Ann Haskins

A few years back, an astonishing photograph captured a Chinese version of Swan Lake with the Swan Queen balancing en pointe on the head of the prince. Turned out the performers were acrobats with ballet training, and someone had the bright idea to incorporate those acrobatic skills into classical ballet......

The annual snowstorm of Nutcracker productions begins this week, and the most polished and professional belongs to L.A. Ballet. Set in 1912 Los Angeles, this Nutcracker is an original, choreographed by company co-artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, with set design by L.A. artist Catherine Kanner. Now in its......

It's hard to think of a better launch for the annual December onslaught of Nutcracker ballets than Urban Nut, a contemporary riff on the classic from artistic director Kate Hutter and her L.A. Contemporary Dance Company. At each performance, an audience member is chosen to participate as Clara (or Clarence),......

Eleven months ago, choreographer Danielle Agami relocated from Seattle to L.A. with her shift key–challenged Ate9 dANCEcOMPANY. She arrived with a reputation earned as a dancer with Israel's Batsheva Dance Company and as a proponent of Gaga, the innovative movement aethestic of Batsheva artistic director Ohad Naharin. Since arriving, the......