In the spotlight: Rhythmically Speaking Dance, Metropolitan Ballet's 'Sleeping Beauty'

Saturday-Sunday: Former "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Deise Mendonça, a former principal ballerina of Bolshoi Brazil, steps into the lead role of Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty," presented by the Metropolitan Ballet with a cast including performers from Metropolitan's academy. The second of Tchaikovsky's three ballets, "Sleeping Beauty" is one of the most celebrated in classical ballet, based on Charles Perrault's "The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood." With choreography by artistic director Erik J. Sanborn after Marius Petipa's original 1890 choreography, the iconic work is set to live music by the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Yuri Ivan. (7:30 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul. $19-$49; 25 percent discount for seniors and students. 651-690-6700 or oshag.stkate.edu)

SHEILA REGAN

Through Sunday: From clogging to jazz and from tap to West African, Rhythmically Speaking Dance takes over Bedlam Lowertown for a beat-driven evening of movement. It's the company's seventh annual choreographers' showcase, with an array of styles and influences, but a common theme — dance fueled by the pulse of the music. Besides work by artistic director Erinn Liebhard and a number of local choreographers, the evening features national artists including Emily Oleson from West Virginia and Kwame Opare from Washington, D.C., plus a piece by the late Clarence Teeters, reconstructed by Karla Grotting and shown at the "Lost Voices of Jazz" event at the O'Shaughnessy last month. (8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., Bedlam Lowertown, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, $18. 612-419-5549 or rhythmicallyspeakingdance.org)S.R.

Pretty much anything might happen here. Between Kenna Cottman leading a participatory experience, Gender Tender (Will Courtney and Syniva Whitney), the queer interdisciplinary performance project spoofing on romantic comedies, and Nico Swenson performing a piece called "I just want to poop on your soul. Please. And other special things," the evening promises weird and provocative performances all around. Curated by Nastalie Bogira, Pleasure Rebel continues supporting dancers and performers as they challenge themselves and the audience. (8 p.m. Wed., Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. $8-$15. 612-825-894 or bryantlakebowl.com)S.R.