American contemporary ballet steps into glamor with “Astaire Dances III” performances

Josh Brown and Cara Hansvick dance “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” Photo: Mary Joyce

For its latest performance, the American Contemporary Ballet of Los Angeles revisits the glamor of Fred Astaire’s jazz-infused choreography with costumes to complete the recreation of magical moves.

“It’s wonderful and special to see a man dressed to perfection with a woman in these elegant limitless designs that are full of romance and glamour,” explained ACB’s creative director, Lincoln Jones. “That’s nice to look at.”

Comprised of five dances, the program draws heavily on the elements of jazz incorporated by Astaire, allowing ballet dancers to explore new types of movement.

“We did the Astaire I and II programs,” Jones said. “They’ve been super popular with audiences and rewarding for us because they give dancers the opportunity to work on aspects of dance that can be overshadowed by the technical aspects of ballet. Astaire was the master of those things, in addition to be a phenomenal choreographer.”

Fresh off their December series of “The Nutcracker,” ACB had limited time and budget restrictions on the original performances. This forced famed costume designer Ruoxuan Li to improvise using materials that were less expensive and could be made more quickly into costumes that would match the glamor and movement requirements of the choreography. While the costumes didn’t have to be exactly the same as the originals, they had to provide the same movement.

“As the dancers spin or twirl, the dresses follow them three seconds later. It creates that magical movement that’s central to the look,” Jones explained. “The dress [Ruoxuan] done for ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ on dancer Sarah Bukowski, it’s magic. The volume and movement of the skirt. The costume itself contributes as much to the romance as the dancers and the music.”

The ACB premiered “Astaire Dances III” on February 1 and will present the program until February 16 at Metropolis Los Angeles with tickets available in line.