Moving Current Dance Collective. Moving Current and its co-directors Erin Cardinal and Cynthia Hennessey are back in town after a summer as company in residence at the Florida Dance Festival in Miami. The fall program features the work of choreographers Dionne Noble and Kathleen Dyer, and an aerial dance solo by Nathan Dryden, the 21st-century version of the man on the flying trapeze. Sept. 14-15, College of Visual and Performing Arts Theater II, USF-Tampa, 813-237-0216, movingcurrent.com.
American Indian Dance Theatre. This cultural dance troupe represents a dozen or so separate Native American tribes in a kaleidoscope of authenticity. The dancers, singers and musicians recreate tribal song and dances as unique theater pieces, wearing the traditional feathered headdresses and fringe-heavy clothing. Founded in 1987, the troupe boasts not one but two appearances on PBS' "Great Performances." Oct. 11, Ferguson Hall-Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa, tbpac.org.
DanceUSF Fall Dance Concert. Students from USF's School of Theatre and Dance perform in a program that includes a re-staging of Mikhail Fokine's 1908 short masterpiece, Les Sylphides, which features the music of Frederic Chopin. Original pieces are presented by visiting assistant professor and Trisha Brown Dance Company member Mariah Maloney, visiting artist and hip-hop expert Jennifer Archibald, and USF dance faculty member Michael Foley. Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 1-3, College of Visual and Performing Arts Theater I, USF-Tampa, 813-974-3350, arts.usf.edu.
Ballet Folklórico de México. The classically trained dancers of this renowned 55-year-old troupe perform in a program created from the indigenous folk traditions of more than 50 distinct Mexican territories. Expect a dazzling Mexican fiesta of elaborate costumes — towering headdresses, swirling skirts in a variety of flamboyant hues, menacing and whimsical masks — paired with vibrant music and dance. Nov. 9, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com.
Oh, Nuts! I've said it before and I'll say it again: Nothing is certain but death, taxes and seasonal performances of The Nutcracker. The usual suspects provide. Orlando Ballet's obligatory production at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center features more than 100 children from the Orlando Ballet School at the Patel Conservatory, with Tchaikovsky's score performed live by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Across the Bay, The Chocolate Nutcracker — presented by Life Force Cultural Arts Academy — returns to the Mahaffey Theater stage, and Ruth Eckerd Hall welcomes back Miami City Ballet's George Balanchine version for the 18th year in a row. Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Carol Morsani Hall-TBPAC, Tampa, 813-229-7827, tbpac.org; Dec. 7-8, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, 727-892-5767, mahaffeytheater.com; and Dec. 8-9, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com.
De/Reconstructing Mata Hari. Who was Mata Hari? An exotic dancer and selective courtesan? A double agent with a clever cover? Choreographer/dancer Nejla Y. Yatkin weaves together the mysterious lady's story with her own, reflecting upon the facts and providing insight via this critically acclaimed multimedia performance piece. Dec. 14-16, TECO Theater-TBPAC, Tampa, tbpac.org.
Pirates of Penzance! Orlando Ballet and a full live orchestra perform the ballet version of Gilbert and Sullivan's beloved operetta, with little change to the plot but with more tutus and frisky dance numbers. Jan. 18-20, Ferguson Hall-TBPAC, Tampa, tbpac.org.
AEROS. The creative team from STOMP! joined forces with Romanian gymnasts and a trio of gifted choreographers to produce Aeros, a series of vignettes that fuse athletics with modern choreography. Jan. 28, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com.
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2007.