OCPAC to feature international dance groups

In one evening at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, four men in business attire will perform classical Indian dance, the Dutch National Ballet will execute the work of a Colombian-Belgian choreographer and Project Bandaloop will explore the relationship between gravity and movement while dancing in midair.

The Costa Mesa center recently announced its newest artistic initiative, The Center’s Fall for Dance, which will showcase a diverse group of 11 international dance companies, five of them from California.

“It’s not Swan Lake or the traditional, classical repertoire, but, indeed, it’s a great variety of dance forms — classical, contemporary, hip hop,” said Judy Morr, executive vice president of the center. “We want to encourage new people to come and try this smorgasbord of wonderful, new dance.”

The series was modeled after the New York City Center’s acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival, and each night of the four-day event will feature five companies presenting signature works, pre- and post-show activities and an outdoor performance from the Oakland-based Project Bandaloop.

Other featured dance companies are Srishti, Susan Marshall & Company, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Via Katlehong Dance, Charles Moulton/The Ball Passing Project, Martha Graham Dance Company, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, and Rennie Harris Puremovement.

The festival is set to premiere at the center Oct. 11-14. Tickets are $10 and go on sale in August.

More information is available at www.ocpac.org/fallfordance.