From classical ballet to edgy contemporary work to traditional dances of Mexico, this fall brings a rich assortment of dance to stages all over town — call it the pre-“Nutcracker” season. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store.
Choreographic Shindig
Now in its 15th year, Olivier Wevers’ contemporary dance company Whim W’Him is back this fall with another collection of new works, chosen by the dancers themselves from hundreds of applicants nationwide. The showcase includes premieres from New York-based choreographer Carlos Franquiz, Chicago-based dancemaker Noelle Kayser and Hubbard Street Dance Company alumnus Adam McGaw.
Sept. 13-15 and 19-21; Erickson Theatre, 1524 Harvard Ave., Seattle; $19-$79; whimwhim.org
“The Times Are Racing”
Pacific Northwest Ballet leaps into the new season with a very contemporary repertory program. Justin Peck’s electric, sneakered “The Times Are Racing” — a dance that seems to, astonishingly, just keep getting faster — returns to the McCaw Hall stage, along with Edwaard Liang’s joyously lyrical “The Veil Between Worlds” and the world premiere of PNB resident choreographer Jessica Lang’s “Black Wave,” set to music by New Zealand composer Salina Fisher.
Sept. 20-29; McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; $38-$210; 206-441-2424, pnb.org
Mouthwater Festival
Disabled artists from around the country will gather at Velocity Dance Center for three weeks of performances, workshops and social events, featuring work by Urban Jazz Dance Company, Saira Barbaric and Vanessa Hernández Cruz.
Sept. 23-Oct. 13; multiple locations in Seattle; $15-$80 for festival package (sliding scale); velocitydancecenter.org
Men in Dance Festival
Founded in 1996, this every-other-year festival showcases the talents of male dance artists. This year’s lineup features eight choreographers, including local talent Gary Champi and Jeremy Zihao Yuan; Kazakhstan dance-maker Damir Tasmagambetov; and returning guest artist Jameel Hendricks, bringing a performance quintet from Philadelphia and also leading a master class in which he’ll teach the choreography of his new work.
Oct. 4-6; Erickson Theatre, 1524 Harvard Ave., Seattle; $40 ($30 advance tickets; $20 students/seniors); menindance.org/tickets
“Swan Lake”
The World Ballet Company, an international troupe of dancers based in Los Angeles, tours the world with classical ballets. It’s here for just one performance of the greatest classical ballet of all time, complete with dying swans, lovesick princes and the showstopping feat of 32 fouetté turns.
Oct. 7; Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; tickets start at $40; 206-682-1414, stgpresents.org
“re:CREATION”
Born in a dance composition class at Dartmouth College in 1971, Pilobolus —the company famously named for a fungus — has become an institution, touring the world with its particular brand of shape-shifting body sculpture. At Meany Hall, they’ll be performing “re:CREATION,” a collection of both classic Pilobolus works and new collaborations.
Oct. 17-19, Meany Hall at the University of Washington campus, 4040 George Washington Lane N.E., Seattle; tickets begin at $25; 206-543-4880, tickets.artsevents.washington.edu
“Just Love”
Karin Stevens Dance, founded in 2009, presents an evening-length work for a quartet of dancers, an excerpt of which was performed at the Seattle International Dance Festival this year. “Just Love” is described as “an intricately shifting journey in friendship, the communal and loving presence between four dancers, underlined by groovy music.”
Oct. 18-20; NOD Theater, 1621 12th Ave., Seattle; $15-$35; karinstevensdance.com
Bailadores de Bronce
This local ballet folklórico dance troupe, founded in 1972 by a group of students at the University of Washington, gives a special performance during Hispanic Heritage Month, presenting a showcase of traditional dances from Mexico in honor of the upcoming Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Oct. 25; Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $10-$18; 206-682-1414, stgpresents.org
“All Balanchine”
It’s been a while — too long? — since Pacific Northwest Ballet has showcased George Balanchine’s works; this program should make for a lovely neoclassical primer on the great 20th-century choreographer. “Prodigal Son” (95 years old this year, and yet still looking and sounding startlingly modern) returns, with a glorious central role for a male principal dancer, along with “Square Dance” and “Stravinsky Violin Concerto.” And, with music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, the PNB Orchestra should get a nice workout as well.
Nov. 1-10; McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; $38-$210; 206-441-2424, pnb.org