The Seattle International Dance Festival begins on the SLUT; and though we’d like to see ballerinas vaulting from pole to pole (a very narrow form of choreography), the trolley will instead transport you to separate performances scattered all throughout South Lake Union today. This “Art on the Fly” event features visitors including Pilar Villanueva’s Spanish LAN1 company and Oregon’s Rainbow Dance Theatre, plus locals like the Stone Dance Collective. The latter’s Eva Stone will be represented indoors at Cornish College’s Raisbeck Hall, along with fellow choreographers Donald Byrd and Pat Graney. Among the international guests, the Swiss Compagnie Prototype Status promises robots (!), or dancers who portray robots. And if your kids can’t stay up that late, today’s kick-off also boasts 14-foot puppets and outdoor Twister, which may appeal to parents, too. Separate SLUT tickets are gratis to the first 100 riders, and $2.25 thereafter. (Through June 13; indoor tickets $14-$20, $45 for series pass.) T. BOND [Also see Sandra Kurtz’s preview.]

Sat., June 5, 12-6 p.m.; June 6-13, 2010