Ann HaskinsThis weeks dance shows include the last of the Christmas Nutcrackers and a Kwanza celebration.
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The last Nutcracker standing
Amid the dozens popping up in December, Los Angles Ballet’s is the most polished and professional of this season's Nutcracker productions and this weekend offers the last chance for this holiday delectable, set in 1912 Los Angeles. The dancing talent has deepened as LAB continues to prove itself to be the top-drawer professional resident ballet company which has eluded this city. In full disclosure, your scribe volunteers in a chimney onstage. Info and tickets at www.losangelesballet.org or 310-998-7782. At Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.; Sat., Dec. 27, 1 & 5 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 28, 2 p.m., $31-$99, $24.50-$79 seniors, students & children 12 & under. 310-937-6607, rbpac.com.
Allynne Noelle and Alex Castillo in Los Angles Ballet's Nutcracker; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson
Keeping the holidays keeping on
L.A.’s diverse communities offer an unmatched array of holiday traditions making it possible to segue from Hanukkah to Christmas to Kwanzaa and even extend into February with the Asian new year. The week following Christmas belongs to Kwanzaa. Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s annual Kwanzaa Concerts have become a local tradition celebrating this African American holiday with dance, live jazz and African drumming. LWDT’s high energy dancers are joined by students from the affiliated school. At Lula Washington Dance Theater, 3773 Crenshaw Blvd., Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw; Sat., Dec. 27, 2 & 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 28, 3 p.m., $25, $20 students & seniors, $10 children under 10. 323-292-5852, lulawashington.org.
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