TH 5/8	HSPVA Senior Dance Recital.  High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston.  4:00pm.  Denney Theatre, 4001 Stanford.  Tickets:  $2.00.  713-942-1965.
FR 5/9	HSPVA Dance Showcase I & II.  High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston.  2:00pm.  Denney Theatre, 4001 Stanford.  FREE. 713-942-1965. Madame Butterfly.  Houston Ballet.  The moving tale of a beautiful geisha's love and loss has never been told more eloquently than in Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch's exquisite, two-act rendition of the classic story.  8:00pm.  Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park.  FREE. Tickets available at the Miller Theater Box Office or 281-373-3386.
SA 5/10	One Shot.  Evidence, A Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown, Artistic Director.  Presented by Society for Performing Arts.  Internationally heralded choreographer Ronald K. Brown continues to blaze the trail in creating significant works celebrating the universal importance of the African-American experience to world culture. Inspired by the life and work of African-American photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris, nicknamed "One Shot," Brown's latest, dazzling work offers a stirring meditation on the idea of having one shot in life. Co-presented with DiverseWorks.  8:00pm. Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 501 Texas Ave.  713/227-4SPA or www.spahouston.org   Madame Butterfly.  Houston Ballet.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SU 5/11	Madame Butterfly.  Houston Ballet.  8:00pm.  See Above.
FR 5/16	An Evening of Dance and Film.  Pack a picnic for this special outdoor event at the new Discovery Green park downtown. The evening begins with performances by the University of Houston Dance Ensemble and Travesty Dance Group, who will perform the piece "Green." Aurora Picture Show will follow their performance with a presentation of the dance film The Cost of Living by Choreographer/Director Lloyd Newson of London's DV8 Physical Theater. This 34-minute comic narrative takes us to a faded seaside town where street performers David and Eddie struggle to find work and romance. The film is described as a work that hurls provocations and humor at notions of how the fit and unfit are supposed to act.  Dance performance at 7:00pm.  Film begins at 8:00pm.  Discovery Green Park, located downtown on Avenidas de las Americas Street from the George R. Brown Convention Center. FREE.  713/868-2101 or www.aurorapictureshow.org Zomberina.  FrenetiCore.  A comedy of necrotic oddities.  A classical ballet company infected with a virus that transforms them into zombies finds themselves at a modern dance performance. Hilarity ensues as the zomberinas crash the stage, consume the performers (and a dance critic or two) and instinctually finish the performance.  Including sophisticated special effects, aerial dance with bungees and trapeze, and site-specific film.  Performed by FrenetiCore and guest dancers Joe Modlin, Marisol Sarabia, Jhon Stronks, and Brittany Wallis.  Choreography by Rebekah French and Ashley Horn.  Original film and music by Robert Thoth.  8:00pm.  Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation.  713/458-0333 or www.myspace.com/freneticore
SA 5/17	LIBERA – The Joy of Believing.  Ad Deum Dance Company.  8:00pm.  Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex, 2201 Preston @ Hutchins (just east of Minute Maid Park). Tickets:  $15 General.  713 626 5050 or info@danceaddeum.com Dido & Aeneas.  Mercury Baroque and Dominic Walsh Dance Theater.  Dominic Walsh Dance Theater will team up once again with Mercury Baroque on the ensemble's presentation of a fully-staged Baroque opera. This season, the tale of Dido and Aeneas will come to life with the magical sound of the Mercury Baroque ensemble led by Antoine Plante and the innovative choreography of Dominic Walsh performed by the DWDT dancers. The two companies will be joined by talented stage director Tara Faircloth. 8:00pm.  Pre-concert lecture at 7:15pm.  Cullen Theater, Wortham Center.  Tickets: $21.75-$47.00. To purchase tickets, call 832-251-0706 or visit www.mercurybaroque.org. Zomberina.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SU 5/18	An Afternoon of Dance.  Featuring Sol y Luna Dance Company, Sabor Mexico Theatrical Dance Company/La Esencia Flamenca, Brazilian Arts/Capoeira, and the JCC Adult Ballet and Tap Students.  3:00pm. Jewish Community Center of Houston, 5601 South Braeswood. Tickets: $8 public/ $6 JCC Members. For information or tickets, call 713-729-3200 ext. 3223 or email msilberstein@JCChouston.org LIBERA – The Joy of Believing .  3:00pm.  See Above.
TH 5/22	Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Two prolific and internationally acclaimed choreographers present their own interpretations of the classical idiom. Stanton Welch’s Falling is danced by five couples to the music of Mozart. Hans van Manen’s Five Tangos, a unique mix of the power and sensuality of tango and the cool abstraction of classical ballet. Presented with a work to be announced.  7:30pm.  Wortham, Brown Theater, 501 Texas Ave.  713/227-2787 or www.houstonballet.org
FR 5/23	Zomberina.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SA 5/24	Houston Met Too - Youth Company Spring Concert.  Presented by Houston Metropolitan Dance Company.  See this exciting young company present by some of Houston’s best new choreographers.  8:00pm.  Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 510 Preston, 77002. Tickets:  $15.00.  713/522-6375 or www.houstonmetdance.com or Houstonmetdancer@aol.com Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Houston Ballet.  7:30pm.  See Above. Zomberina.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SU 5/25	Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Houston Ballet.  2:00pm.  See Above.
WE 5/28	tetris.  Do not miss a special sneak peek preview of Toni Leago Valle’s latest work.   Discussing the premise that we are not one personality, but many selves, each working separately and together to protect and sustain the individual person, tetris dives into the recesses of one woman's mind and the many selves that live there.  Meet the cast of thirteen dancers and scenic design by Tom Boyd and give you point of view.  7:30pm.  Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, 1202 Calumet Houston, TX 77004.  FREE.  713-409-2838 or toni@houstondance.org
FR 5/30	Big Range Dance Festival.  Program A.  Big Range Dance Festival presents new works by Leslie Scates, Jennifer Wood, Hilary Bryan, Jill Sigman (thinkdance, NYC), Jhon Stronks.  These works will be performed by Suchu Dance, Leslie Scates, Hilary Bryan, Jill Sigman, and Jhon Stronks.  8:00pm.  Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex.  Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Houston Ballet.  7:30pm.  See Above.   Zomberina.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SA 5/31	Best in Ten. Sandra Organ Dance Company.  As a culminating celebration of Sandra Organ Dance Company’s 10th Anniversary “Season to Remember,” The Company will reprise the best of its decade of representative repertoire commissioned and choreographed by Sandra Organ, Founding Artistic Director of the Company. This celebration of creativity will include performances of Jose Limon’s “There is a Time”, brought to stage with the participation of Houston’s contemporary dance community. Special guest performances by members of Dallas Black Dance will also be part of this historic event. 8:00pm.  Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Drive.  FREE.  713-225-0677 or www.organdance.org. Big Range Dance Festival.  Program A.  8:00pm.  See Above. Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Houston Ballet.  7:30pm.  See Above. Zomberina.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SU 6/1	Three Classics, Five Tangos.  Houston Ballet.  2:00pm.  See Above. Big Range Dance Festival.  Program A.  8:00pm.  See Above.
WE 6/4	Salon.  CORE Performance Company will show selections of their newest works by guest choreographers in a Salon evening.    This event is open to audiences who would like to share their impressions and feedback about the works. CORE will show from choreographer Beppie Blankert's piece "Cumulus" and choreographer Alicia Sanchez's "The Found Steps." CORE will premiere these works next season in Houston along with another new work by guest choreographer Nina Martin.  6:00-8:00 p.m. Magnolia Ballroom in the historic Magnolia Brewery Building.  FREE.
TH 6/5	History in Motion.  Houston Ballet.  Danish choreographer August Bournonville created La Sylphide in 1836 – to the delight of audiences ever since. When a young Scottish farmer abandons his bride-to-be for a beautiful winged creature, he offends not only the wedding party but the witch who predicted his defection. La Sylphide, the oldest ballet in existence, is presented with one of the newest, A Doll's House. Inspired by the distinctive Japanese anime style, artistic director Stanton Welch promises a spectacular showcase created especially for the dancers of Houston Ballet.  7:30pm.  Wortham, Brown Theater, 501 Texas Ave.  713/227-2787 or www.houstonballet.org Big Range Dance Festival.  Program B.  Big Range Dance Festival presents new works by Teresa Chapman, Aydin Teker (Turkey), Stephanie Nugent (Santa Barbara, CA), Karen Stokes, and Mechelle Flemming to be performed by Nugent Dance (Santa Barbara, CA), Travesty Dance Group-Houston, Holly Clark (San Diego, CA), Kelly Knox (Lewisburg, PA), Teresa Chapman, Mechelle Flemming, Rachel Hodos, Erika Lewis, Lindsey McGill, Nicole McNeil, Catalina Molnari, Karen Stokes, Alex Abarca, Corian Ellisor, Thomas Henderson, and Jhon Stronks.  8:00pm.  Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex.
FR 6/6	Polka Party.  Several Dancers Core presents Polka Party.  Live music by Harry Czarnek & The Texas Dutchmen will accompany all the evening's polka-inspired contemporary dance. A new dance by Sue Schroeder and CORE Performance Company will be joined by jhon stronks' piece inspired by Czech fairy tales, and Leslie Scates' work to a medley of songs about Texas. Lessons for the audience before the show start at 7:30 p.m. with the Polka Lovers Klub of America's "Red and Whites" teaching everyone to dance the polka.  Performance will begin at 8:00pm.   Miller Outdoor Theater.  100 Concert Drive.  FREE. Contact Susan Schmaeling at 713-349-0780 saspr@swbell.net or visit www.severaldancerscore.org.   Big Range Dance Festival.  Program B.  8:00pm.  See Above.
SA 6/7	Salon Performance Series.  Presented by Second Generation Dance Company.  8:00pm.   Kuumba House Dance Theatre, 3001 Cleburne (at Ennis) Houston, TX 77004.  713/298-7091 or www.secondgenerationdance.org Deeply Rooted!  Urban Souls Dance Company.  Urban life meets dance theater when this soul stirring company looms the stage with a unique blend of technique, passion, ethnic fusion. 8:00pm.   Morris Cultural Arts Center (on the Campus of HBU) 7502 Fondren.  Tickets: www.onlinetickets.com or www.urbansoulsdancecompany.com for company information. Big Range Dance Festival.  Program B.  8:00pm.  See Above. History in Motion.  Houston Ballet.  7:30pm.  See Above.
SU 6/8	Big Range Dance Festival.  Dance Gathering.  Big Range Dance Festival will present a fast-paced evening of new works created by sixteen to twenty choreographers, each presenting a work under four minutes in length.  8:00pm.  Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex. History in Motion.  Houston Ballet.  2:00pm.  See Above.
TH 6/12	Big Range Dance Festival.  Program C.  Big Range Dance Festival presents new works by Amy Ell, Catalina Molnari, Leslie Dworkin, Kent De Spain, and Corian Ellisor performed by Lindsey McGill, Catalina Molnari, Mechelle Flemming, Leslie Dworkin, Kent De Spain, Corian Ellisor, and Alex Abarca.  8:00pm.  Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex.
Toni Valle, Project Director 713-224-3262 / toni@houstondance.org