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This week's dance events include modern ballet from Raiford Rogers and classical Indian dance from C.O.L.A. honoree Malathi Iyengar
5. Raiford Rogers with something old and something new
Each summer, Raiford Rogers recruits top-notch professional dancers on hiatus from their home ballet companies for his Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet. Rogers has built a strong fan base for these summer performances showcasing both his architectural choreography and superb performers. The roster of dancers changes somewhat each year, but tonight boasts the return of Bobby Briscoe, Lisa Gillespie and Kelly Ann Sloan, three of the stunning performers who bring Rogers' choreography to life.
This summer's edition includes Rogers' latest Schubert's Silence set to Franz Schubert's Piano Sonata No. 18 “Fantasie” in G major, D.894. The program also reprises Preludes In a Landscape, combining music by John Cage and JS Bach at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Dr.; Sat., June 29, 8 p.m.; $25-$40. (323) 343-6600, www.luckmanarts.org www.ticketmaster.com.
Culture Shock L.A. dancers in Roy Meets World; Credit: Photo courtesy of Culture Shock Los Angeles
4. Hip hop to help a school
The L.A.-based hip-hop troupe Culture Shock Los Angeles presents Roy Meets World, drawing on Brazilian novelist Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist and using 65 dancers to illuminate the book's message about listening to your heart and your dreams. It's good fun and for a good cause, since proceeds benefit the dance-education program at a new East L.A. elementary school opening this fall. At the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hlywd.; Fri., June 28, 8:30 p.m., $25, $12 children. 323-461-3673, www.fordamphitheatre.org.
3. South Asia dance honoree's Love Trajectory
Malathi Iyengar was the only dance artist among those awarded a Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) fellowship this year. For 25 years Iyengar has led the Rangoli Dance Company and built a reputation as a performer and teacher of classical Indian dance. She's joined in this performance by dancers and musicians from Los Angeles and India in Love Trajectory, a personal recounting of the competing influences of her South Asian upbringing and life in the United States. Iyengar shares the concert with the only other performing-arts C.O.L.A. awardee, jazz violinist Michael White and his band. At. Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Fri., June 28, 8:30 p.m., free. 213-687-2159, www. rangoli.org, www.grandperformances.org
Malathi Iyengar; Credit: Photo by Nick Barral
2. Thumbelina on her toes
California Contemporary Ballet unveils a new production of Thumbelina, the classic tale of a girl no bigger than your thumb. Thumbelina features choreography by Aerin Holt and original music by Dwight Bernard Mikkelsen. See a preview and buy tickets at www.CalBallet.com. At Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo, Glendale; Sat., June 29, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 30, 2 p.m., $25-$50 advance purchase, $20 seniors & youth 16 & under; $30 at door. 818-240-1000, www.CalBallet.com.
Hart Pulse Dance Company in Singe; Credit: Photo courtesy of Hart Pulse Dance Company
1. Turning up the heat in Singe
This concert features Hart Pulse Dance Company's popular Heart's a Mess plus 10 new works under the banner title Singe. The troupe also recruits a clutch of companies for its annual late-summer MixMatch Dance Festival, but this is the ensemble's chance to take the stage all by itself. Info and tickets at www.HartPulseDance.com. At Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; June 28-29, 8 p.m.; Sun., June 30, 2 p.m., $15 advance, $20 at door. 310-458-8634, www.milesplayhouse.org.
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