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*5 Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week
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This week's dance events include jazz dance at the Hollywood Bowl and flamenco at the Ford
5. “Taylored” dancing at the Playboy Jazz Festival
Frequently in the audience at the annual Playboy Jazz Festival, Pat Taylor and members of her L.A.-based JazzAntiqua Dance Ensemble have felt the urge to dance to the music being played. This year the dancers give in to that urge as JazzAntiqua makes its PBJF debut, dancing on the Hollywood Bowl stage to the music of another festival first timer, pianist Eric Lewis known as ELEW. Festival organizers invited Taylor to participate with the New York-based Lewis knowing that each had spent time on the other's turf. Taylor founded her company in 1993 with a strong commitment to performing to live jazz music although over the years, recordings, often iconic recordings by African American jazz artists, have inspired her work. Known best as a solo jazz pianist and as a composer blending ragtime, rock and pop into what he dubbed rockjazz, Lewis also has built a reputation in the dance world for his work with contemporary choreographers including Judith Jamison former director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Most recently, Lewis became resident composer for the New York dance company Complexions. For PBJF, Taylor, Jazzantiqua and Lewis collaborated on three dances for the set beginning Sunday at 3:30 p.m. They join a stellar line up that includes George Duke, Jeffrey Osborne, Naturally 7, Herbie Hancock, Sheila E. and Bob James/David Sanborn. For a complete line-up of the PBJF go to www.playboyjazzfestival.com. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hllywd.; Sat.-Sun., June 15-16, 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; $20-$160. www.ticketmaster.com (213) 365-3500 or (714) 740-7878.
4. See the Music Dance: The Sequel
For the fourth edition of its See the Music Dance series, the contemporary troupe Lineage Dance Company reprises Arc of Evolution: The Path of Loss. The series offers collaborations between local musicians and Lineage choreographers. In Arc of Evolution: The Path of Loss, choreographer Hilary Thomas and musician John Guth consider loss as a trigger for growth. At the Lineage Performing Arts Center, 89 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena; Sat., June 15, 8 p.m.; Sun., June 16, 5 p.m., $25, $20 students & seniors. 626-844-7008, www.lineagedance.org.
3. Classical music and contemporary ballet
Choreographer Lincoln Jones and his American Contemporary Ballet partnered with some of L.A.'s top classical musicians for lecture demonstrations presented by the respected Da Camera Society under the title Music + Dance. Jones has added more dancers to the ACB roster and returns with an expanded program of his choreography, again presented by the Da Camera Society and again with live music, including Dvorak's American Quartet, Stravinsky's Suite Italienne, Vivaldi's La Follia and Handel's Passacaglia. A postperformance reception offers light fare and a chance to chat with the performers. At the ACB DanceSpace L.A., 5900 Wilshire Blvd., mid-Wilshire; Fri-Sat., June 14-15, 7 & 9 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 16, 7 & 9 p.m., $40, 213-477-2929, www.DaCamera.org.
2. BODYTRAFFIC meets L.A. Dance Project
Benjamin Millepied may be headed to the Paris Opera Ballet, but he still has his hand (foot?) in L.A. Dance Project and will be part of the postshow panel, with BODYTRAFFIC directors Lillian Barbeito and Tina Berkett, after the two contemporary dance companies' performance. BODYTRAFFIC contributes dances by global dance-makers Guy Weizman, Roni Haver and Richard Siegal, while L.A. Dance Project performs a work by company members Julia Eichten and Nathan Makolandra. Writer Rebecca Spence moderates the postperformance discussion. The top ticket price includes a reception following the panel. At the American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air; Sun., June 16, 7 p.m., $45-$100, $30 students. 310-440-1280, www.wcce.aju.edu/forms/frBodyTraffic.aspx
Maria Bermudez in Forever Flamenco at the Ford; Credit: Photo by Miguel Angel Gonzalez
1. Flamenco al fresco
The long-running Fountain Theatre flamenco series returns to the al fresco environs of the Ford Amphitheatre for Forever Flamenco at the Ford with a roster of local, national and international flamenco dancers, singers and musicians. The show pays tribute to Forever Flamenco founder-producer Deborah Lawlor for her fervent support of flamenco in L.A. for more than two decades. The timing is perfect as Fountain Theatre's current offering is an original play focused on women without prior dance training discovering new passions in flamenco classes; the flamenco teacher is played by Maria Bermudez, a familiar presence in Forever Flamenco who also choreographed the play's flamenco sections. At the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hlywd.; Sat., June 15, 8:30 p.m., $50-$100, $36-$56 students & children. 323-461-3673, www.fordamphitheatre.org.
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