BIG WEEK FOR DANCE

New York choreographer Jessica Lang brings her company for an evening of contemporary ballet filled with scrumptious visual design and emotionally driven movement. A graduate of Juilliard and former Twyla Tharp company member, she spent a decade as an independent choreographer before launching her troupe five years ago. Her program includes "Lines Cubed," inspired by painter Piet Mondrian; "i.n.k.," featuring a luscious video design by Shinichi Maruyama; "The Calling," a solo piece with dramatic costume design by Elena Comendador, and the lyrical duet "Among the Stars." (8 p.m. Sat., Northrop, 84 SE. Church St., $38-$58, 612-624-2345, northrop.umn.edu.)

"Four Women in Choreography": A trip to Hong Kong by choreographer Sally Rousse led to a new piece for St. Paul Ballet, whose program will also feature work by Diane Coburn Bruning, Jamie Johnson and SPB artistic director Zoé Emilie Henrot. Rousse was fascinated by residents of Hong Kong whom she saw walking backward down quiet streets — a means, she learned, of enhancing the brain's capabilities and proprioception, or body awareness. In her piece "SHRE" (Serenade Helix Rumi Eos), Rousse has the dancers face away from the audience, which also becomes a commentary on judging people by appearances. Set to music by Augusta Read Thomas, it employs Rousse's "weird tricky pointe work," in which dancers assume precarious 45-degree angles, "sliding and bouncing and having tantrums on pointe," Rousse says. (7:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $25-$37.50. 612-206-3636; thecowlescenter.org)

"You Bring the Party": If you really want to impress your Valentine's date, bring them to this social event/funky performance-art piece put together by choreographer Laura Holway. It includes a new movement trio featuring dancers Charles Campbell, Erika Hansen and Blake Nellis, with text by Rachel Jendrzejewski. Also on the lineup are Emily Gastineau and Billy Mullaney of the duo Fire Drill and Taylor Baldry, who has some participatory experiences in store. (7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sun., Fresh Oysters Performance Research, 512 E. 24th St., Mpls. $12-$20, youbringtheparty.brownpapertickets.com).

Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater culls its repertory and showcases new work for its latest performance. Suzanne Costello's "Type A Romance" debuted in New York in 1987, poking fun at love in the corporate world. "People in Pairs, or Not" features duets exploring relationships and intimacy. The evening also includes new works, including a fairy tale duet. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., JSB Tek Box at Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $15-$20. 612-206-3600; thecowlescenter.org)

SHEILA REGAN