Mixing It Up At Spectrum Dance Theater

Diversity gets a lot of lip service these days.

But few ballet and modern-dance groups deliver, in terms of mixing things up racially. Seattle's Spectrum Dance Theater is one group that puts its main moves where its publicity is.

Its "Rhythm and Moves: Jazz Dance" concert at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday at the University of Washington's Meany Theater, features works not only by and for artists of the East and West Coasts, but from varied dance disciplines and cultural backgrounds. (Tickets: $7-$18.50; 325-4161.)

Two guest artists are of special note. Seattle native Stanley Perryman, formerly with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and once a principal with Dance Theatre of Harlem, has moved back to Seattle and will be making his debut as a Spectrum company member.

And Robert Gilliam, a Los Angeles dancer now residing in Portland, with experience dancing with Michael Jackson and in the Broadway show "Cats," is appearing in a dance work, "The Path," with Wayne Bascomb, a Seattle native residing in Los Angeles. Bascomb choreographed the piece.

Bascomb has done choreography for stars such as Cher, Donna Summer and The Commodores, and has handled stage, screen and TV stints including "The Wiz," starring Diana Ross.

Seattle's own jazz-dance legend, Ray Bussey, former director of That's Jazz, will stage three popular works from his company's repertoire. Those pieces include "Now You Has Jazz," "After Hours" and "Birdland."

Former Pacific Northwest Ballet dancer Ronn Tice was scheduled to dance and create a work for the Spectrum show. He continues teaching on the Spectrum staff, but has injured his knee, so will not appear on stage this weekend.