For fans of dance, the summer months are a grim downtime. Like opera, dance generally keeps to a specific season, and anyone who wants to catch professional dancers doing their thing has to wait for the proper time and place. But starting this week, the wait is over. Many of South Florida's local troupes, including the Miami City Ballet and Ballet Florida, begin their leaps and twirls this week and the next. In addition, several touring companies check in to the local scene, with Sakoba Dance Theater and Riverdance arriving a week from now. In Broward County, the first chance to catch a dance performance is at Bailey Concert Hall (Broward Community College, 3501 SW Davie Rd., Davie) at 3 and 8 p.m., as Maximum Dance Company returns to the venue. The troupe begins the season with a program titled "The International Exchange," which features the U.S. premiere of Cutting Corners, the world premiere of Mephisto, and a one-act version of Spectrum, a ballet to the music of Pink Floyd. Tickets cost $25, $40, or $50. Call 305-259-9775. -- Dan Sweeney
FRI 10/03
Cultura Latina
October being Hispanic Cultural Heritage Month, the City of Boca Raton begins the month with a celebration of all things Latin. "Celebrating Latin Culture -- Boca 2003," for such is the event's drier-than-a-desert title, features a cultural mishmash of music, art, and educational opportunities culled from a slew of Latin countries. One highlight is the Family Fiesta, which takes place at Mizner Park (407 Plaza Real, Boca Raton) from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Los Latigos Gauchos dance to drumbeats while twirling the lasso-with-weighted-balls contraptions called boleadoras. Roots of Rhythm offers hands-on percussion lessons. Grupo Contreras shows off salsa dance, and Illusions: A Dance Company brings its own twist to Latin dance to the mix. The next day focuses on South America as Made in Brazil blends guitar and vocals, while the Alex Fox Show combines flamenco and rhumba to rump-shaking effect. Admission is free. Call 561-447-8144. -- Dan Sweeney
FRI 10/03
Between the Sheets
Bedtime Gets Hot
Oh yeah, baby. Lavender Writes is going at it again. That's right, strap on your double-entendre decoder, put on some Prince, and jump in bed for "Not Your Average Bedtime Story," an all-nighter of co-gender sex story readings for the gay and lesbian community. Don't expect any Fabio-drenched romance novel crap here. This is the fourth in a series of steamy bedside literature readings, and it promises to be bigger, harder, and... well, you get it. The sheets get damp at 8 p.m. at the Pride Factory, 845 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-463-6600. -- Audra Schroeder
