This week's dance shows include the latest from a Trisha Brown alum, a contemporary music series adding dance and a festival showcasing SoCal choreographers.

5. Dance that goes all day long
A graduate of CalArts who made an international name as a choreographer and artist, Maria Hassabi returns home as part of a month-long Hammer Museum exhibit. The live installation dubbed Plastic is a long format performance with the choreographer and a group of dancers performing in the museum’s galleries and outdoor spaces. The accompanying sound composition is credited to Morten Norbye Halvorsen. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Wstwd.; opens Sat., Jan. 31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., then Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; thru March 1; free. 310-443-7000, hammer.ucla.edu.

Laurel Jenkins Tentindo; Credit: Photo by Taso Papdakis

Laurel Jenkins Tentindo; Credit: Photo by Taso Papdakis

4. Body work with headlights and shadows
A former member of the Trisha Brown Dance Co., Laurel Jenkins Tentindo has been making her mark locally with her theatrical dance works. In Image Action Text, Alexx Shilling, Madison Page, Barry Brannum, Samantha Mohr, and Devika Wickremesinghe have their physical edges extended by headlights and shadows. Tentindo takes the stage for a solo inspired by Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. Miguel Frasconi provides live glass and electronic music. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 30-31, 8:30 p.m.; $20, $15 students & seniors. 310-315-1459, highwaysperformance.org.

Nancy Evans Dance Theatre's Scot Turner and Jenn Logan; Credit: Photo by Shana Skelton

Nancy Evans Dance Theatre's Scot Turner and Jenn Logan; Credit: Photo by Shana Skelton

3. A friendly dance festival 
Now in its fourth year, the Friends/Family/Dance Festival hosted by Nancy Evans Dance Theatre spotlights contemporary troupes from L.A. and Santa Barbara. This edition welcomes works from choreographers Meredith Cabaniss (Selah Dance Collective), Caron Eule (C. Eule Dance), Nancy Evans Doede (Nancy Evans Dance Theatre), Alex Floyd (OdDancity), Misa Kelly (ArtBark International), Jessica Kondrath (Jessica Kondrath I movement), Beth Megill (Megill & Company), Leigh Purtill (Nancy Evans Dance Theatre), Deanna Reeves (Pasadena Dance Theatre) and Irene Watson (Watson Dance). Porticos Art Space, St. James Methodist Church, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena; Sat., Jan. 31, 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 1, 4 p.m.; $20, $15 seniors & students. 818-240-1531, nancyevansdancetheatre.com.

M'saada Nia in TAPistalism; Credit: Photo by Largo Richardson

M'saada Nia in TAPistalism; Credit: Photo by Largo Richardson

2. Tap gets literal
Taking its title TAPistalism: The Means of Rhythm Production quite literally, Howard Blume assembles friends and family for the third annual showcase that is mostly tap with a touch of modern dance and magic. Dancers include M’saada Nia, Kristie Betz, Rhoda Huffey, Dyan Lopez, Blume and his daughter Hannah Blume who is a member of the contemporary dance troupe Invertigo Dance. Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village; Sat., Jan. 31, 2:30 & 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 1, 12 p.m.; $15. 323-644-1929, purplepass.com/#mm=allevents/tapitalism.

1. A dance reprised every 40 years
Inspired by a well-muscled dancer’s resemblance to the figures in Andreas Vesalius’ seminal 16th century anatomical drawings, composer Peter Maxwell Davies selected 14 of the drawings that he found also suggested the Stages of the Cross for his 1968 Vesalii Icones (Icons of Vesalius). The result was a 40-minute solo for that dancer accompanied by cello soloist and a small ensemble with the illustrations projected during the dancing. Recognized for its adventurous contemporary classical music programming, the Jacaranda Music series adds dance to its music menu with Icono-Graphic, reprising Vesalii Icones to celebrate the composer’s 80th anniversary with Jones Welsh in the solo dancer role. Known for his powerful work with Diavolo Dance Company and helming his own troupe Not Man Apart, Welsh has included a collaboration with Gary Bates, who danced the solo role in the work’s 1974 L.A. debut. First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second St., Santa Monica; Sat., Jan. 31, 8 p.m.; $45, $20 students. 213-483-0216, jacarandamusic.org.

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