From Toe-Tapping Flips to Soulful Moves, Dance Returns Next Spring to The Music Center With A New Season of High-Energy Productions and Contemporary Flare
Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center’s 2022 Season Will Feature the West Coast Premiere of Hamburg Ballet’s Bernstein Dances and the West Coast Premiere of The Joyce Theater’s SW!NG OUT Directed by Caleb Teicher, Plus the Highly-Anticipated Returns of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Pacific Northwest Ballet to Southern California
Dance Residencies will Include School Performances, Educator Workshops, Pre-Performance Talks and Swing Dance Jams, Among Other Programs, to Enhance Public Participation
LOS ANGELES (October 19, 2021)—Dance springs forward as the 19th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center) returns with live indoor performances starting March 2022. With four dance residencies set to take place at Los Angeles' performing arts center, Angelenos will experience a wide-ranging group of world-renowned companies showcasing classic lines among modern storylines, along with new participatory dance experiences in Dance at The Music Center’s 2022 season. Season subscriptions are available starting today.
The Dance at The Music Center season begins with The Music Center debut of Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier and the West Coast premiere of Bernstein Dances, artistic director John Neumeier’s homage to his home country and the great American composer (March 11, 13 and 19, 2022), followed by the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to its Southern California home for annual performances, including the cultural treasure and Mr. Ailey’s seminal masterpiece, Revelations (April 6-10, 2022). Making their Music Center debut, tap phenom Caleb Teicher leads the West Coast premiere of entertaining dance party SW!NG OUT (June 24–26, 2022), which will light up the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre and Jerry Moss Plaza, where the audience can join Lindy Hop champions out on the dance floor. The season concludes in a celebratory mood as the highly regarded Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra mark the company’s 50th anniversary season with a mixed program of modern classics by Twyla Tharp, Alejandro Cerrudo and Crystal Pite.
Dance moves us in many ways and communicates so much without uttering a word—and that’s why we love it. Whether en pointe or with tap shoes, The Music Center’s upcoming performances will bring joy to the hearts and minds of Angelenos eager to experience and learn more about this incredible artform," said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. "Our new dance season brings two West Coast premieres, a Music Center debut and the return of two other companies that Southern California audiences have missed. We closed our doors in March 2020 just as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was ready to take the stage, so the company’s April 2022 residency will be much anticipated. We’re also thrilled to join in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s celebration of its golden anniversary as it closes out our season with a mixed repertoire of thrilling and dynamic contemporary works never before seen in Los Angeles."
From the social dance of the 30s and 40s, to the contemporary pillars of today’s dance, Dance at The Music Center returns with four distinct companies, each of which interpret movement and passion through diverse viewpoints," added Josephine Ramirez, executive vice president, TMC Arts. To highlight these dance residencies, we’re also making each presentation an ‘experience’ for our guests as they come closer to knowing and understanding the repertoire. From pre-talks featuring special commentators to events that get fans on their feet dancing, the new season will give us all wonderful opportunities to celebrate and engage in world-class arts experiences at The Music Center."
In line with The Music Center’s mission to deepen the cultural lives of Angelenos, TMC Arts will invite the community to engage with the companies in multiple ways through school performances, educator workshops, pre-performance talks, participatory Swing dance jams with live music and more to help expand public participation with the dance artform; details will be announced as the season begins. Additionally, The Music Center will bring back its Student Dance Matinee Program, which welcomes thousands of students from all over Los Angeles County to experience professional dance performances that celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles communities. The long-running initiative aims to inspire students and educators to engage with dance and movement, visual storytelling and the creative process; for many students this may be their first experience at a live performance. During the 2022 Dance at The Music Center season, local students will be introduced to the magic of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations on April 7, 2022, at a special school-time Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance moderated by one of the dancers. To enhance their understanding, teachers will receive a comprehensive study guide to share with students prior to attending the performance for an educational and entertaining experience. Additionally, The Music Center and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host educational residency programs at four local middle schools. Ailey Master Teachers will lead these curriculum-based workshops using Revelations as the inspirational framework for an in-depth study of language arts and social studies while learning choreography from the famous dance work.
While COVID-19 is a fluid situation, The Music Center’s extensive safety protocols, which embrace the highest standards of safety, sanitation and security, are in place to minimize risk for its guests and employees. Please visit musiccenter.org/safety for information about The Music Center’s safety and security measures.
Season subscriptions for the Dance at The Music Center 2022 season are on sale now. Single tickets will be available for purchase on December 17, 2021. For tickets and information, call (213) 972-0711 or visit musiccenter.org. The Music Center’s Ticket Buyer Assurance Program protects all advance ticket purchases for dance presentations through 2022. Ticketed patrons will receive, at their request, a full refund or a credit for a future performance if Los Angeles County or the State of California elects to restrict or prohibit large gathering events at venues, resulting in the cancellation of dance performances due to COVID-19-related conditions. If an event is postponed or rescheduled, ticketed patrons will be moved automatically to the new performance date; however, patrons may request a refund or credit for the future. All changes must be handled prior to the purchaser’s scheduled performance date.
Dance at The Music Center 2022 Season
Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier
Bernstein Dances
Friday, March 11, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Live orchestra Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Debut performance at The Music Center
The Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier is famous far beyond the city of Hamburg, Germany. International tours have made the company not only a highlight of the global ballet scene, but also one of Germany's most important cultural ambassadors. The heart of the company is Milwaukee native Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier, who has directed the company since 1973. Neumeier is a master at combining classical ballet tradition with contemporary forms in his works, while developing a unique personal choreographic language.
While making its company debut at The Music Center, Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier will kick off this season and perform the West Coast premiere of one of Neumeier’s original pieces, Bernstein Dances, where "the seriousness of the artist and the lightness of the music pleasantly balance each other" (Hamburger Abendblatt). Premiering in 1998 in New York City and based on the music and spirit of American legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, this full-length work follows a similar structure to that of a revue: a collage of separate episodes resulting in a danced mosaic— unified by Bernstein’s music. Featuring six solo dancers, the work allows the audience to witness the development of an artist through one central figure. A seventh dancer appears periodically, directing, motivating and inspiring the action. Bernstein Dances has a run time of two hours and 30 minutes, and features music from some of the composer’s most indelible works including Candide, MASS, On the Town, Peter Pan, West Side Story and Wonderful Town as well as the complete Serenade (after Plato’s "Symposium"). Additional public events involving the company will be announced at a later date.
Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Mixed repertoire
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Recorded music
Last company appearance at The Music Center: 2019
Designated by Congressional resolution as "a vital American cultural ambassador to the world," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater >returns to The Music Center, performing a mix of new works and fan favorites, including Revelations—Ailey’s most popular and critically acclaimed work that explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul through African American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues. Choreographed when Ailey was only 29 years old, Revelations is an intimate reflection inspired by his childhood memories of attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, and by the work of writers James Baldwin and Langston Hughes.
With a single performance in 1958 in New York City, Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers changed forever the perception of American dance. Today, under the leadership of Robert Battle, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary as artistic director this season, the company continues Ailey's mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones that "ignite rapturous responses and rouse the public to its feet out of sheer joy" (Washington Post). Additional repertoire and public events will be announced at a later date.
SW!NG OUT
A Joyce Theater Production
Directed by Caleb Teicher
Friday, June 24, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Live music: Eyal Vilner Big Band
Debut performance at The Music Center
Dance at The Music Center swings into summer with SW!NG OUT, a Joyce Theater Production directed by Caleb Teicher, the award-winning dancer and choreographer who mixes "super-charged energy with tossed-off charm" (The New Yorker). Specializing in musically-driven dance traditions and interdisciplinary partnerships, the New York City-based hoofer began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorrance’s critically acclaimed tap dance company, Dorrance Dance, while also freelancing in contemporary dance, Lindy Hop and musical theater. As a solo performer and collaborator, Teicher is known for choreographic collaborations with diverse musical talents: world-champion beatboxer Chris Celiz; composer/pianist Conrad Tao; the National Symphony Orchestra; and Indie rock legends Ben Folds and Regina Spektor.
With new choreography and direction by Teicher and their brain trust of collaborators—Evita Arce, LaTasha Barnes, Nathan Bugh, Macy Sullivan and Eval Vilner—the high-energy SW!NG OUT features 12 Lindy Hop champions and the 10-piece Eyal Vilner Big Band. The West Coast premiere of SW!NG OUT celebrates the nation’s social dance traditions with aerial moves, unexpected improvisations, lighting-fast footwork and new arrangements of jazz and swing tunes from the big band era. The performance begins on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre, with the second half of the program moving outdoors, empowering audiences to partner or solo dance alongside the professionals on The Music Center’s spacious Jerry Moss Plaza. Additional public events involving the company will be announced at a later date.
Pacific Northwest Ballet & Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
Mixed repertoire
Friday, July 15, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 17, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Live orchestra: Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
Last company appearance at The Music Center: 2016
Pacific Northwest Ballet, one of the largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the United States, was founded in 1972. In July 2005, Peter Boal became artistic director, succeeding Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, artistic directors since 1977. The company of nearly 50 dancers presents more than 100 performances each year of full-length and mixed repertory ballets at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle and on tour. Pacific Northwest Ballet has toured to Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada and throughout the United States. The company will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022 with performances at The Music Center as well as Lincoln Center in New York City.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s performances at The Music Center, featuring the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, will entail a distinct presentation showcasing a host of contemporary works including Little mortal jump, a complex work by the company’s resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo. The 26-minute work is a bubbling blend of different styles and genres that distills into a fluid, cohesive whole. The dance fuses the technicality of movement, the theatricality of the stage and the dark humor inherent in relationships. The program continues with Plot Point, a haunting piece inspired by film noir by Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, which presents each performer shadowed by a counterpart dancer. The concept piece features dancers whose configurations and gestures sketch out the essential plot points of a narrative as their corresponding characters embody the emotional tone and tension of those moments. The performances will be capped with Twyla Tharp’s Waiting at the Station, a piece the incomparable choreographer developed for the company in 2013 as its first-ever artist-in-residence. Set in 1940s New Orleans with a score by R&B artist Allen Toussaint, the work’s "scale, humanity and impetus sweep" (New York Times) the audience into this narrative ballet that follows a man attempting to connect with his son one final time. Additional public events involving the company will be announced at a later date.
At the current time, The Music Center requires all members of the public who attend performances and events inside The Music Center’s four theatres to show proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of attendance (including children under 12). This applies to performances and events presented by TMC Arts and any organizations that present in The Music Center’s theatres with the exception of The Music Center’s resident companies, which have their own vaccination policies. As directed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, all current visitors to The Music Center’s indoor venues must wear a face covering, whether fully vaccinated or not. These policies could change and will be adapted to current conditions when the Dance at The Music Center season begins on March 11, 2022.
In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health directives, The Music Center worked behind-the-scenes during the pandemic to prepare for the return of live performances in its venues, both indoors and outdoors, by implementing new measures and procedures. The Music Center became the first performing arts organization in the nation to earn the UL Verified Healthy Buildings Mark for Indoor Air and Water Quality. The Music Center underwent an extensive assessment process to earn the verification, demonstrating that each of its four venues, Grand Park’s administrative office and The Music Center Annex, has excellent quality for indoor air and water. Additionally, The Music Center has enhanced all cleaning procedures, installed hand sanitizer dispensers in all public spaces and created a contact-free experience in its public restrooms as well as instituted electronic ticketing and a digital program book, among other measures.
The 19th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center is generously supported by Glorya Kaufman Foundation, Center Dance Arts, Dorothy B. Chandler Program Fund and Elisabeth Katte Harris.
*Programs and artists are subject to change. Photos available here.
Situated on the ancestral and sacred land of the Tongva and many other indigenous groups who call these grounds home, The Music Center acknowledges and honors with gratitude the land itself and the First People who have been its steward throughout the generations.
About Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center
Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, a TMC Arts program, is one of the leading presenters of dance on the West Coast. The celebrated series offers significant works by prestigious ballet and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Now entering its 19th year, Dance at The Music Center is a powerful force, supporting new works and artists-in-residence projects by today’s most influential companies and choreographers. Performances take place throughout The Music Center, including the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the distinctive Ahmanson Theatre and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, on the Jerry Moss Plaza and in locations around the Los Angeles area.
About Center Dance Arts
Center Dance Arts is proud to celebrate 20 years as the founding supporter of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center. Center Dance Arts offers members the opportunity to support world-class dance engagements and commission future masterpieces, inspire thousands of children with student performances, school assemblies and masterclasses, as well as interact with celebrated dancers and distinguished dance luminaries at exclusive events that enrich passion for dance. For more information, visit musiccenter.org/centerdancearts.
About The Music Center
The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The $70 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County and on a digital platform called The Music Center Offstage. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, as well as live and digital K–12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Grand Park, which comprise $2 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @MusicCenterLA.
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