The focus will be on progressive West Michigan dance as Aerial Dance Theater, an affiliate of the department of dance at Hope College, performs on Friday and Saturday, May 19-20, at 8 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre, located at 86 E. Eighth St.

          Tickets are $6 for regular adult admission, and $4
  for senior citizens and students, and will be available at
  the door.  Admission for children under 12 is free.
          Under the artistic direction of Steven Iannacone
  and Linda Graham, Aerial will present five original works,
  including the premieres of "Just Dust" by Graham and an
  original work by company member Ellen Tomer.  Also featured
  on the concert will be "Tribal Suite" and "Meat" by
  Iannacone, and "Les Soeurs" by guest choreographer Ray
  Tadio.
          "Just Dust (when hell doesn't want you and heaven
  is full)" incorporates the raw music of Tom Waits as it
  "explores an edgy psychological drama within a hard
  environment," says Graham.  Graham has updated both the look
  and the technological support for this dark rock journey,
  which was originally created for the Hope's "Dance 19"
  concert in 1993.
          Tomer's premiere is based on Mauricio Kagel's
  contemporary composition "Zwei Akte."  The dance, according
  to Tomer, is "dealing, through music, with the roles
  assigned to men and women."
          "Les Soeurs" sets aside the popular images of the
  nasty stepsisters from "Cinderella," presenting the two in a
  more human light.  The duet is choreographed by Tadio with
  music by Ryuchi Sakamoto and costumes by John Dayger.
          "Meat" is choreographed by Iannacone with music by
  Muslimgauze.  It is part of a full-length work-in-progress
  that is being produced by "In The Body," a collaborative
  choreography project founded by Iannacone with Avi Kaiser
  this past year while Iannacone was in Brussels, Belgium.
          The concert will also include Iannacone's "Tribal
  Suite."  Incorporating the boldness and grace of jungle
  animals, the work has been described as "dynamic and
  exhilarating."
          Aerial Dance Theater performs regularly in the
  West Michigan area.  Aerial is supported by the Michigan
  Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Hope College
  Patrons for the Arts and Angels for Aerial.
Additional information about the concerts may be
obtained by calling the Knickerbacker Theatre at (616)
395-7403.