CONTEMPO PHYSICAL DANCE
Friday-next Sunday: Contempo Physical Dance, led by artistic director and choreographer Marciano Silva dos Santos, pictured, returns to the Cowles Center next weekend with the world premiere of "Batuque." The work will explore the African origins and the rise of the samba in Brazil, with an emphasis on how the dance form has evolved to where it is today in all its many forms. The eight-member troupe also integrates other aspects of Afro-Brazilian dance plus capoeria and contemporary movement into its performances. "Batuque" will be accompanied by vibrant live original music from Timothy Berry, Eliezer Freitas Santos, Samuel de Moraes and Brian Van Tassel with set design by Ta-coumba Tyrone Aiken. (8 p.m. Fri-Sat., 2 p.m. next Sun. $16-24. Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-206-3600, www.thecowlescenter.org. )
CAROLINE PALMER
