Friday, October 21, 8 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 8 p.m.

Slanguage is "the latest boundary-smashing" creation by Universes, a troupe of five brilliant wordsmiths from the South Bronx. Fusing poetry, jazz riffs, hip-hop, politics, down-home blues and Spanish boleros, Slanguage is the evolution of poetic language from childhood rhymes to literary gospel. It integrates theatre and street talk with humor and truth and turns the poem into a communal act.

www.h-artmanagement.com/artists/universes

Extreme sports meets dance. Diavolo's physicality is awe-inspiring, leaping, flying, spinning and dancing on a variety of larger-than-life structures. Diavolo pushes the boundaries of the human form and mind with fearless athleticism. Through action and architecture, the effortlessness of their high-risk maneuvers creates the spectacle that is Diavolo.

www.diavolo.org

Friday, November 11, 8 p.m. Saturday, November 12, 8 p.m.

This contemporary exploration of what it means to be alive in the world captures the human struggle between life and death in a dynamic and visually striking production. Written in Germany in 1401, Death and the Ploughman exposes the grief of a man distraught after the loss of his beloved wife, demanding answers from Death. The anguish of grief combats the calm logic of necessity. Directed by Anne Bogart, this elegant staging of a daunting German text holds on to the timeless themes of indescribable beauty, sadness and spirituality.

www.siti.org

Passion ignites when this company takes the stage. Artistic director Martin Santangelo and his wife, Soledad Barrio, lend their vitality, energy and arresting devotion to this mysterious and complex art form and have made Noche Flamenca one of Spain's most successful Flamenco companies. Their commitment to maintaining Flamenco's essence and purity opens the door for us to experience the raw core of this extreme convergence of music, song and dance.

Co-presented by Dance St. Louis.

www.nocheflamenca.com

The Ying Quartet and Turtle Island String Quartet are like yin and yang. As the quartet in residence at the Eastman School of Music, the Ying Quartet siblings are known for their exquisite renditions of traditional classical music. Turtle Island, while classically trained, is at the vanguard of musical innovation by creating original compositions that stretch the boundaries of the string quartet repertoire through fusion of classical quartet aesthetic with contemporary American musical styles. These two musical energies share heart and soul for an unforgettable evening.

www.tisq.com
www.ying4.com

Saturday, February 11, 8 p.m.

www.sowetogospelchoir.com

Friday, March 10, 8 p.m. Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.

George Orwell's Animal Farm is brought to life by Synapse Productions through its musical adaptation of this well-known classic of contemporary literature. Building on a traditional theatre form popularized by stage productions such as The Lion King and Avenue Q, Synapse incorporates puppetry and music to tell this gripping tale of a barnyard full of idealistic animals. Animal Farm takes a compelling look at the modern-day questions of free speech, political protest and the very nature of democracy.

Since Synapse's inception at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1996, the company has dedicated itself to presenting socially relevant works that incite both thought and action. Just remember, don't trust the pigs!

www.synapseproductions.org

With its daring physicality, exquisite detail and ingenious way of capturing the complexities of human interaction, Doug Varone's work has been heralded by critics as "among the most compelling in the contemporary repertory." Founded in 1986 by choreographer Doug Varone, this company has earned eight New York Dance and Performance Awards (Bessies) and has been singled out for its extraordinary physical audaciousness and vivid musicality. Its signature style of sly wit, humanity and romanticism with a dash of darkness energizes audiences around the world.

Co-presented by Dance St. Louis.

www.dougvaroneanddancers.org

San Francisco choreographer Alonzo King takes the physics of dancing en pointe to new athletic heights with his company, LINES Ballet. It's ballet, en pointe, as well as in slippers and barefoot, and it's ballet with sizzle and sway. Both soulful and sophisticated, King infuses neoclassical ballet with the spiritual power of dance that channels the ancestral spirits of Africa and leaves audiences with an indelible trace of intense experience.

Co-presented by Dance St. Louis.

www.linesballet.org

Friday, April 28, 8 p.m.

www.imaniwinds.com
www.renemarie.com