Ford Signature Series: Lila Downs and Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company
By Luis Torres
Tickets are going fast, so you might want to hurry and get yours for what promises to be a memorable pair of weekend performances by internationally acclaimed singer Lila Downs at the recently renovated John Anson Ford Theatre in Hollywood. For two nights (August 12 and 13) the inimitable singer will perform together with the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company at the intimate outdoor amphitheater. “I am really excited about these performances,” says Downs. “I understand the venue has undergone a big refurbishment and it seems like it’ll be an even better performance space than it was before – for both the performers and the audience.”
Downs says the new stage and other improvements at the venue should make it ideal for her current show, which features extraordinary performances by the dancers in the Grandeza Mexicana troupe. “We’ve been using more dance and more theatricality in our shows recently and the renovated Ford seems ideal for us,” she says. Downs spoke to Latin Heat by phone from her home in Oaxaca in central Mexico as the prepared to head to Los Angeles for the mid-August performances.
She suggests that renovation – architecturally, musically and perhaps spiritually – could be a fitting hallmark for the upcoming performances at the Ford. The theater, which is run by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, is in the process of undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover. Many of the improvements have been completed and others are yet to come. Meanwhile, Lila Downs suggests that her art and her career are undergoing a renovation of their own. “We just renovated our contractual agreements with Sony after more than 20 years and it reflects changes in what we do and what we want to achieve,” says Downs. “I love opening up our shows to include more dance and more theater and multi-media aspects too, so you could say what we are doing artistically is a bit of a renovation – I always want to keep evolving. I think the audiences appreciate that too. There is a new sort of spirit to what we do.”
The collaboration with Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company is part of her new exploration. “Under the right circumstances, working with dancers really enhances our shows,” she says. “I have respect for dancers as artists. I’ve always thought about it as a special means of expression, of deep emotion and authenticity of the soul, so I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’m working a lot with dancers now,” she says. “I’m sure it’s just the beginning of another phase in our stories and in our paths.”
The cozy amphitheater in Hollywood’s Cahuenga Pass has long had a reputation as an intimate venue. Lila Downs says that’s one of the things that make it a venue at which she enjoys performing. “You’re close to the audience at the Ford and you get a sense of the response of the audience immediately when you’re performing there,” she says. “That’s one of the reasons artists like the place and that’s certainly one of the things I like about it.”
As her followers know, Lila Downs performs a variety of different types of music, but much of it is rooted in the traditions of Mexico. She delights audiences with songs in a number of languages – from English and Spanish to Zapotec, Mixtec and Nahuatl, languages of indigenous groups in Mexico. Audiences won’t be surprised to hear her evoke sonic imagery from jazz and the blues as well. “At the Ford we’ll be performing a variety of things,” she says. “There will be things our fans are familiar with, plus some new things; they’ll hear some boleros, some rancheras and there will be some surprises – it should be fun for the audiences.”
Lila Downs has performed at many of the world’s prestigious music festivals and venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and New York’s venerable Carnegie Hall. The Associated Press once noted: “Downs moves from operatic stylings to rap and everything in between, with both artistic exploration and pop sensibility.” She is the recipient of many awards, including the Grammy Award.
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Poto: Ford Theaters
The Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company, is a troupe devoted to enhancing the public’s appreciation for the diversity and depth of Mexican culture. It was founded by José Vences.
The performances on August 12 and August 13 are part of the Ford Signature Series, which is made possible with the support of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. The series was established several years ago by then-Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
The Ford Theatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068 (just off the 101, between Hollywood and Universal Studios in the Cahuenga Pass). Parking at the ford is stacked and costs $5-$10 per vehicle for evening performances. New off-site parking location: a FREE shuttle services the parking structure located at 1710 N. Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood. Parking is $10 for Ford patrons. Shuttle departures begin two hours before show time and reservations are required. Metro riders: a FREE shuttle picks up from the Universal City/Studio City Metro Station (3913 Lankershim Blvd, Studio City 91604). The shuttle, which cycles every 20 minutes, stops in the “kiss and ride” area.
Featured Photo Credit: Elena Pardo
Luís Torres is a veteran journalist and author based in Los Angeles.
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