LA Dance Review

Informal and community-minded events in temporary spaces are always a bit of a game of Russian roulette for dance companies. But, Louise Reichlin’s company Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers played it like pros at the Culver City Fiesta de Ballona last weekend. Performing works on an outdoor, temporary dance floor under a large tent, the dancers were […]

When it comes to elite contemporary concert dance in LA, it doesn’t get better than BODYTRAFFIC. The caliber of this company, its repertory, and sleek production value is akin to the biggest company names worldwide. Under the artistic direction of company founder and longtime performer, Tina Finkelman Berkett, BODYTRAFFIC is riding a wave of brilliance. . .

Clairobscur is an excellent example of high quality, classically based concert dance that is right here in the Los Angeles indie dance scene. The dancers must be recognized for their excellence both in technical skill and performance technique. Sefton has created a company that is mature and convincing. Saturday’s performance at Diavolo Dance Space highlighted […]

You know you are at a well-produced dance concert when you see five trees of side lighting, each with four instruments on both sides of a small black box style theater. And, this was just the beginning of an evening of design eye candy. Sophia Stoller is an MFA candidate at CalArts and her thesis […]

Occasionally I go to a dance show in which everything fits– the essence of the performance space, the energy of the dancers, and the vision of the choreographer. Everything seems to jive in such a way that allows me, as an audience member, to enter an alternate universe for just a fleeting moment. The bicoastal, […]

The Rogue Festival in Fresno is one of the largest and most successful Fringe-style festival west of the Mississippi! It includes a blend of performing artists with an indie edge that makes for an exciting 10 days of new theater, music and dance. I have seen over 11 shows with two days two go. Most […]

One of my favorite aspects about dance is the blurry line between “dance” and “theater.” I use these terms in quotes because at times we can easily define them as separate entities, but it is shows like CHAOS that disprove our limited definitions. Greg Langner’s original production at the Mosaic Lizard Theater in Alhambra was […]

FUSE Dance Company is celebrating its 5 year anniversary this weekend at the Diavolo Dance Space with its show SEVER, directed and choreographed by FUSE founder Joshua Romero. Having seen and reviewed a duet of his in the last MixMatch dance festival, I was looking forward to this performance. The evening-length work told the universal […]

Some might call SoleVita and RhetOracle a creative match made in heaven. These contemporary jazz dance companies both thrive on athleticism, entertaining narratives, and showstopper appeal. This past weekend’s show, The Great American Mixtape, featured a full, two hours of nonstop, high-energy dance. Here is an account of my favorites of the night. SoleVita’s Stealing […]

The Union Project Dance Company arrived on the LA scene just two years ago, and has participated in a number of festivals around the LA area, quickly gaining exposure within the community. Tonight’s fundraiser was held to raise money for their first self-produced, evening-length performance to be held in August of this year as a […]