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Ballet dancers in white costumes perform on stage, surrounded by a snowy backdrop and falling snow. The scene is reminiscent of a winter wonderland with dancers gracefully positioned in various poses.

Marat Daukayev Nutcracker

The Marat Daukayev Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a holiday classic that will enchant audiences of all ages.

Witness the magic unfold as young, talented dancers bring Tchaikovsky’s beloved score to life. From the fierce battle between mice and soldiers to the ethereal beauty of the Snow Queen, this full-length ballet is a visual and auditory feast.

Led by acclaimed former Kirov Ballet star Marat Daukayev, who takes on the role of the enigmatic Drosselmeyer, this production features over 100 dancers and 400 stunning costumes. Daukayev, a renowned dancer and choreographer, imparts his passion and expertise to his students, ensuring a performance that is both technically brilliant and emotionally captivating.

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La Santa Cecilia group posing with confidence in a rustic outdoor setting at dusk, exuding a vintage vibe.

La Santa Cecilia

Grammy-winning La Santa Cecilia exemplifies the modern-day creative hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music. The band is known for drawing inspiration from all over the world, utilizing Pan-American rhythms including cumbia, bossa-nova, rumba, bolero, tango, jazz and klezmer music.

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Taj Mahal singing with head held upwards and Sona Jobarteh holding an instrument in one arm and other arm in air.

Taj Mahal & Sona Jobarteh

Two-time Grammy-winning blues icon Taj Mahal comes to The Luckman on a co-bill with Sona Jobarteh, the first professional female Kora virtuoso to come from any of the West African dynasties.

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A stylish bria skonberg in a houndstooth outfit posing pensively next to a smiling Benny Benack III holding a trumpet, both set against an abstract, neon-lit background suggestive of a vibrant nightlife

Sing and Swing

After the success of Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents Songs We Love tour, this new and highly anticipated touring project from Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents celebrates the Great American Songbook in all of its playful — and sophisticated glory — brought to life by two of this generation’s brightest stars – Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack.

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Raiford Rogers Tetyana Seeds

Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet: Études

The Luckman will present the world premiere of Études by choreographer Raiford Rogers, set to Philip Glass’ Études 5 & 12, and Prophecies from Koyannisquatsi (a Hopi word meaning “life out of balance”).

Études, a coda for Rogers’ acclaimed ballet Seeds of Rain, are constantly evolving abstract narratives. Glass described them as being about the language of music itself. Performed by pianist Hui Wu.

An encore performance of Seeds of Rain will complete the program. The ballet is set to Philip Glass’ masterwork Mad Rush with Mark Alan Hilt (organ) and Czech composer Zbyněk Matějů’s Three Stones Concerto featuring pianist Helena Suchárová-Weiser and the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra (created specifically for this ballet collaboration).

The artwork (painting progressions) for both ballets is by painter Mike Nava.

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Jazz at Lincoln Center: Songs We Love

For over three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center has brought the art form of jazz from the heart of New York City to over 446 cities in more than 40 countries. Songs We Love was first presented as the 2016 season opener at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The program is a journey through the first 50 years of jazz song. Under the musical direction of trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, vocalists Vuyo Sotashe, Brianna Thomas, and Shenel Johns join Mariel Bildsten on trombone, Lucas Pino on reeds, Mathis Picard on piano, Barry Stephenson on bass, and TJ Reddick in this all-star ensemble celebrating the American art form of jazz. Combining their distinct talents, the group will sing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s. Iconic singers to be explored include Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland.

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Three ballet dancers on stage in a moment of dynamic movement, with one dancer in the foreground holding another's hand, suggesting a fluid and expressive performance.

Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet | Seeds of Rain

The Luckman Fine Arts Complex will present the world premiere of Seeds of Rain by choreographer Raiford Rogers, with musical compositions by Philip Glass and Zbyněk Matějů — featuring organist Mark Alan Hilt and pianist Helena Suchárová-Weiser. The performance will feature guest dancers Tetyana Matyanova (Ukraine) and Tigran Mkrtchyan (Armenia).

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A solitary musician stands amidst a golden field, his guitar case in hand, against a backdrop of distant mesas, embodying a sense of rugged individualism and creative journey.

Pablo Sáinz Villegas

Praised as “the soul of the Spanish guitar”, Pablo Sáinz Villegas has become a worldwide sensation known as this generation’s great guitarist. With his “virtuosic playing characterized by irresistible exuberance” as described by The New York Times, his interpretations conjure the passion, playfulness, and drama of Rioja, his homeland’s rich musical heritage. He is known for his passionate, emotive and open-hearted playing, whether he is performing at intimate recital halls, or playing with Plácido Domingo to an audience of over 85,000 at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, where maestro Domingo hailed him as “the master of the guitar”.

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Elegant dancers in vibrant traditional costumes perform a lively and colorful folk dance with a joyful expression, capturing the essence of cultural celebration.

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández

n 2022, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández celebrates its 70th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the company returns to the Luckman for three evenings featuring renewed performances of their most celebrated classic choreography. 

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Step Afrika!

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.

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A woman mid-leap against a backdrop of a clear sky, her colorful skirt flowing with the motion.

Dance on Camera

This series presents the work of filmmakers from Denmark, Canada, Israel, and the United States, ranging from expressive narratives to experimental short films, plus five illuminating panel discussions with filmmakers and contributors.

Dance on Camera presents a broad range of films including documentaries, shorts, features, experimental works, and music videos that celebrate the immediacy of dance combined with the intimacy of film.

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Ballet folklorico dance performance in front of an ornate building, showcasing traditional costumes and dynamic movement.

Ballet Folklórico de México Amalia Hernández Virtual

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández make their highly anticipated return with an acclaimed repertory that brings together the music, dance, and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Columbian civilizations through the modern era. Their repertory includes more than 40 ballets of exquisite choreography that pay homage to local dance traditions from over 60 regions of Mexico. Amalia Hernández founded the Ballet Folklórico de México in 1952, having embarked at a very early age on a quest to preserve the dancing traditions of her beloved country. More than six decades later, the company is admired as the best of its kind in the world.

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A man in a hat and sunglasses sitting pensively atop a white structure with a rural landscape in the background.

Black History Month

In collaboration with KCET, the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA is proud to present a one-time stream of ARTBOUND: Black History Month Special featuring the work of African American artists in Southern California, including the assemblage sculptures of Noah Purifoy; William Pope.L’s large-scale installation “Trinket;” Candacy Taylor’s photographic exploration of beauty shop culture; a collection of images by African-American photographers living in the archives of Cal State Northridge; and a behind-the-scenes look at Aloe Blacc’s performance of “When The Girl You Love Lives in California.”

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Los Angeles Dance Festival

The Los Angeles Dance Festival brings talented creators and companies together for twelve evenings of extraordinary works that showcase a wide breadth of dance styles.For over two decades, the Luckman has presented acclaimed dance ensembles from around the world. The Los Angeles Dance Festival features artists who are recognized locally and internationally for their extraordinary talents. The dancers and choreographers in the festival work in both the concert and commercial industries. Their work is frequently presented on stages, in theaters, feature films, television shows, music videos, commercials, and concert tours.

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Valentina

Acclaimed performer Valentina – best known for her multi-season appearances on VH1’s RuPaul’s Drag Race and her performance as Angel in Fox’s production of Rent: Live – comes to the Luckman with a new full-length evening of song, dance, and multi-media insight into her fascinating career.

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