Ann Haskins
This week's dance shows include Stomp's new relative, dance about the front page and, surprise, more Nutcracker.
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4. Nutcracker goes to the Coconut Grove
Robyn Gardenhire and her City Ballet of Los Angeles draw on Tchaikovsky’s original score and Duke Ellington’s jazzy interpretation for Nutcracker Swings set in World War II at L.A.’s Coconut Grove nightclub. Info at https://cityballetofla.org. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com. At the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 South Lucerne Blvd., Hancock Park; Fri.-Sat., Dec 19-20, 8 p.m., $20-$60. 323-939-0126, eballla.org.
Alyssa Bross as the Rose in Los Angeles Ballet's Nutcracker; Credit: Photo by Reed Hutchinson
3. Still more L.A. Nutcracker
Amid the dozens popping up in December, Los Angles Ballet’s is the most polished and professional of this season's Nutcracker productions. LAB continues it tour of metro L.A. with a weekend at UCLA. Info on all venues and tickets at losangelesballet.org or 310- 998-7782. For L.A. Weekly’s annual listing of professional, training company and ballet school productions of the Nutcracker go click here. At Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Dr., Wstwd.; Sat-Sun., Dec. 20-21, 1 & 5 p.m., $31-$99, $24.50-$79 seniors, students & children 12 & under. 310-825-2101 https://cap.ucla.edu.
Suchi Branfman's Groundswell; Credit: Photo by Cooper Bates
2. Dancing the front page
Ever concerned with pressing social and personal issues, choreographer/dancer Suchi Branfman returns with Groundswell. The program includes works about police violence, a relative’s drug death and, on a lighter note, a dance for two shoe trees. At Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 19-20, 8:30 p.m., $20, $15 students & seniors. 310-453-1755, highwaysperformance.org .
Raditactical; Credit: Photo by Star Foreman
1. Crafting a percussion cocktail
Start with its snare drum sounding title; blend in half dozen tap dancers, percussionists, musicians, and a juggling Beatboxer; then, just to clarify, add the subtitle A Journey in Rhythm. It’s the recipe for Raditatical. Simon Chalban choreographed and Ameenah Kaplan directed the shenanigans. Kaplan’s credits include Stomp of which Raditatical is a new craft cocktail of dance and rhythm. The cast includes Bronkar Lee, Aaron Williams, and Melinda Sullivan, plus musicians Paul Newman, Scotty Lund, and Andrew Pulkrabek. Info and tix at raditatical.com. At the Montalbán Theatre, 1615 North Vine St., Hllywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m., Thru Dec. 21, $20-$50. 323-461-6999, themontalban.com.
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