Electronic Press Kits
Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet
Who Has Seen the Wind?
Landscape in Blue
Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Press Photos
Press Release
WHO: Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet in Islands in the Sea
WHEN: Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
LOS ANGELES – Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet returns to The Luckman presenting the world premieres of Who Has Seen the Wind? and Landscape in Blue, alongside the choreographer’s acclaimed Islands in the Sea.
Inspired by Christina Rossetti’s beloved 1852 poem, Who Has Seen the Wind? explores themes of nature, mystery, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. The ballet is set to a rich musical tapestry of works by Maurice Ravel, George Frideric Handel, and Arvo Pärt, specially recorded for the performance with the Grammy Award–winningParker Quartet and pianist Hui Wu. Through Rogers’ distinctive choreographic voice, poetry and music come together in a work of lyrical beauty and emotional depth.
Landscape in Blue is set to John Cage’s meditative masterpiece In a Landscape (1948). Reflecting the serenity and spaciousness of Cage’s score, the ballet creates an immersive atmosphere in which movement, music, and visual imagery unfold with quiet elegance and grace.
Completing the program is Rogers’ landmark ballet Islands in the Sea, a powerful and evocative work set to music by Arvo Pärt and Zbyněk Matějů. Celebrated for its sweeping choreography and emotional resonance, the ballet remains one of the choreographer’s signature achievements.
Enhancing all three works are stunning stage projections featuring original paintings by artist Mike Nava. These vibrant visual landscapes create a dynamic dialogue between dance, music, and visual art, transforming the stage into a richly textured environment and offering audiences a multidisciplinary artistic experience.
Artists-In-Residence
The performance is the result of intensive artistic development forged at The Luckman. It will mark the culmination of a multi-week residency at the theatre, during which Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet brings together dancers from across the globe to refine and mount this ambitious triple-bill program.
CONTACT
press@theluckman.org
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Aída Cuevas
Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Press Photos
Press Release
WHO: Aída Cuevas
WHEN: Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
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press@theluckman.org
Isabella Rossellini
Saturday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Press Photos
Press Release
WHO: Sutra, featuring the Warrior Monks of the Shaolin Temple
WHEN: Sunday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
LOS ANGELES – The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA announces the Los Angeles premiere of Sutra, the internationally acclaimed collaboration between visionary Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, trailblazing British sculptor Antony Gormley, and 19 warrior monks from China’s venerated Shaolin Temple. This one-night-only performance takes place on Sunday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
Hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary performance, Sutra is celebrated for its striking visual design, physical intensity, and philosophical depth. This genre-defying work blends kung fu, contemporary dance, and visual art into a seamless and unforgettable theatrical experience that pushes the boundaries of live performance.
“Sutra is a choreographic opus that draws viewers into a richly layered, contemplative landscape,” said Nicholas Mestas, Executive Director of The Luckman. “We are honored to present this extraordinary production in Los Angeles for the first time.”
Inspired by the ancient traditions of the Shaolin Temple, Sutra unfolds as a playful yet profound fable chronicling a European outsider’s journey into the heart of the monastery. The warrior monks’ movements — both meditative and explosive — create a stunning dialogue between stillness and motion, tradition and reinvention. The performance is set to a hauntingly beautiful original score by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska, performed live on stage by a chamber ensemble. Since its 2008 world premiere at Sadler’s Wells in London, Sutra has been presented in nearly 40 countries to audiences totaling over 250,000, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades. That same year, Cherkaoui was named Choreographer of the Year by Ballet Tanz.
Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone from The Luckman Box Office at 1-323-343-6600.
Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.com
Produced by Sadler’s Wells in London, with the Athens Festival, Festival de Barcelona Grec, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, La Monnaie Brussels, Festival d’Avignon, Fondazione Musica per Roma, and the Shaolin Cultural Communications Company.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is an internationally acclaimed Belgian choreographer known for boundary-defying works that redefine the possibilities of movement and expression. Since launching his career in 1999, he has created over 50 major works. Cherkaoui has received numerous honors, including two Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Dance Production, three Ballet Tanz Choreographer of the Year awards, and the prestigious KAIROS Prize for his contributions to intercultural dialogue. He is the founding director of Eastman, his Antwerp-based company, and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Sir Antony Gormley is one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, renowned for his exploration of the human form and its relationship to space. Born in London in 1950, Gormley has created some of the most iconic public sculptures of our time. His work is held in major collections worldwide, including the Tate, the British Museum, and the Centre Pompidou. Gormley’s numerous accolades include the Turner Prize (1994), the Praemium Imperiale (2013), and a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for his set design on Babel (words). He was knighted in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts.
The Shaolin Temple, located in China’s Henan province, is a legendary Buddhist monastery founded in the 5th century. It is renowned as the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, a discipline combining martial arts, philosophy, and spiritual practice. The Shaolin warrior monks are world-famous for their extraordinary physical prowess, discipline, and meditative focus. Their centuries-old tradition continues to influence martial arts globally and has become a symbol of harmony between body, mind, and spirit.
Szymon Brzóska is a Polish composer acclaimed for his evocative scores that bridge music, movement, and image. A graduate of the Music Academy in Poznań and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, his style blends minimalist nuance with contemporary depth. Brzóska has collaborated with leading choreographers such as Maria Pagés and Yabin Wang, as well as with Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet) and Cedar Lake Company.
Drum Tao
Saturday, March 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Press Photos
Press Release
WHO: Sutra, featuring the Warrior Monks of the Shaolin Temple
WHEN: Sunday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
LOS ANGELES – The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA announces the Los Angeles premiere of Sutra, the internationally acclaimed collaboration between visionary Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, trailblazing British sculptor Antony Gormley, and 19 warrior monks from China’s venerated Shaolin Temple. This one-night-only performance takes place on Sunday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
Hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary performance, Sutra is celebrated for its striking visual design, physical intensity, and philosophical depth. This genre-defying work blends kung fu, contemporary dance, and visual art into a seamless and unforgettable theatrical experience that pushes the boundaries of live performance.
“Sutra is a choreographic opus that draws viewers into a richly layered, contemplative landscape,” said Nicholas Mestas, Executive Director of The Luckman. “We are honored to present this extraordinary production in Los Angeles for the first time.”
Inspired by the ancient traditions of the Shaolin Temple, Sutra unfolds as a playful yet profound fable chronicling a European outsider’s journey into the heart of the monastery. The warrior monks’ movements — both meditative and explosive — create a stunning dialogue between stillness and motion, tradition and reinvention. The performance is set to a hauntingly beautiful original score by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska, performed live on stage by a chamber ensemble. Since its 2008 world premiere at Sadler’s Wells in London, Sutra has been presented in nearly 40 countries to audiences totaling over 250,000, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades. That same year, Cherkaoui was named Choreographer of the Year by Ballet Tanz.
Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone from The Luckman Box Office at 1-323-343-6600.
Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.com
Produced by Sadler’s Wells in London, with the Athens Festival, Festival de Barcelona Grec, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, La Monnaie Brussels, Festival d’Avignon, Fondazione Musica per Roma, and the Shaolin Cultural Communications Company.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is an internationally acclaimed Belgian choreographer known for boundary-defying works that redefine the possibilities of movement and expression. Since launching his career in 1999, he has created over 50 major works. Cherkaoui has received numerous honors, including two Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Dance Production, three Ballet Tanz Choreographer of the Year awards, and the prestigious KAIROS Prize for his contributions to intercultural dialogue. He is the founding director of Eastman, his Antwerp-based company, and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Sir Antony Gormley is one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, renowned for his exploration of the human form and its relationship to space. Born in London in 1950, Gormley has created some of the most iconic public sculptures of our time. His work is held in major collections worldwide, including the Tate, the British Museum, and the Centre Pompidou. Gormley’s numerous accolades include the Turner Prize (1994), the Praemium Imperiale (2013), and a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for his set design on Babel (words). He was knighted in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts.
The Shaolin Temple, located in China’s Henan province, is a legendary Buddhist monastery founded in the 5th century. It is renowned as the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, a discipline combining martial arts, philosophy, and spiritual practice. The Shaolin warrior monks are world-famous for their extraordinary physical prowess, discipline, and meditative focus. Their centuries-old tradition continues to influence martial arts globally and has become a symbol of harmony between body, mind, and spirit.
Szymon Brzóska is a Polish composer acclaimed for his evocative scores that bridge music, movement, and image. A graduate of the Music Academy in Poznań and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, his style blends minimalist nuance with contemporary depth. Brzóska has collaborated with leading choreographers such as Maria Pagés and Yabin Wang, as well as with Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet) and Cedar Lake Company.
Goran Bregović
Sunday, March 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Press Photos
Press Release
WHO: Sutra, featuring the Warrior Monks of the Shaolin Temple
WHEN: Sunday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
LOS ANGELES – The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA announces the Los Angeles premiere of Sutra, the internationally acclaimed collaboration between visionary Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, trailblazing British sculptor Antony Gormley, and 19 warrior monks from China’s venerated Shaolin Temple. This one-night-only performance takes place on Sunday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
Hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary performance, Sutra is celebrated for its striking visual design, physical intensity, and philosophical depth. This genre-defying work blends kung fu, contemporary dance, and visual art into a seamless and unforgettable theatrical experience that pushes the boundaries of live performance.
“Sutra is a choreographic opus that draws viewers into a richly layered, contemplative landscape,” said Nicholas Mestas, Executive Director of The Luckman. “We are honored to present this extraordinary production in Los Angeles for the first time.”
Inspired by the ancient traditions of the Shaolin Temple, Sutra unfolds as a playful yet profound fable chronicling a European outsider’s journey into the heart of the monastery. The warrior monks’ movements — both meditative and explosive — create a stunning dialogue between stillness and motion, tradition and reinvention. The performance is set to a hauntingly beautiful original score by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska, performed live on stage by a chamber ensemble. Since its 2008 world premiere at Sadler’s Wells in London, Sutra has been presented in nearly 40 countries to audiences totaling over 250,000, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades. That same year, Cherkaoui was named Choreographer of the Year by Ballet Tanz.
Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone from The Luckman Box Office at 1-323-343-6600.
Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.com
Produced by Sadler’s Wells in London, with the Athens Festival, Festival de Barcelona Grec, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, La Monnaie Brussels, Festival d’Avignon, Fondazione Musica per Roma, and the Shaolin Cultural Communications Company.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is an internationally acclaimed Belgian choreographer known for boundary-defying works that redefine the possibilities of movement and expression. Since launching his career in 1999, he has created over 50 major works. Cherkaoui has received numerous honors, including two Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Dance Production, three Ballet Tanz Choreographer of the Year awards, and the prestigious KAIROS Prize for his contributions to intercultural dialogue. He is the founding director of Eastman, his Antwerp-based company, and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Sir Antony Gormley is one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, renowned for his exploration of the human form and its relationship to space. Born in London in 1950, Gormley has created some of the most iconic public sculptures of our time. His work is held in major collections worldwide, including the Tate, the British Museum, and the Centre Pompidou. Gormley’s numerous accolades include the Turner Prize (1994), the Praemium Imperiale (2013), and a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for his set design on Babel (words). He was knighted in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts.
The Shaolin Temple, located in China’s Henan province, is a legendary Buddhist monastery founded in the 5th century. It is renowned as the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, a discipline combining martial arts, philosophy, and spiritual practice. The Shaolin warrior monks are world-famous for their extraordinary physical prowess, discipline, and meditative focus. Their centuries-old tradition continues to influence martial arts globally and has become a symbol of harmony between body, mind, and spirit.
Szymon Brzóska is a Polish composer acclaimed for his evocative scores that bridge music, movement, and image. A graduate of the Music Academy in Poznań and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, his style blends minimalist nuance with contemporary depth. Brzóska has collaborated with leading choreographers such as Maria Pagés and Yabin Wang, as well as with Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet) and Cedar Lake Company.