Talking about music, as the saying goes, makes about as much sense as dancing about architecture. But, as the 2010 dance season indicates, dance and architecture have much in common. At ODC, for instance, their renovated space was the occasion to commission a new work — called "Architecture of Light." Here are our picks for the fall season.

And go here for Bay Citizen's Fall Arts picks in...

Theater,  Visual Art,  Film,  Literary Events, and Music.

And don't forget to check out our new Agenda calendar listings.

Thursday 9/30: Lizz Roman and Dancers (Dance)

Site-specific dance isn't hard to find in S.F. Between Joe Goode's popular show at the historic Mint building and the Trolley Car Dances (coming up on Oct. 16-17, on the N-Judah), dancers can pop up in the most unlikely locations. In this performance, Lizz Roman and co. take over the Danzehaus for a show called "This Dance This Place." This will be no passive experience for the audience, as Roman works to make viewers conscious of all the nooks and crannies of the house. Then, in the second half, the dancers move through even more of the space, working the bathroom doors, ledges, balconies and windows. With live music. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m. $20. 

Dancehaus, 1275 Connecticut St., San Francisco

Friday 10/1: ODC/Dance: Architecture of Light (Dance)

In the inaugural show in ODC's renovated space, the titled "Architecture of Light" is taken pretty literally. Visual artist Elaine Buckholz will be designing special installations to augment the work of 25 dancers (15 guest performers in addition to ODC's ten). The site-specific piece is done by ODC founding director Brenda Way, and it's a great opportunity to check out ODC's luminous new digs. Huge windows look out onto the street, inviting the public to witness the workings of a form that can sometimes feel hard to reach. $20-$35.

ODC Theater, 3153 17th St., San Francisco

Friday 10/1: Classical Indian Dance Festival (Dance)

The Bay Area-based Chitresh Das Dance Company, one of the foremost classical Indian dance companies in the United States, celebrates its 30^th anniversary with a three-day festival, “Traditions Engaged - An International Festival of Classical Indian Dance & Music.” Encompassing the broad landscape of Indian classical dance, the event builds on a 2006 festival organized by Chitresh Das that focused exclusively on the Kathak dance tradition. “Traditions Engaged” features performances, discussion sessions and lecture-demonstrations by some of the Indian dance world’s leading luminaries. The three-day event moves to Los Angeles’ REDCAT theater from October 8-10.

 

 

YBCA, 701 Mission St., San Francisco

Thursday 11/11: Sankai Juku (Dance)

A simple set with dusted white dancers is the hallmark of Japanese butoh group Sankai Juku, who are bringing their "Hibiki: Resonance from Far Away" to the Bay Area in a joint presentation by San Francisco Performances and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The six men group, which includes artistic director Ushio Amagatsu, "achieves almost pure metaphor," according to Time magazine. Amagatsu started the troupe in 1975. Sankai Juku will also be appearing at Stanford on Nov. 9, to show a new work.

YBCA, 701 Mission St., San Francisco