Ann Haskins

Credit: Courtesy of Versa Style Dance Company

Best Dance Troupe for Hip-Hop Empowerment

Ann Haskins
Who knew hip-hop could be a way to get into college? Well, Jackie Lopez, aka Miss Funk, for one. And Leigh Foaad, aka Breeze-lee, for another. As champion hip-hop dancers, co-founders and co-artistic directors at the now–10-year-old Versa-Style Dance Company, the duo leads an eclectic, high-energy ensemble that reflects the......
Brockus Dance at Los Angeles Dance Festival; Credit: Photo by Denise Leitner

5 Dance Shows to See in L.A. This Week

Ann Haskins
This week's dance shows include a festival with an impressive gathering of local troupes, a 5th and 35th anniversary celebration, a dual debut and Brazilian dance via France. 5. Just hoofin’ it Now in its fifth year, Tap Fest returns with a free performance by professional guest tap dancers culminating......
Brockus Dance at Los Angeles Dance Festival; Credit: Photo by Denise Leitner

5 Dance Shows to See in L.A. This Week

Ann Haskins
This week's dance shows include a festival with an impressive gathering of local troupes, a 5th and 35th anniversary celebration, a dual debut and Brazilian dance via France. 5. Just hoofin’ it Now in its fifth year, Tap Fest returns with a free performance by professional guest tap dancers culminating......
Alynne Noelle in Los Angeles Ballet's Sleeping Beauty; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson

5 Dance Shows to See in L.A. This Week

Ann Haskins
This week’s dance shows include the homecomings for a contemporary choreographer and a local urban Latin troupe along with the last look at Seattle visitors and Los Angeles Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty.   5. Stepping it up The free JAM Sessions mixing movement and music are among the Ford Amphitheater’s most......
Alynne Noelle in Los Angeles Ballet's Sleeping Beauty; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson

5 Dance Shows to See in L.A. This Week

Ann Haskins
This week’s dance shows include the homecomings for a contemporary choreographer and a local urban Latin troupe along with the last look at Seattle visitors and Los Angeles Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty.   5. Stepping it up The free JAM Sessions mixing movement and music are among the Ford Amphitheater’s most......
American Ballet Theatre's Sleeping Beauty; Credit: Photo by Fabrizio Ferri

Dancing About Police Violence, and Other Shows to See This Week

Ann Haskins
This week's dance shows include the return of BODYTRAFFIC, protest dance by a roaring fire and two Sleeping Beauty ballets. 5. Tennessee meets Studs on the dance floor Drawing on sources ranging from Tennessee Williams and Studs Turkel, The Day Shall Declare It explores issues of personal work and living......
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BODYTRAFFIC

Ann Haskins
L.A.-based contemporary company BODYTRAFFIC was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” partly for the dancing, partly for the ability of its directors, Lillian Barbeito and Tina Finkelman Berkett, to attract internationally recognized choreographers. The troupe returns with the program that had a successful run last month at New......
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Los Angeles Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Ann Haskins
His music continually surfaces in ballets, but Tchaikovsky only wrote music specifically for three ballets — the Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Los Angeles Ballet has taken up the challenge of presenting all three during its 2014-2015 season,. With Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty under its belt, LAB’s Tchaikovsky......
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Frank Van de Ven

Ann Haskins
Like local Butoh figure Oguri, Frank Van de Ven spent many years in Japan with the legendary Min Tanaka and the Mai-juku Performance Company. Van de Ven then returned to Europe to establish Body Weather Amsterdam as a platform for training and performance. L.A.’s own Body Weather Laboratory led by......