Choreographer Benjamin Millepied's L.A. Dance Project has said farewell for now to the Theatre at Ace Hotel, and is preparing to grace a new stage. The company will make its debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts this weekend with not just one but three dances.
The January 29 and 30 shows will feature the U.S. premiere of "Harbor Me," which explores shelter and protection and is choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Millepied's "Hearts & Arrows" will also take to the stage featuring eight dancers and Philip Glass' String Quartet No. 3. And last but not least, New York City Ballet's resident choreographer Justin Peck will present his "Murder Ballades," which was inspired by American "murder ballad" folk songs.
L.A. Dance Project announced a residency at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in 2014 and was scheduled to perform two programs at the venue each year. Their show at the Wallis may have some people wondering if that partnership is still on, but they have nothing to worry about.
"L.A. Dance Project is very excited to be performing at The Wallis with a U.S. premiere and has wanted to perform there since its opening," said a spokesperson in a statement on behalf of the company. "We still consider the Theater at Ace Hotel our home theater, mere blocks away from the L.A. Dance Project rehearsal studio, and hope to be back in the fall. But, L.A. Dance Project does perform all over Los Angeles including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art, Union Station, Schindler House, Ace Theatre and now the Wallis Annenberg Theater for the Performing Arts."
If you need a little more incentive to go to the Wallis shows, there will be free pre-concert conversations and wine tastings—that just sold you, didn't it?—with the artists at 7pm both nights in the David C. Bohnett Foundation Founders' Room. All you have to do to get in is RSVP to RSVP@TheWallis.org. You're welcome.
Shows will begin January 29 and 30 at 8pm. Tickets to the performances are $39-$99 and can be purchased online.