The Music Center turns up heat on L.A. dance

Complexions Contemporary BalletWith the continued growth of its celebrated Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center series, and the success of its highly popular participatory dance experiences, The Music Center has become an important hub for dance in Los Angeles. Its 2015-16 dance season is a prime example of the commitment of The Music Center to present distinctive dance experiences to Southern California audiences, especially by internationally renowned artists in classical ballet and contemporary expression.

 

This coming season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center) includes Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra (October 8-11, 2015), the west coast premiere of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago + The Second City (November 6-8, 2015), The Music Center debut of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (January 29-31, 2016), Complexions Contemporary Ballet (April 15-17, 2016), Compagnie Käfig (June 17-19, 2016), and American Ballet Theatre (July 8-10, 2016).

 

The Mariinsky Ballet & OrchestraAt the same time, new Music Center initiatives will showcase some of Los Angeles’ up-and-coming dance ensembles, which are forging new ground and attracting new audiences, and provide ways to engage audiences in their own dance experiences. This includes the introduction of a site-specific series, The Music Center Presents Moves After Dark (July 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2015), the return of the much-in-demand Dance Downtown on Friday nights during the summer on The Music Center Plaza (June 5 and 19, 2015; July 3, 17 and 31, 2015; August 14 and 28, 2015), as well as Los Angeles’ National Dance Day public celebration (July 25, 2015).

 

According to Renae Williams Niles, vice president of programming for The Music Center, the new dance season represents a combination of both the familiar and the new, as well as a number of Southern California and west coast premieres along with The Music Center debuts.

 

American Ballet Theatre in Firebird“We are excited to announce our 15/16 dance season with the return to The Music Center’s stages of some of the most sought-after companies, as well as the introduction of new concepts and new companies that collectively represent the incredible dimensions of ballet and contemporary movement today,” she said.

 

“These tremendous performances, along with so many different opportunities for Music Center guests to engage in distinct dance experiences themselves, make The Music Center a must, both for dance lovers and those new to the art form,” she concluded.

 

For more information, visit www.musiccenter.org.

 

Photo (top): Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Photo by Jae Man Joo. Photo (left): The Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra. Photo by V. Baranovksy. Photo (bottom): American Ballet Theatre. Photo by Gene Schiavone.