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This week's dance events include the opening of the dance-filled New Original Works (NOW) Festival.
5. Three weeks of NOW
The folks who love acronyms at REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theatre) also like double entendres. The annual NOW (New Original Works) Festival reflects both the first time nature of the presentations as well as the emphasis on the cutting edge emphasis of the nine L.A. innovators invited to participate. Divided into trios for three successive weekends, this year's invitees are mostly dance with spoken word, puppets and live music in the mix. The opening week includes Christine Marie & Ensemble, who employ live shadow theater techniques reminiscent of silent films in the 4 Trains segment of Signaling Arcana. Mecca Vazie Andrews channels her alter ego Molly Delilah Roundtree with help from her dancers in Molly Maps Erratic. Samantha Goodman gets help from jazz pianist Reggy Woods, cellist Isaac Takeuchi and video projections in Depth of Surface. Week two offers Jennie MaryTai Liu, Tyler Matthew Oyer, and Waewdao Sirisook & Ronnarong Khampha. Week three belongs to Daniel Corral, Morgan Thorson & Meg Wolfe, and Paul Fraser, Genevieve Gearhart & Deena Selenow. Lots of info and links to the individual websites for previews. At REDCAT: Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, 631 W. Second St., dwntwn; opening Thurs., July 25, then Thurs.-Sat., 8:30 p.m. through Aug. 10, $18, $14 students. 213-237-2800, www.redcat.org.
4. Street dance for everyone
Dancers from Antics take over this week's free Ford Amphitheatre J.A.M. Session, offering lessons in different street-dance styles including hip-hop, popping, krumping and breaking. Learn the moves, or watch and learn the difference between the different styles. DJ B-Girl spins the music. John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd.; Hllywd.; Mon., July 22, 7 p.m., free with reservation. 323-461-3673, www.fordamphitheater.org .
3. A new company debuts
Choreographers Denna Thomsen and Zak Ryan Schlegel have recruited professional dancers from contemporary-dance companies and the world of music videos, concerts, television and film for the debut of AXIOM, which is executive produced by Shia LaBeouf. Tickets at www.axiom.brownpapertickets.com. The show is at Club Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams; Thurs., July 25-27, 8:30 p.m., $20, 323-931-4636, www.faisdodo.com.
Dancer Mizuho Sato of Forever Flamenco; Credit: Photo by Sari Makki Philippes
2. Two nights of flamenco
The long-running flamenco series Forever Flamenco returns to its home theater with Gerardo Morales y Compañeros joined by dancers Mizuho Sato, Clara Rodriguez and Briseyda Zarate. Saturday includes singer Guillermo Gonzales and guitarist José Tanaka. On Sunday, singer Antonio de Jerez; guitarist Gabriel Osuna, and pianist Mateo Amper. At the Fountain Theater, 5060 Fountain Ave., E.Hllywd.; Sat.-Sun., July 20-21, 8 p.m., $40. (323) 663-1525 or www.FountainTheatre.com
1. High-stepping to the band
Chicago's Mucca Pazza may be more marching than dance band, but there's a strong promise they'll set folks to stepping along with this mini-parade. The lunch hour performance, part of the Grand Performances lunchbox series, starts on Broadway, moves through Grand Central Market then plays its way up Angels Flight for a finale on the WaterCourt stage. A map with the actual route is promised on the website www.grandperformances.org. Friday, July 19, noon, free.
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