Nigel Lythgoe News

BritWeek, the annual celebration recognizing creativity and innovation between the United Kingdom and the United States, is taking its events online this year in response to the worldwide lockdown.

Segerstrom and South Coast Plaza were hosts to a private dinner celebrating American Ballet Theater's new production by Alexei Ratmansky, Of Love and Rage, which debuted at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County. Thousands of white flowers, Petrosian caviar, and Don Perignon champagne greeted guests on their arrival.

BWW Review: LA BALLET 'BALANCHINE'S BLACK AND WHITE' AND 2020 GALA at The Broad Stage

Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Los Angeles International Dance Festival (LAIDF) will present Ailey II - The Next Generation of Dance on April 11, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as part of the festival's inaugural year. Ailey II, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's junior company that serves as a bridge between The Ailey School and the professional dance world, is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country's best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today's most promising emerging choreographers. The acclaimed 12-member ensemble makes its first appearance at the Center performing three works from the company's rich repertory including Road to One (2017) by Darrell Grand Moultrie, Where There Are Tongues (2018) by Ailey School alum and former Ailey II dancer Bradley Shelver as well as Breaking Point (2017) by Renee McDonald.

FOX has renewed the multi-Emmy Award-winning dance competition series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE for a 17th season. From Industrial Media's 19 Entertainment and dick clark productions, and hosted by Emmy Award nominee Cat Deeley, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will return this summer on FOX. 

Pasadena Playhouse, The State Theater of Californiaoffers a wide variety of educational and community events this winter and spring, beginning with a post- performance talk back with Alfred Molina and the cast of The Father, offering an inside-look at the cast's process preparing for this production.

Los Angeles Ballet (LAB), the city's own and only professional classical ballet company, will celebrate its Season 14 Gala on Friday, February 28 at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

IFC announced today that the Critics' Choice Award-nominated Sherman's Showcase will return with a one-hour “Black History Month Spectacular” this summer (yes, you read that right). Created by and starring Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick, South Side) and Diallo Riddle (Marlon, South Side), and executive produced by John Legend's Get Lifted Film Co. and RadicalMedia, the witty, irreverent and wholly original Sherman's Showcase “Black History Month Spectacular” will feature more of the sketches, A-list guest stars, and original hit, award-winning songs that, all together, earned the series a 100% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and inclusion on numerous 'Best of 2019' lists.

The Wallis and For The Record present LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE, the multimedia concert celebration of one of the most beloved holiday films of all time and the biggest, record-breaking hit in The Wallis' history, which is back by popular demand, now as a not-to-be-missed Los Angeles tradition with performances beginning the day before Thanksgiving (November 27) and running through the weekend following Christmas (December 29).

The groundbreaking ballerina of American Ballet Theatre shares her favorite quote and opens up about her upbringing, mentors and how the arts have influenced her life. She also talks about starring in ABT's “The Nutcracker” on this episode of “Quoted By” with TODAY's Hoda Kotb.

West Side Story is officially in previews on Broadway! The new production is directed by Tony Award winner Ivo van Hove; and for the first time ever in the United States, will feature all-new choreography by the internationally acclaimed Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. West Side Story will begin previews on December 10, 2019 and open February 6th, 2020 at the Broadway Theatre.

IFC's critically-acclaimed Sherman's Showcase comes to Hulu Wednesday, December 11. Created by Emmy-nominated writers Diallo Riddle (Marlon, Rise) and Bashir Salahuddin (GLOW, Snatched) and executive produced by John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius at Get Lifted Film Co. & Frank Scherma and Jim Bouvet of RadicalMedia, the series currently boasts a very impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  

As Little Steven looks back on his early solo career with the upcoming boxed set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, the creatively restless Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is simultaneously looking forward with a slew of new releases including a theatrical, Gene Kelly-inspired video for his song “Love Again” from his latest album, Summer Of Sorcery, and an exuberant live performance of Bruce Springsteen's “Tucson Train.” Leading up to the December 6 release of the boxed set, Little Steven aka Steven Van Zandt has been steadily releasing digital deluxe editions of the albums included over the last few weeks and today has made available his 1989 album, Revolution, which includes two rare mixes of the title track. 

Emmy Award winner Debbie Allen in association with The Annenberg Foundation, David Kobrin Foundation, the Rhimes Family Foundation and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy celebrates their 10th Anniversary 'Hot Chocolate Nutcracker' with a special 6pm performance on Saturday, December 7 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

The 9th Annual World Choreography Awards (WCA) celebrate creativity and innovation by recognizing global excellence in the art of choreography in movies, TV, music video and digital media. Based on works completed in 2018, the winners of eight categories will be announced at the Red Carpet Ceremony on November 11 at The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. The Show will be hosted by Heather Morris (a?oeGLEEa??) and limited tickets are still available on eventbrite.com a?" ticket   link:  http://bit.ly/2NrgrVZ, www.tickets-center.com/a?? or through the Saban Theatre.

Body Traffic is a world-renown contemporary dance company, based in Los Angeles, and is The Wallis's 2019/20 Company-in-Residence.  A perfect match-up with the Wallis's imaginative and varied program schedule for the year. Lillian Barbeito and Tina Finkelman Burkett, the Artistic Directors, founded BODYTRAFFIC in 2007. They have nurtured this company for twelve years and it shows.  The entire company has evolved into something vital, representing many current issues on the minds of everyone these days.

Emmy Award winner Debbie Allen and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in association with The Annenberg Foundation presents its award-winning family spectacular 'Hot Chocolate Nutcracker' starring Raven Symone (Disney's Raven's Home) at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center December 5 (7:30pm), December 6 (7:30pm), December 7 (1pm and 6pm) and December 8 (2pm).

With National Dance Day approaching on September 21, 2019, Nigel Lythgoe O.B.E., Executive Producer of FOX's EMMY Award-winning So You Think You Can Dance, and Debbie Allen, EMMY Award-winning choreographer, Director of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Executive Producer/Director of Grey's Anatomy, today announced that the inaugural Los Angeles International Dance Festival (LAIDF) is set to take place in April 2020

Today's top stories: Watch Lara Spencer's apology for her comments on Prince George taking ballet classes, read Broadway's reactions, and more!