The Music Center's 2024-2025 Dance Season To Make History With Debut Performances From Three of the World's Most Talked-About Companies, A Highly Awaited West Coast Premiere and a First-Ever Dance Residency at The Music Center's Mark Taper Forum
Urban Bush Women, Batsheva Dance Company and Boston Ballet to Enthrall Angelenos with Their Music Center Debuts; Brazil’s Grupo Corpo Returns to The Music Center After 14 Years; Plus, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Marks the Second Year of Its Exclusive Southern California Multi-Year Residency with The Music Center
Season Subscriptions on Sale Now at MUSICCENTER.ORG
LOS ANGELES (April 25, 2024) — The Music Center announced today that, for the first time in its momentous 60-year history, the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center season will include performances all across its north campus including the famed Mark Taper Forum, the iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Ahmanson Theatre. Adding to the excitement, the 2024–2025 dance season includes The Music Center debuts of three dance companies, making the 22nd season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center the most fearless season yet and cementing The Music Center as L.A.’s premier performing arts destination.
The dance season will launch in November 2024 at the Mark Taper Forum with The Music Center debut of Urban Bush Women. The season continues in February 2025, with the critically acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company—also making its Music Center debut—followed by the beloved Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in April 2025; both companies will perform at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In May 2025, performing at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre, Brazilian dance troupe Grupo Corpo returns to The Music Center after 14 years, with a repertoire that blends Afro-Brazilian rhythms and classical technique. Closing the unrivaled dance season will be The Music Center debut of Boston Ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with an enchanting presentation of the classical ballet masterpiece Swan Lake.
Season subscriptions are available for purchase now by visiting musiccenter.org or by calling (213) 972-0711; single tickets will be available for purchase starting on June 25, 2024. As part of these residencies, The Music Center will offer arts and cultural experiences, such as panel discussions, master classes, student matinees, special events and more, all of which are free to the public.
“Unparalleled vibrancy is the best way to describe the 2024–2025 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center. The new season will be filled with boundless creativity, breathtaking artistry and fearless dancers whose emotional and expressive performances reflect our shared humanity,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “Angelenos are in for a rare treat when three of the world’s most eminent dance companies make their Music Center debuts, and we hold a dance engagement at the Mark Taper Forum for the first time in The Music Center’s 60-year history. With all three theatres at The Music Center’s north campus included in our dance season, Angelenos now have the perfect opportunity to experience so much of what The Music Center has to offer!”
The Music Center’s 2024–2025 dance season launches on November 22–24, 2024, with Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women (UBW), presented in association with Center Theatre Group. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, UBW will build upon its repertoire of bold, life-affirming works with the West Coast premiere of SCAT!... The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar, a love story set in a fictional jazz club where two people make their journey to Kansas City as part of the Great Migration. Conceived, directed and choreographed by UBW founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, who grew up in the mid-20th century performing in Black neighborhoods in a segregated Kansas City, SCAT! tells a powerful tale of the aftermath when aspirations are impacted by the harsh realities of American life during the 1940s and 1950s. The 90-minute dance work, set to an original jazz score by Craig Harris, will be performed with a live band at The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum.
Following the UBW presentation, Dance at The Music Center will present Batsheva Dance Company at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from February 14–16, 2025, with the company’s newest work, MOMO (2022). The 70-minute piece, conceived by master choreographer Ohad Naharin, presents a shared passion of deep sorrow and beauty unfolding on stage; it will be performed to a soundtrack from the album Landfall by the iconic Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet, with additional music by Philip Glass, Arca, and Maxim Waratt. “MOMO has two souls,” according to the company. “One sends long roots to the depths of the earth—a soul that embodies archetypes and myths of hardened, raw masculinity, and the other is in a constant search for an individual and distinct DNA; one moves within its own autonomous and independent force field, and the other is a constellation of elements that spin around the same nucleus—alternately drifting away and towards it, making room for necessary tenderness and catharsis.”
Also performing at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will be Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on April 2–6, 2025. The esteemed modern dance company, which celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2024 and recently performed a tremendous seven performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, returns for the second season of its exclusive Southern California multi-year residency with The Music Center. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a beacon of artistic excellence, showcasing the vibrancy and richness of the African American cultural experience, transcending boundaries and reshaping the art form itself. The company will present another dynamic repertoire that highlights the breadth and depth of founder Alvin Ailey's artistic vision, including his signature work Revelations—leaving L.A. audiences in awe once again.
On May 2–4, 2025, Brazilian dance company Grupo Corpo takes center stage at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre. Renowned for its unparalleled blend of popular Brazilian culture, African rhythms, and classical technique, the company will perform for the first time at The Music Center after 14 years. Grupo Corpo will perform Rodrigo Pederneiras' 1992 work 21, a ballet divided into three movements that weaves rhythmic and timbral combinations around the number 21. Audiences will be captivated by the musical score’s unique sounds, emanating from composer Marco Antônio Guimarães’ unusual instrumental creations. The company’s second work, Gira, is inspired by Afro-Brazilian religious rituals with the dancers’ trance-like turning and movements embodying the vibrancy of these ceremonies. “It is the sheer physical virtuosity of the company that is so impressive—the sinuous, athletic bodies seemingly inexhaustible,” writes London’s The Guardian.
The 22nd season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center comes to a magnificent close on June 26–29, 2025, with The Music Center debut of Boston Ballet performing Swan Lake, a masterpiece of classical ballet that has mesmerized audiences for generations. Boston Ballet’s Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen’s exquisite production follows the Swan Queen Odette and Prince Siegfried in a tale of romance, sorcery and deceit. Since 1963, Boston Ballet’s internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neoclassical and contemporary ballets—combined with a dedication to world-class dance education and community initiatives—have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 61-year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.
For tickets and information about the 2024–2025 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, visit musiccenter.org or call (213) 972-0711.
The 2024–2025 Season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center*
URBAN BUSH WOMEN (Music Center Debut)
Presented in association with Center Theatre Group
The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum
Friday, November 22, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 24, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Live Music
SCAT!... The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar (West Coast Premiere)
Conception, Direction and Choreography: Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
Composition, Lyrics and Arrangements: Craig Harris
Lighting Design: Russell Sandifer
Production and Scenic Consultant: Wendall Harrington
Projection Associate: Brittany Bland
Sound Design: Bill Toles
Associate Choreographer: Vincent Thomas
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Urban Bush Women (UBW) builds upon a repertoire of bold, life-affirming dance works with SCAT!... The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar. This new dance-driven jazz club spectacular was conceived, directed and choreographed by UBW founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, who grew up performing in floor shows in Black neighborhoods in a segregated Kansas City in the mid-20th century after World War II—an era when Black businesses were booming, and there was great hope of upward mobility. SCAT! tells the story of two people making their way from the Great Migration to Kansas City to the present. Performed with a live band on stage, and set to an original jazz score by Craig Harris, this West Coast premiere tells the powerful journey of what happens when aspirations encounter the harsh realities of American life in the 1940s and 1950s.
BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY (Music Center Debut)
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Friday, February 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 15, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 16, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
MOMO (2022)
Choreography: Ohad Naharin
Co-Creators: Batsheva Dance Company Dancers and Ariel Cohen
Lighting Design: Avi Yona Bueno (Bambi)
Sound Design and Editing: Maxim Waratt
Set and Props Design: Gadi Tzachor
Costume Design: Eri Nakamura
Music: Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass, Arca, and Maxim Waratt
The critically acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company presents a shared passion of deep sorrow and beauty in its newest evening-length work, MOMO, from master choreographer Ohad Naharin. The company performs to a soundtrack from the iconic Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet’s work Landfall, with additional music by Philip Glass, Arca, and Maxim Waratt. Established in 1964 as a repertoire company, Batsheva Dance Company is one of the world’s most prominent and renowned dance troupes. The company stands at the forefront of the international dance world, thanks to the bold choreographic voice of Naharin and to the uncompromising quality of the company’s dancers.
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 3, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 4, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Mixed Repertory
Last company appearance at The Music Center: 2024
Returning to The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a second year as part of its exclusive Southern California multi-year annual residency, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will expand on its choreographic tradition with new works and beloved classics that illustrate the breadth of the company’s rich catalog, including Alvin Ailey’s signature work Revelations. Ailey grew up in Los Angeles from the time he was 12 years old. He studied dance with Lester Horton and became a member of Horton’s L.A. company before moving to New York. When Ailey and a small group of African American dancers took the stage on March 30, 1958, at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the engagement was for one night only, but it turned out to be the start of a new era in the arts, launching a revolutionary company that transcends barriers and celebrates the African American cultural experience. America’s most popular modern dance company has showcased the work of diverse choreographers, amplifying a myriad of voices alongside Mr. Ailey’s own. Alvin Ailey became one of the trailblazers of modern dance, and the work of his company grew to encompass education, community engagement and cultural diplomacy.
GRUPO CORPO
The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre
Friday, May 2, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Last company appearance at The Music Center: 2011
21 (1992)
Choreography: Rodrigo Pederneiras
Music: Marco Antônio Guimarães / UAKTI
Set Design: Fernando Velloso
Costume Design: Freusa Zechmeister
Lighting: Paulo Pederneiras
Gira (2017)
Choreography: Rodrigo Pederneiras
Music: Metá Metá
Set Design: Paulo Pederneiras
Lighting Design: Paulo Pederneiras and Gabriel Pederneiras
Founded in 1975 by brothers Artistic Director Paulo Pederneiras and choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras, the Brazilian dance company Grupo Corpo (meaning “Body Group” in Portuguese) is renowned for its unparalleled blend of popular Brazilian culture, African rhythms and classical technique. In 21, dancers weave rhythmic and timbral combinations around the number 21. Audiences will be delighted by the musical score’s unique sounds emanating from composer Marco Antonio Guimarães’ unusual instrumental creations. In Gira, Rodrigo Pederneiras constructs a powerful glossary of gestures of praise and trance-like turning and movement inspired by Afro-Brazilian religious rituals and set to 11 musical themes that were created especially for the company by the Brazilian fusion group Metá Metá.
BOSTON BALLET (Music Center Debut)
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Live Orchestra
Swan Lake (2014)
Choreography: Adaptation and additional choreography by Mikko Nissinen, after original by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set and Costume Design: Robert Perdziola
Lighting Design: Mark Stanley
Projection Design: Seághan McKay
Step into the entrancing world of Swan Lake, a masterpiece of classical ballet that has mesmerized audiences for generations with elegant dancing, iconic music and a timeless tale of love and loss. Boston Ballet’s Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen’s exquisite production follows the Swan Queen Odette and Prince Siegfried in a tale of romance, sorcery and deceit. The second act, originally choreographed by Lev Ivanov, is historically considered the finest piece of classical choreography for the corps de ballet. The production showcases the technical precision and emotional tonality of the full company, brilliantly transformed by Robert Perdziola’s impeccable costume design and set to the timeless score by P.I. Tchaikovsky.
*Programs and artists subject to change.
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 22nd year, Glorya Kaufman Presents 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 are complemented by special experiences for both ticket buyers and the public with opportunities to learn more about the choreography and the themes explored, including panels, master classes, dance film festivals, interactive experiences and more. The 22nd 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.
ABOUT CENTER DANCE ARTS
Center Dance Arts is a dynamic community of patrons with a passion for dance. Center Dance Arts members bring dance to life in Los Angeles by promoting The Music Center’s world-class dance performances, extensive educational outreach and free and low-cost community experiences so all may experience the transformative power of dance. For more information, visit musiccenter.org/cda.
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. Celebrating its 60th year in 2024, 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 Gloria Molina 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 Gloria Molina 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 social media @MusicCenterLA.
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