Critic’s Picks: Dance

The Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre plans an ambitious two-part work that begins at Minnehaha Falls and winds up at the Southern Theater. Romeria/Marchita explores environmental crisis through the idea of pilgrimage to sacred fertility sites. “We’ve lost a sense of ritual,” artistic director Susana di Palma says. Romeria/Marchita revives an ancient ritual for our time. Minnehaha Falls Park: Sept. 16–21; Southern Theater: Oct. 16–19. 1420 Washington Ave. S., Mpls., 612-340-1725

The collaged and distorted music of 2007 Bush Fellowship–winning composer Matthew S. Smith should complement the visceral dance of Deborah Jinza Thayer and Cathy Wright in Admittance. The piece is what Smith calls “ripple effects from an epicenter” of denied pain—the true stories of his own mother, institutionalized in the 1950s, and of a soldier subjected to Cold War atomic testing. Dec. 4–6. Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. NE, Mpls., 612.623-7660

Zenon Dance Company, fresh from a glowing twenty-fifth season, shows two new works in its fall concert: sinuous Twin Cities choreographer Wynn Fricke’s collaboration with Peter O’Gorman and the Twin Cities premiere of a piece by up-and-coming New York choreographer Andrea Miller (previously of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company). Miller’s quirky, physical work, set to the music of Balkan Beat Box, should be an explosive start to Zenon’s next quarter century. Nov. 20–30. Southern Theater

McKnight–winning avant garde choreographer Karen Sherman brings her fierce vision to the Southern stage this October. In Copperhead, Sherman probes the boundaries of victim and aggressor, hunting for the point of intersection. Disturbing but vital, Copperhead promises to be one of this year’s most exciting local dance premieres, especially given its star cast, which includes Morgan Thorson and Emily Johnson. Oct. 2–5. Southern Theater

One great pleasure James Sewell Ballet offers audiences is getting to know the dancers over the course of an evening—the smart, lively, individual JSB dancers. This fall, Sewell offers more with Dancing People, short portraits in which Sewell tries to not only “take the dancers as inspiration, but also as subject matter.” Oct. 23–26. The O’Shaughnessy, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, 651-690-6700

Sample the spectrum of Twin Cities dance—from ballet to dance-theater, tap to Native American dance—at the Walker’s annual Choreographers’ Evening, when the audience always gets a chance to see what’s new in local choreography. Each year brings a different curator for the showcase; this year it’s Sally Rousse, a James Sewell ballerina whose wide-ranging tastes ensure an interesting evening. Nov. 29. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-375-7600

Royal Winnipeg Ballet brings vivid contemporary work to Northrop with Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana, set to Carl Orff’s famous score. A classic work rounds out the evening. Nov. 8. Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota, 84 SE Church St., Mpls., 612-624-2345