The Music Center in L.A. unveils its 2016-17 Dance Season

Reinforcing the role of The Music Center as a major hub for dance in Los Angeles, The Music Center’s powerful new dance season will engage both dance lovers and those new to the art form by challenging preconceived notions of classical ballet and exploring the realm of contemporary expression.

The 2016-17 season of “Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center” will provide the platform for some of the finest U.S. dance companies and artists along with internationally renowned companies who are among the most requested by Music Center audiences.

This coming season opens with “Celebrate Forsythe” (October 21-23) as three American ballet companies – San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Houston Ballet – perform in one program in a never-before-seen approach to salute one of America’s top choreographers, William Forsythe.

The season continues with the distinctive contemporary work of Jessica Lang Dance (February 17-19, 2017); the return of the much-in-demand Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 8-12); the west coast premiere of Scottish Ballet’s A Streetcar Named Desire (May 19-21); Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg’s exploration of the passions of Tchaikovsky (June 23-25); and an original program curated by New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck with the return of The Music Center’s BalletNow (July 28-30).

As in recent years, a number of the engagements will be integrated with arts education programs, including high school performances and teacher workshops.

This summer, The Music Center will highlight two popular audience favorites – the participatory dance experiences of The Music Center’s Dance DTLA with themed dancing under-the-stars and DJ nights on The Music Center Plaza (June 3, 10 and 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; August 5, 12, 19 and 26; and September 2), and The Music Center’s Moves After Dark (August 8, 15, 16 and 17), which breaks down the walls of the conventional concert dance stage with dance performances in atypical locations throughout The Music Center campus.

Commenting on her first full dance season as president and CEO of The Music Center, Rachel Moore (formerly CEO of American Ballet Theatre), explained The Music Center carefully selected the companies and the choreography based on their appeal to an increasingly selective Los Angeles dance audience, as well as to attract people who may never have experienced a dance performance.

“Both dance aficionados and those new to this art form will find something special and compelling with our 2016-17 dance season, ranging from traditional ballet to contemporary expression,” Moore said. “By mixing the iconic vocabulary of ballet with movement that pushes the envelope to explore powerful emotions, cultural themes, personalities and more, we will introduce Angelenos to the often unpredictable and exciting potential of dance,” she explained.

Michael Solomon, associate vice president of programming for The Music Center, said, “It is an honor for Dance at The Music Center to present and to salute many of the world’s most recognized choreographers and dancers, including the return of some of the most-requested companies among our dance audiences.”

He added, “By finding an entry point for people – be it a storyline, music or relatable message – we can bring the uninitiated into dance.”

For further information on The Music Center’s 2016-17 season or its participatory dance experiences this summer, visit www.musiccenter.org. Season tickets/subscriptions for the 2016-17 season are on sale now. To reserve yours, call (213) 972-0711.

Photo (top): Jessica Lang Dance. Photo (left): San Francisco Ballet’s Sofiane Sylve and Julia Rowe in Forsythe’s PasParts in 2016. Photo by Erik Tomasson. Photo (right): Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild. Photo courtesy of NYC Dance Project.