Ann HaskinsThis week's dance events include Los Angeles Ballet with Balanchine Festival Red, visitors from Canada, and a last chance to meet Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre at the Oasis.
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5. Painting the town Red
Three more Balanchine masterworks with music by Ravel and Stravinsky, film clips of Balanchine's Hollywood movie choreography, pre-performance discussions with a lineup of former New York City Ballet stars, L.A. dance critics and historians, and a roster of gorgeous dancers — it's all part of the Los Angeles Ballet's Balanchine Red, the second half of its Balanchine Festival celebrating the most important and influential choreographer of the 20th century. Co-artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary's both danced with NYCB, and Balanchine personally selected Neary to stage his ballets. Go to LosAngelesBallet.org for information on the roster for each preperformance's Balanchine Talks as well as information and rehearsal clips of the three ballets, the atmospheric La Valse, the ever-cutting edge Agon and the sparkling, effervescent “Rubies” section of the full-length Jewels. After last week's opening in Redondo Beach, the festival continues at four other LAB's other home theaters in Long Beach, Northridge, Glendale and Westwood over the next weeks, making Balanchine a short drive for almost everyone. At the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., May 18, 7:30 p.m. Also at Valley Performing Arts Center, 1811 Nordhoff St., Northridge; Sat., May 25, 7:30 p.m. Also at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sun., May 26, 2 p.m. Also at UCLA Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Wstwd. Sun., June 9, 2 p.m., $24-$95. 310-937-6607 or www.losangelesballet.org.
Heidi Duckler Dance Theater and the “Oasis”; Credit: Photo by Kaitlyn Pietras
4. Last chance to meet at the Oasis…for now
Aided by a mid-century Oasis trailer dubbed “Duck Truck”, choreographer Heidi Duckler and her Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre conclude the initial At the Oasis performance series as dancers perform in, on and around the 1960s-era trailer. At the East Los Angeles Civic Center, 4800 E. Third St., E. L.A.; Sat., May 11, 8:30 & 9:30 p.m., $15, $10 seniors. www.heididuckler.org 323-264-0155.
3. Young, hot and Canadian
Ballet BC, a young, 16-member contemporary Canadian company from Vancouver, British Columbia, (hence the “BC” in its name) makes its local debut. Artistic director Emily Molnar draws on a classical ballet background with the National Ballet of Canada as well as her time with the cutting edge ballet of William Forsythe's Ballet Frankfurt. The tour repertoire includes Petite Céremonie from France's Mehdi Walerski and A.U.R.A. – Anarchist Unit Related to Art from Italy's Jacopo Godan. Get a video preview at thebarclay.org. The dancing is at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; Sat., May 11, 8 p.m., $32-$100, $16-$21.50 under 30 years. 949-854-4646, www.thebarclay.org.
Ballet BC in A.U.R.A.; Credit: Photo by Michael Slobodian
2. Working with what he's got
Adam Linder's body, a lectern and words spoken from them make up Cult to the What. At Pieter, 420 W. Ave. 33, Los Angeles; Mon., May 13, 8:30 p.m., free with non-monetary donation. www.pieterpasd.com/home.html.
1. Synapse makes connections
Synapse Dance Theater, the contemporary dance ensemble at Santa Monica College, unveils new dance works covering the spectrum from classical to street dance. Contributors include Synapse co-directors Jae Lee and Roberta Wolin-Tupas, as well as INKED Dance artistic director Brian Moe, Mark Tomasic, Mawiyah Dowd and Jojo Lai. At Santa Monica High School Barnum Hall, 301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., May 10-11, 7:30 p.m., $15-$18. 310-458-5939.
Synapse dancer Camille Goode; Credit: Photo courtesy of Synapse Dance
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