Double the star power at the Ford

Complexions Contemporary Ballet, above, performs for the first time with Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

Two of the nation’s premier dance troupes team up Saturday at the John Anson Ford Theatre in a groundbreaking collaboration with an East Coast-West Coast spin.

The New York-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet, led by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden, joins forces with Los Angeles’ own Lula Washington Dance Theatre on the stage of the historic, county-owned amphitheatre.

It marks the first time the companies have performed together. They’ve spent the week collaborating in other ways as well, leading a free audience participation “J.A.M. session” on Tuesday evening and presenting a master class on Thursday for advanced local dance students.

“Both organizations have a desire to innovate and to present dance that removes boundaries,” Adam Davis, the Ford’s managing director, said in a statement.

The Saturday night performance, the second in the newly-inaugurated Zev Yaroslavsky Signature Series, benefits the Ford Theatre Foundation. Benefit tickets range in price from $45 to $85;  for availability, please contact the Ford box office at (323) 461-3673.

The program includes Washington’s 2007 “Ode to the ‘60s,” with music ranging from Chuck Berry to the Beatles, and “Rise,” choreographed by Rhoden in 2008 with music by U2. The companies will perform together in the new work “I Wonder Why,” choreographed by Rhoden to vocals by Stevie Wonder. Also featured is the premiere performance of “Turn the Page,” choreographed by Washington. It was inspired in part by Yaroslavsky’s childhood experience turning musical score pages for his great uncle, a string bass player for the Sol Hurok orchestras, in the orchestra pit during ballet performances.

Three for the Ford: from left, Desmond Richardson, Lula Washington, Dwight Rhoden.

Posted 8/6/13