Ann Haskins

New choreography from company artistic director Washington, some favorites from the repertoire and a reconstructed masterpiece from modern-dance legend Katherine Dunham highlight this celebratory Black History Month concert. Washington’s newest takes its title and theme from the Paul Laurence Dunbar poem “We Wear the Mask,” while “The Movement” draws on......

Not surprisingly for such a fiery art form, passionate divisions and furious debate separate flamenco purists from those exploring more modern applications of the genre. Yet for audiences, the nuanced line drawing is of less interest than the performance, as evidenced by the meteoric rise of Sara Baras. One of......

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, one of Europe’s premier dance companies returns with two full-length story ballets, both drawn from celebrated literature and both consumed with ballet’s favorite subject: tragic love affairs. Arguably the most brilliant storyteller working in ballet, choreographer John Neumeier dazzled local audiences two years ago......

Let’s be frank. There is a plot. There is singing. There are personal stories being told à la A Chorus Line about how these individuals came to, and sometimes were salvaged by, dance. But ultimately, what makes this 90-minute event compelling is the dancing, a swirl of hip-hop, freestyle and......

Working on music videos, commercials, film, television and concert tours does pay the bills for choreographers and dancers, but often their best moves are edited into shards or marginalized as shadowy movements behind a spotlit star. Eight years ago, choreographer Carey Ysais forged an alliance with one of L.A.’s premier......

Relatively recent arrivals on the local dance scene, choreographer Sarah Harkness and her invigorating troupe have drawn increasing attention for their contemporary renderings of classic tales. Her 2005 Elle reconsidered ballet’s Giselle, and last year’s Midsummer Night’s Dream gave a new reading to Shakespeare with a blend of ballet, contemporary......

This weekly showcase long ago cemented its status as L.A.’s most significant venue for flamenco. Now entering its fourth year, the series continues to thrive and may also have helped fuel the increasing presence of flamenco performers at area theaters, restaurants and clubs. Considerable credit goes to Jose Tanaka, Antonio......

Finely honed and diligently rehearsed performance is a hallmark of artistic professionalism, yet for some forms — comedy, acting, jazz — improvisation allows performers to expand boundaries, explore new ideas and integrate audience reaction into the live experience. Dance can be included in that list, with L.A. the home base......

For several years, Washington and her troupe have ended the year with a festive Kwanzaa program, but this year the company truly is home for the holidays with the performance set in its new studio. Enjoy exuberant dancing plus live drumming, jazz bands and other celebratory contributions. The announced program......

Even with its evanescent soundtrack by Danny Elfman, the cult film Edward Scissorhands is odd source material for dance. The movie also would seem an illogical next choice for choreographer Matthew Bourne, who built his reputation on deconstructing classical ballets. Yet Bourne’s past endeavors invariably center on existentially isolated central......