sat., Sept. 27, free. 626-793-3334, www.gamblehouse.org.

Pony Box Dance Theatre; Credit: Photo courtesy of Pony Box Dance Theatre

Pony Box Dance Theatre; Credit: Photo courtesy of Pony Box Dance Theatre


2. Pony at the Edge

The contemporary dance company Pony Box Dance Theatre performs its Sylvia Plath-inspired Edge as part of the free A LOT festival, named for its location in the parking lot of beloved but now-closed bookstore Acres of Books and sponsored by the Art Council for Long Beach. For details on all of the events in the two-day festival, go to www.alotlongbeach.org. Acres of Books, 240 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach; Sat., Sept. 27, 7 p.m., free with reservation.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre at the Tri-Art Dance Festival; Credit: Photo courtesy of Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Lula Washington Dance Theatre at the Tri-Art Dance Festival; Credit: Photo courtesy of Lula Washington Dance Theatre

1. Try art at the Tri-Art Festival

A strong lineup of returning and new participants are scheduled for this year’s TriArt Dance Festival, joined by musicians and art vendors. The 19 dance companies reflect diverse styles including modern, contemporary, tap, ballet, jazz, krumping, country- western, aerial dance, folklorico, Uzbekistani and East Indian dance. Among returnees, look for Ruby Karen Project/Orange County Aerial Arts, Louise Reichlin & Dancers/L.A. Choreographers & Dancers, Hiroshi Hamanishi, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Jrick and the Hot Flashers (formerly the Post Pros), Peoples Place, Kenneth Walker Dance Project, San Pedro City Ballet and Degas Dance Team. Making their festival debut are ENCORE Dance Company, APA Repertory Ensemble, Ballet Folklorico Pasion de Mi Tierra/Gabriel Avila, The Underground Street Dance Co., Tap Overload, the PGK Dance Project/Peter G. Kalivas, Navarasa Dance Theater/Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda, Gulistan Dance Theater, Rubans Rouges Dance Company/Noelle Andressen and the Dance Department/Idyllwild Arts Academy. Go to www.triartSP.com for a complete lineup and performance schedule for the stage at 1199 Nagoya Way. Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Berth, San Pedro; Sat.-Sun., Sept. 27-28, free. 310-548-8076, www.triartsp.com.

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