Jun. 30, 2002
UNDER THE RADAR
Venture out this summer to these entertainment spots that might not be hot, but should be

Dance

• DANCE ON THE WATER: Take in one of the Bay Area's most romantic views of the Golden Gate Bridge along with cutting-edge dance at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason. Nestled on the end of one of Fort Mason's piers, the Cowell hosts a wide array of dance and theater events, and this July it presents the annual Summerfest/dance Festival. This monthlong series of six programs showcases the works of 28 West Coast choreographers and companies, including Axis Dance Company, KT Nelson of ODC/SF, Joanna Haigood and Facing East Dance and Music. Details: Summerfest/dance runs Thursdays-Sundays, July 11-28, all shows at 8 p.m. Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F. Tickets are $18, $20. 415-345-7575, www.fortmason.org.

• ART-DECO ARTS: The art-deco Alice Arts Center exudes a comfortable classiness. Home to groups ranging from Citicentre Dance to Oakland Ballet to the Bay Area Blues Society, this restored turn-of-the-last-century building also houses dance studios, offices and a hotel for artists involved with the center. In the theater this month, Savage Jazz Dance Company, one of the Alice Arts Center's home companies, offers two premieres with live music from the Marcus Shelby Jazz Quintet. Details: Savage Jazz performs at 2 p.m. today. Alice Arts Center, 1428 Alice St. at 14th, Oakland. Tickets are $15, $20. For tickets, call 925-798-1300, go online at Tickets.com, or call Tickets.com at 415-478-2277. For more information, visit www.savagejazz.org or call 510-238-7219.

• CAFÉ FLAMENCO: Catch a taste of Seville as the ODC Theater transforms into a café for Yaelisa and her company, Caminos Flamencos. With candles on the table, a drink in your hand and some of the Bay Area's best flamenco on stage, suddenly it feels like you're in a tablao in Spain. Details: Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos perform at 7 p.m. July 21. ODC Theater, 17th and Shotwell streets, S.F. Tickets: $10-$17. 415-863-9834, www.caminosflamencos.com.

• LOOK! UP IN THE AIR!: Theater Artaud, home to the experimental and the offbeat, struggles to stay open in a waning economy, but for a while, it'll turn the unusual warehouselike space into the perfect venue for a circus. Keith Hennessy's "Circo Zero" offers a mix of traditional acrobatics, juggling and contortions along with a dose of cultural and social commentary to create a global circus spectacular. Details: "Circo Zero" performs through July 7, Thursdays-Sundays, 8:30 p.m. Theater Artaud, 450 Florida Street 17th, S.F. Pay-what-you-can Thursdays; $20 Fridays-Sundays. For tickets: ODC Theater, 415-863-9834 or www.ticketweb.com. For more info: www.848.com/circozero.

• DANCIN' IN WALNUT CREEK: Community theaters all over the Acalanes School District are getting facelifts, and the first one to open is the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. Operated by the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, the roomy, modern 400-seat theater plays host to local groups from the Contra Costa Children's Chorus to the Danville Ballet, which presents its summer showcase of new and classical works at the Del Valle in August. Details: Danville Ballet Company, Summer Showcase 2002 at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Tickets are $16-$18. 925-943-7469, www.dlrca.org.

-- Mary Ellen Hunt

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This review initially appeared on June 30, 2002 in the Contra Costa Times.

For questions or comments, please contact maryellenhunt@yahoo.com.