The Buzz: Dance
Snappy Dance, "String Beings": To celebrate the company's 10th anniversary, the whimsical acrobats of Snappy Dance are offering two weekends of "String Beings," a world premiere collaboration with MIT scientist/media artist Jonathan Bachrach and Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist Lucia Lin . Under director/founder Martha Mason, Snappy complements its daring, athletic movement with real-time video feedback that allows live dancers and virtual dancers to interact. In addition, live musicians perform the music of Berlin composer Michael Rodach and become part of the sculptural choreography. May 30-June 10, Boston Center for the Arts' Virginia Wimberly Theatre. 617-876-4275 , crasharts.org
Prometheus Dance, "Devil's Wedding": The centerpiece of Prometheus Dance's traditional Memorial Day weekend concerts is a new work about the lives of women in fundamentalist Islamic societies. "Devil's Wedding" is a cautionary tale that examines the conflict between ancient religion and modern culture in male-dominated societies. The dance is set to music by Serart (System of a Down's Serge Tankian and Armenian avant-garde artist Arto Tuncboyaciyan ). May 25-27, Boston Conservatory Theatre. 617-912-9222 , prometheusdance.org
Lorraine Chapman The Company , "The Floating World": For her latest venture, veteran choreographer/dancer Lorraine Chapman grapples with death, in particular the death of her father years ago. She's created a 10 1/2- minute solo dedicated to him as part of " The Floating World." The multimedia piece, in which the audience will be seated among the dancers, features six performers (including the compelling Chapman), music by Arvo Part and Erik Satie, and a soundscore by Alan Sutherland, the choreographer's husband. June 1-2, Green Street Studios, Cambridge. 617-864-3191 greenstreetstudios.org
Summer Stages Dance: Amy Spencer and Richard Colton's festival at Concord Academy features several notable performances, including two must-see events . On July 12, Christopher Elam's Misnomer Dance Theater presents "Throw People." Inspired in part by cock fighting, this quirky piece "examines how people treat their own and one another's body, and how violence can reverberate in the human form," according to Elam's notes. On July 19, Brooklyn-based Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group reinterprets the ritual idioms of Africa and the diaspora with a contemporary slant in a style the choreographer laughingly describes as "post African neo-hoodoo modern dance." The group's new piece "The Tale : Npinpee Nckutchie and the Tail of the Golden Dek" features four singers and four dancers integrating music, movement, and body percussion. July 12-28, Performing Arts Center, Concord Academy, Concord. 978-402-2339 , summerstagesdance .org
Bates Dance Festival: This 25th anniversary season offers some world-class performances. If you missed Rubberbandance Group at Jacob's Pillow last summer, head to Bates July 14 for dancer/choreographer Victor Quijada's dynamite hip-hop - flavored company. Quijada's works combine the raw, athletic exuberance of street dance with the formal clarity and controlled elegance of ballet . July 9-11, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. 207-786-6381 , www.batesdancefestival.org.
KAREN CAMPBELL 
