Review: Kyle Abraham’s superlative A.I.M. @ The Broad Stage
Only a handful of contemporary choreographers could pull off an evening of the magnitude and excellence that Kyle Abraham did last night, together with his 8-member dance company, Abraham.in.Motion, at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. For this type of presentation, that featuring the voice of a single choreographer, Kyle is now kyng. He’s keeping ...
California dreamin’ gone haywire
May
5
2017
“I’m definitely playing with the juxtaposition of art and garbage,” says artist Jeff Gillette of his upcoming exhibit at Gregorio Escalante gallery. “As a pessimist observing what’s happening in the world right now, I’m posing questions, ‘What is any of this worth?’ and ‘How do we choose what and how we ascribe worth to things?’ ...
Now’s the time … for Kyle
May
3
2017
Because he has such stellar musical chops, choreographer Kyle Abraham will undoubtedly dig the allusion to Charlie Parker’s be-bop anthem “Now’s the Time.” The title of Bird’s composition resonates like a call to action. Abraham, like Parker, is very much an artist of his time. Abraham’s swell dance company, Abraham.In.Motion, will perform this weekend at ...
Honoring Curtis Hanson: actress Kim Basinger @ ‘Confidential’ screening
May
3
2017
In a tribute to Oscar-winning writer-director Curtis Hanson, who sadly passed away in September 2016, lovely actress Kim Basinger will appear in person for a 20th anniversary screening of the film noir masterpiece, L.A. Confidential (1997) hosted by Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series. Basinger’s luminous, Oscar-winning performance as a hooker with a heart, ...
Humor, love of life power Claude Lelouch’s ‘Chacun Sa Vie’
Apr
30
2017
I just loved the opening-night feature film of COLCOA, the French film festival in Los Angeles. Everyone’s Life, blessed by a French title, Chacun sa vie had its north American premiere with its master-director, Claude Lelouch, in the house. It’s a great title — and so apt isn’t it? Because in the end (asserts Lelouch, the ...
Worldly actress Jacqueline Bisset honored at COLCOA
Apr
30
2017
A gorgeous crystal vase and heartfelt congratulations to the British-born actress Jacqueline Bisset, bilingual, bicultural, and in every way a screen stunner. Bisset was honored with the 2017 Prix Alliance Française presented by Christophe Lemoine Consul General of France in Los Angeles on April 27, 2017. The ceremony took place at the annual COLCOA French film ...
Martha Graham Dance Company to live music from Wild Up
She was in her fifties during the forties — maybe that’s why this by-then mature artist was creating a litany of masterworks, nearly all to commissioned scores that got live delivery in performance. In an honoring of that dance history, the Graham Company will perform a fully loaded program of three Graham ballets — you ...
Alma would be happy. Celebrating the UCLA dance department, the nation’s first 7
It was nearly an uproar; a spontaneous outpouring of love and appreciation filled the room when the image of Alma Hawkins, the founder and guiding force behind the dance program at UCLA (now called World Arts and Cultures/Dance), was flashed on an on-stage screen. “A Celebration of UCLA Dance 1962-2017” was not the anticipated turgid ...
So chic: Azzedine Alaïa costumes for ‘Shahrazad’
Well who wouldn’t want to dress the gorgeous bodies of the Royal Ballet of Flanders? Couture master Azzadeine Alaia did so, to great effect, for the December 2016 premier of choreographer Jonah Bokaer’s ‘Shahrazad.’ In dressing this ballet, Alaia stepped into the rather massive footprint of Ballets Russes designer Léon Bakst whose ornate Orientalia, in ...
Free tix! DeMille’s ‘Cleopatra’ @ Chinese Theatre 90th birthday
Apr
20
2017
On May 1, 2017, Hollywood Heritage, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and NBCUniversal will celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the opening of the Chinese Theatre. It was known then, and for many still is nostalgically remembered as Grauman’s Chinese. The Chinese gives a prime example of Los Angeles’ kooky ‘themed’ architecture. The birthday bash will feature ...