Tango Pasión. "Sex on long, long legs" is how one critic described Tango Pasión, which nicely sums up the essential appeal of Argentina's national dance. Catch a performance by this internationally known company to see moves those tango-ing wannabes on Dancing with the Stars only wish they could pull off. Feb. 4, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center/Ferguson Hall, 813-229-STAR.

Trisha Brown Dance Company. Premier postmodern choreographer Trisha Brown and company are everywhere this spring — in performance and a gallery show at USF, on stage at the Mahaffey, and in Megan Voeller's story on p. xx. Feb. 28, USF Theater 1 (TAT), Tampa campus; Mar. 2, Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center, St. Petersburg.

Riverdance/Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance. Oh, those dancing feet! Both Riverdance and the man that spawned it are making area appearances this season, and if you can stomach the cheese factor that is the legacy of Mr. Flashy, er, Flatley, there's still wonderment to be had at these Irish troupes' astonishingly fast footwork and eternally upright torsos. Riverdance, Feb. 16-18, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Lord of the Dance, April 30-May 1, TBPAC/Carol Morsani Hall.

Samputu & Ingeli. A rare opportunity to experience the drums, dance and song of Rwanda. Jean Paul Samputu sings in six languages, in styles ranging from reggae to pygmy, and performs with his dance troupe, the Ingeli Troupe of Rwanda. Feb. 23, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. The Trocks consistently pull off a contradictory feat: They make a mockery of ballet and modern traditions while dancing their tutus off (figuratively speaking), winning critical acclaim not just for their comic brilliance but for their dancing abilities as well. And you don't have to know dick about dance to get the jokes (or to enjoy the dancing). Feb. 27, Ruth Eckerd Hall.

The Tamburitzans & the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. Two shows this spring showcase the infectious high spirits of Eastern European folk dance. The Tamburitzans come to Tarpon Springs from Duquesne University, and the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble comes to Clearwater in April, playing and singing dances that date back hundreds of years. Depending on your ethnic mix, they may just live up to Ruth Eckerd's billing and "make you weep with nostalgia and joy." Mar. 7, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center; April 7, Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Break! Whew. Is it possible that breakdancers have been breaking and popping for 30 years now? That's what the Urban Funk Spectacular is here to tell us in this journey through three decades of hip-hop dance. The show will feature DJs, percussionists and any number of "how do they do that?" moves. May 5, Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Orlando Ballet's Swan Lake. It's the one with the feathers. (And no matter how many times you've seen it, that dying swan can still break your heart.) May 4-5, TBPAC-Ferguson Hall.

Moving Current Dance Collective: New Grounds. New moves by choreographers from around the country, curated and danced by Tampa's invaluable contemporary ensemble. May 18-19, USF-Tampa.

Mix it up: Spring arts

What to watch for

This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2007.