Returning to Los Angeles for the first time in 14 years, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center welcomes Grupo Corpo to the Ahmanson Theater stage this Friday through Sunday, May 2-4, for three shows: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
The internationally acclaimed ensemble will present two works new to local audiences. Both incorporate choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras’ mixture of Brazilian folk traditions and ballet.
Accompanied by an original score composed by Marco Antônio Guimarães that includes one-of-a-kind sounds and textures that emanate from instruments he’s created himself, the 1992 work, “21,” was described as “thrilling, arresting and joyful” in The Medium after recent performances in the Bay Area. Drawing from mathematical and musical explorations of the 40-minute work’s title, the overlapping polyphony of sounds drives the company of 22 dancers into large and small group movement adventures.
In “Gira,” audiences are given a peek into the Afro-Brazilian religious rituals of Umbanda and Candomblé ceremonies. Set to 11 musical themes created especially for the company by the Brazilian fusion group Metá Metá, this 2017 creation is described in promotional materials as “capturing the raw and dizzying energy of these sacred rites and offers a primal, ritualistic pulse” that draws viewers in. Please note: there is partial nudity in this piece.
—Benn Widdey, Culture Spot LA
LOCATION:
The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre
135 N. Grand Ave., LA 90012
TICKETS:
$20-$60
https://www.musiccenter.org/smartseat/?itemNumber=6798&resetMOS=True#
INFO:
https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/dance/grupo-corpo
Photo from “Gira” by José Luiz Pederneiras