PNB starts its first season with Artistic Director Peter Boal in fine fashion, adding juicy new repertory (George Balanchine's Symphony in Three Movements and Duo Concertant and Jerome Robbins' In the Night now; Twyla Tharp, Susan Marshall, and Dominique Dumais, among others, later), plumping up education programming, reviving its Seattle Public Library lectures, and adding fresh studio previews. Thurs.–Sun., Sept. 22–Oct. 2. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., 206-441-2424, www.pnb.org.
Velocity Fall KickOff Showcase Extravaganza
Been away for the summer? Get your head back into modern dance with this trio of performances, featuring just about everyone in the community. Preview upcoming work from d9 and Mary Sheldon Scott, relive old favorites from KT Niehoff and Pat Graney, and see all kinds of stuff from the rest of the crew. Fri., Sept. 23–Sun., Sept. 25. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E. Pine St., second floor, 206-325-8773, www.velocitydancecenter.org.
d9 Dance Collective
There's a new roster of dancers for this unique ensemble, and they've commissioned a new set of works for New Formula, an evening featuring choreography by Michael Foley, Mark Haim, Rob Kitsos, and Wade Madsen. d9 is the ultimate dancer-run group—a mixtape of personal favorites—and their tastes reflect the edges of contemporary dance. Fri.–Sun., Oct. 7–16. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E. Pine St., second floor, 206-325-8773, www.d9dance.org.
Ron K. Brown/Evidence
Brown delights in difficult subjects and conflicted situations, so the life of Billie Holliday seems the right topic for his dance making. Blueprint of a Lady, a suite of dances featuring jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon on the 90th anniversary of Holliday's birth, opens Meany Hall's dance season, which continues to bring a rich variety of contemporary work to Seattle. Thurs., Oct. 13–Sat., Oct. 15. Meany Theater, University of Washington, 206-543-4880, www.uwworldseries.org.
Cornish Dance Theater
Cornish's links to modern dance icon Martha Graham are almost as old as the school itself, and it will celebrate the 75th anniversary of her first performance there with a production of her stunning Diversion of Angels. Appropriately enough for a school, there are open rehearsals and lectures before the main event, to whet our appetites. Fri., Nov. 18– Sat., Nov. 19. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave., 206-325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com or www.cornish.edu.
Dance Calendar
Dates are subject to change. Call ahead to confirm.
SEPTEMBER
14 SYMPHONIC EURYTHMY Movement designed to amplify and illustrate music, in this case Dvorak's New World Symphony. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
15 WEST SEATTLE NEW DANCE FESTIVAL Rotating programs featuring local dance artists. ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 206-938-0339, www.artswest.org.
30 AROUND WORDS New dance works by Christy Fisher and colleagues inspired by the "kinetic possibilities of language." Chamber Theater, 915 E. Pine St., fourth floor, 206-380-3445.
30 DANCE CONTEMPORARY New ballet works in a chamber setting by Tesee Rogers. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E. Pine St., second floor, 206-355-8377, www.dancecontemp.com.
1 DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE A partial preview of music/dance work Cuckoo Crow, a CD-release party, and an all-around fund- raiser. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave. N., www.degenerateartensemble.com.
5 SARAH MICHELSON On the Boards opens its season with British choreographer Michelson. On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 206-217-9888, www.ontheboards.org.
7 AXOLOTL The audience, blindfolded, is both observer and performer in this work devised by Karl Frost. Chamber Theater, 915 E. Pine St., fourth floor, 206-790-1645, www.toishou.org.
7 SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER Donald Byrd's Sleeping Beauty Notebook examines the classic tale through a dark, contemporary lens. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com or www.spectrumdance.org.
14 ARC DANCE A mixed repertory program of ballet and modern dance. Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline, 206-325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com or www.arcdance.org.
21 MARY SHELDON SCOTT/JARRAD POWELL PERFORMANCE New works by this choreographer/composer duo. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E. Pine St., second floor, 206-760-2555, www.gamelanpacifica.org/dance.
22 EVERGREEN CITY BALLET Mixed repertory from this lively youth ballet company. Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St., Auburn, 253-833-9039, www.evergreencityballet.org.
