Dance

From left, Colin Epstein, Julie Mahony, David Silpa, Zach Fischer and Jenny McAllister appear in “Next Time, I’ll Take the Stairs.” (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)

13th Floor’s ‘Stairs’ is whimsical, watchable

Five limber, uniquely expressive performers go on a wild ride in 13th…

From left, Colin Epstein, Julie Mahony, David Silpa, Zach Fischer and Jenny McAllister appear in “Next Time, I’ll Take the Stairs.” (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)
From left, Nicole Haskins, Mengjun Chen and Lauren Pschirrer dance in “We Three Kings,” a premiere by Rex Wheeler in Smuin’s annual “The Christmas Ballet.” (Courtesy Keith Sutter)

Rex Wheeler’s ‘We Three Kings’ new to Smuin ‘Christmas Ballet’

Bay Area choreographer Rex Wheeler’s new dance for Smuin’s 2016 edition of…

From left, Nicole Haskins, Mengjun Chen and Lauren Pschirrer dance in “We Three Kings,” a premiere by Rex Wheeler in Smuin’s annual “The Christmas Ballet.” (Courtesy Keith Sutter)
]Mark Foehringer’s family favorite “Nutcracker Sweets” comes to Fort Mason’s Cowell Theater. (Courtesy photo)

Holiday Dance 2016: Sugarplums abound!

Toe shoes are on for the season’s festivities, with “Nutcrackers” galore, and…

]Mark Foehringer’s family favorite “Nutcracker Sweets” comes to Fort Mason’s Cowell Theater. (Courtesy photo)
Designer Kate Mitchell is pictured with fashions featured in “Terrain.” (Courtesy photo)

‘Terrain’ offers new attitudes about aging women

Oakland-based artist-choreographer Kate Mitchell got the idea for her newest project, “Terrain,”…

Designer Kate Mitchell is pictured with fashions featured in “Terrain.” (Courtesy photo)
Carola Zertuche, artistic director of Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, is celebrating her 10th year with the 50-year-old company. (Courtesy RJ Muna)

Major milestones for Carola Zertuche’s Theatre Flamenco

For her 10th anniversary as artistic director of Theatre Flamenco of San…

Carola Zertuche, artistic director of Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, is celebrating her 10th year with the 50-year-old company. (Courtesy RJ Muna)
Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble performers include, from left, Shawn Hawkins, Cria Merchant and Alexander Zander Brown. (Courtesy Alan Kimara Dixon)

Kendra Kimbrough Dance turns 20 with two premieres

As she has for two decades, Kendra Kimbrough Barnes isn’t shying away…

Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble performers include, from left, Shawn Hawkins, Cria Merchant and Alexander Zander Brown. (Courtesy Alan Kimara Dixon)
Ashley Murphy is among the dancers featured in director Frances McElroy’s “Black Ballerina.” (Courtesy Frances McElroy, Shirley Road Productions)

SF Dance Film fest kicks off seventh edition

The seventh annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival, a four-day lineup of…

Ashley Murphy is among the dancers featured in director Frances McElroy’s “Black Ballerina.” (Courtesy Frances McElroy, Shirley Road Productions)
Artem Ovcharenko portrays the legendary title character in “Rudolf Nureyev-Dance to Freedom.” (Courtesy IWC Media)

Thrilling Nureyev docu-drama kicks off SF dance film fest

The U.S. premiere of “Rudolf Nureyev-Dance to Freedom,” which cleverly recreates how…

Artem Ovcharenko portrays the legendary title character in “Rudolf Nureyev-Dance to Freedom.” (Courtesy IWC Media)
Jessica Wagner and Dance Theatre of San Francisco appear in the film “Unspoken.” (Courtesy Josh LaCunha/RJ Muna)

‘Unspoken’ a gorgeous film-dance collaboration

Dance Theatre of San Francisco is doing something different for its fourth…

Jessica Wagner and Dance Theatre of San Francisco appear in the film “Unspoken.” (Courtesy Josh LaCunha/RJ Muna)
Wei-Shan Lai, left, and SanSan Kwan dance in “The Eye of Compassion” at Donaldina Cameron House in Chinatown. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)

Lenora Lee Dance’s ‘Eye of Compassion’ a reflective adventure

Six dynamic performers lead viewers on a meditative, historical and beautiful journey…

Wei-Shan Lai, left, and SanSan Kwan dance in “The Eye of Compassion” at Donaldina Cameron House in Chinatown. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)
“Mothership (Part I), a premiere by choreographer Raissa Simpson, is part of PUSHfest at ODC Theater. (Courtesy photo)

PUSH Dance Co. explores race, history in ‘Mothership’

With an upcoming three-part world premiere, and the start of her troupe…

“Mothership (Part I), a premiere by choreographer Raissa Simpson, is part of PUSHfest at ODC Theater. (Courtesy photo)
Deborah Karp is among the choreographers featured in West Wave Dance Festival’s ”25 Artists for 25 Years” at Z Space. (Courtesy Lynne Fried)

Fall 2016 Performing Arts Preview: Classical and Dance

Local, national and internationally acclaimed artists dance, sing and play on! San…

Deborah Karp is among the choreographers featured in West Wave Dance Festival’s ”25 Artists for 25 Years” at Z Space. (Courtesy Lynne Fried)
Sarah Griffin, Andre Silva and Peter Franc appear in Amy Seiwert’s “Instructions,” part of the “SKETCH 6” series. (Courtesy David DeSilva)

Amy Seiwert Imagery’s dances take chances with words

Choreographer Amy Seiwert admittedly has been challenged by her upcoming world-premiere “Instructions,”…

Sarah Griffin, Andre Silva and Peter Franc appear in Amy Seiwert’s “Instructions,” part of the “SKETCH 6” series. (Courtesy David DeSilva)
Red Bull Flying Bach dancers took to San Francisco streets in April to preview their show at the Masonic this weekend. (Courtesy Red Bull)

Fugue meets break dance in Flying Bach

Appearing in the Bay Area this week, Red Bull Flying Bach showcases…

Red Bull Flying Bach dancers took to San Francisco streets in April to preview their show at the Masonic this weekend. (Courtesy Red Bull)
Fun Canadian dancer Sara Porter appears in “Sara Does a Solo.” (Courtesy Omer Yukseker)

A sampling of the S.F. International Arts Festival

San Francisco International Arts Festival Where: Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan…

Fun Canadian dancer Sara Porter appears in “Sara Does a Solo.” (Courtesy Omer Yukseker)
Choreographer Helen Pickett, center, works with Smuin Ballet dancers on her world premiere “Oasis," a collaboration with composer Jeff Beal. (Courtesy Chris Hardy)

Smuin Ballet premieres ‘Oasis’

After a four-year drought relieved by a season of El Niño rain,…

Choreographer Helen Pickett, center, works with Smuin Ballet dancers on her world premiere “Oasis," a collaboration with composer Jeff Beal. (Courtesy Chris Hardy)
Light shines through the celing above the Oculus Bridge at the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) on Third Street in San Francisco, during an opening press preview on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The newly expanded SFMOMA will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)

A peek inside the new SFMOMA

Photos from inside the newly renovated San Francisco Museum of Modern Art equipped…

Light shines through the celing above the Oculus Bridge at the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) on Third Street in San Francisco, during an opening press preview on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The newly expanded SFMOMA will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)
San Francisco Ballet is presenting the world premiere of Justin Peck’s “In the Countenance of Kings” on Program 7. (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)

Justin Peck world premiere rounds out SF Ballet Program 7

The most thrilling moments of San Francisco Ballet’s world premiere of Justin…

San Francisco Ballet is presenting the world premiere of Justin Peck’s “In the Countenance of Kings” on Program 7. (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)
Sonja Dale, left, and Jane Selna appear in Sharp & Fine's “All Roads Are Lined With Teeth.” (Courtesy Benjamin Hersh)

Sharp & Fine’s ‘All Roads’ an engaging journey

A palpable tension runs throughout “All Roads Are Lined With Teeth,” a…

Sonja Dale, left, and Jane Selna appear in Sharp & Fine's “All Roads Are Lined With Teeth.” (Courtesy Benjamin Hersh)
Mark Foehringer Dance Project celebrates its 20th anniversary season with a show called "Body of Work" on Jan. 31. (Courtesy Matt Haber)

2016 Winter Arts Preview: Classical Music, Dance

The Bay Area’s dynamic performing arts troupes present music and dance, both…

Mark Foehringer Dance Project celebrates its 20th anniversary season with a show called "Body of Work" on Jan. 31. (Courtesy Matt Haber)