Dance

This season's brave and sophisticated programming choices at Seattle's two dance-import venues - the UW World Dance Series at Meany Theater and On the Boards' New Performance Series - mean that Seattle audiences will have a chance to see an excellent survey of important projects in movement theater and pure dance from around the world.

Kudos first to the UW World Dance Series, which just keeps getting better. No longer shackled to acts with instant name recognition, this six-event series opens with a return visit by the world's most surreal and sensual Butoh group, Sankai Juku from Japan. The troupe hasn't been here in six years. From New York, the incomparable Mark Morris Dance Group arrives with an all-repertory program, followed by the subtle yet spectacular Limon Dance Company, which hasn't visited Seattle in more than 15 years.

On the Boards is booking companies that are, for the most part, completely unknown quantities in America. The fall season includes an exclusive U.S. appearance by Rotterdam choreographer and film artist Angelika Oei, plus the first U.S. tour of Montostroj (mon-toe-stroy), a raw, young company of Croatian movement artists.

A sure sellout, the "Tap Dogs," a gritty revue by six tough Australian tappers, a hit in London's West End all year, are coming to Seattle's Moore Theater.

And our own Seattle troupes are getting an infusion of significant new repertoryalong with the continued growth in

alternative performance venues. The highlight of Pacific Northwest Ballet's fall season is the commissioned new work from Dutch choreographer Ton Simons, an erudite and fascinating force in the redrafting of ballet's look for the millennium. Spectrum Dance Theater is bringing Lar Lubovitch's "Waiting for the Sunrise," a feisty social dance satire originally commissioned for Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Troupe, which is set to nine songs by Les Paul and Mary Ford. Seattle's independent choreographers also have a new program this year: New City New Dance on Capitol Hill. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

"Sit on the Lap" choreographed by Amii Legendre, Sept. 18-28; New City Theater. "Every night I put to sea in my dreams," choreography/film by Rotterdam's Angelika Oei, Sept. 19-22; On the Boards. Cava-Parker Dance presents "Songs in the Dark," Sept. 19-22; Broadway Performance Hall. "Jazz Encounters," Spectrum Dance Theater presents works choreographed by Pattie Obey, Mark Kane, Lar Lubovitch and Frank Chaves, Sept 20-22; Meany Hall. Pilobolus, Sept. 22; Everett Performing Arts Center. Pacific Northwest Ballet performs Kent Stowell's "Carmina Burana," featuring the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and "Divertimento No. 15" choreographed by George Balanchine,; Sept. 24-28, Oct. 2-3; Opera House. Sankai Juku presents the U.S. premiere of "Yuragi," Sept. 26-28; Meany Hall.

OCTOBER

"Tap Dogs," a gritty revue by six tough Australian tappers, Oct. 1-13; Moore Theater. A.C. Petersen and Dancers in "The Girls of St. Madeliene's," a premiere full-evening work, Oct. 3-6; Broadway Performance Hall. "Everybody Goes 2 Disco From Moscow 2 San Francisco," presented by Croatian movement theater troupe Montazstroj, Oct. 10-13; On the Boards. Trapeze artist Robert Davidson Dance Company, Oct. 11; Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. Mark Morris Dance Group presents the Seattle premiere of "Love Song Waltzes," "A Spell," "The Office" and "Grand Duo," Oct. 24-26; Meany Hall. "Seattle Festival of Tap Dance," featuring legendary Motown choreographer Cholly Atkins, Oct. 31-Nov. 3; Broadway Performance Hall.

NOVEMBER

"Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing," performed by monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Nov. 8; Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. "The Red Shoes" presented by Dance Theatre Northwest, Nov. 9-10; Temple Theatre. Pacific Northwest Ballet presents a world premiere work by Ton Simons, along with Marius Petipa's "Paquita," Kent Stowell's "Quaternary," and Balanchine's "La Valse;" Nov. 12-16, 21; Pacific Northwest Ballet. "New Dance/New City Fall Festival," Nov. 20-Dec. 14; New City Theater. Limon Dance Company presents historical works by Jose Limon and Doris Humphrey, Nov. 21-23; Meany Hall.

----------------------------------------------------------------- Best Bets:

"Angelika Oei" at On the Boards

"Every night I put to sea in my dreams," a new work from this 35-year-old Rotterdam choreographer, features a trio of dancers framed by film images by Oei and scenographic elements by artist R.A. Verdouden.

The Mark Morris Dance Group

Over the past two years, the UW World Dance Series has been single-handedly bringing Seattle up to date on most of the spectacular full-evening works Mark Morris (a Seattle native) created during his tenure in Brussels.

This time around, audiences will get a chance to focus on smaller repertory including the Seattle premieres of "Love Song Waltzes" (1989), with music by Brahms; "A Spell" (1994), with music by John Wilson; "The Office" (1994), with music by Anton Dvorak; and "Grand Duo" (1993), set to music by Lou Harrison.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

The highlight of PNB's coming season doesn't occur until spring with the unveiling of a new version of Balanchine's glorious "Midsummer Night's Dream," designed by Martin Pakledinaz.

Limon Dance Company

The Limon Company, which presents the uniquely joyous modern dance works of the late Jose Limon and Doris Humphrey, is celebrating its 50th year, and has recently begun to restore Limon's masterwork, "A Choreographic Offering," set to Bach's "Musical Offering." Soulful, tricky and ecstatic, "Choreographic Offering" hasn't been performed anywhere in the United States for 30 years. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Rising Star

This is going to be Ariana Lallone's year at Pacific Northwest Ballet. In nine years, the 5-foot-10 giantess has risen through the company ranks from corps dancer to principal, quietly gathering much notice for her seductive physical power as a performer, as well as her uncanny interpretations of a host of different dance styles. (In "Symmetries," Mark Dendy literally cast her as a goddess.) This fall, PNB is giving her as much play as they do their main prima, Patricia Barker. Lallone will open the season playing the juiciest female role in "Carmina Burana," then has the lead role in the world premiere work by Ton Simons. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBERS

Dance locations and phone numbers:

Allegro Dance, 32-DANCE. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 323-2623. Co-Motion Dance, 382-0626. Cornish Dance Theater, 710 E. Roy St., 323-1486. Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett, 259-8888. Meany Theater, University of Washington, 543-4880. New City Theater, 1634 11th Ave., 323-6800 Olympic Ballet Theatre, 774-7570. On the Boards, 153 14th Ave., 325-7901. Spectrum Dance Theater, 325-4161. Pacific Northwest Ballet, 301 Mercer St., 441-2424. Temple Theatre, 47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, (206) 565-5149. Theatre in the Wild, 328-9136. Vashon Allied Arts, 463-5131. Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 753-8586. Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley, Whidbey Island, (360) 221-8262.