TU Dance

This weekend: For TU Dance's spring concert at the Cowles Center, choreographer Uri Sands honors celebrated African-American contralto Marian Anderson, who was known for her rich voice as well as her role as a pioneer in overcoming prejudice. "The More Things Change" takes focus on the barriers Anderson broke through. On Easter in 1939, after being barred from singing in Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anderson performed for 75,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while millions listened on radio. Also on the TU Dance card is Sands' exploration of light, "Hikari," created with master print artist Hiroki Morinoue, as well as other pieces from the repertory, including Sands' "For You" and Gregory Dolbashian's "Keep the Edges Wild." (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun.; the Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.; $30-$35, 612-206-3600, www.thecowlescenter.org.)

Sheila Regan

Diavolo

Saturday: L.A.-based Diavolo presents a new work co-commissioned by the Ordway titled "Cubicle" about an imagined corporate world, and two other pieces — "Transit Space" and "Fluid Infinities." Artistic Director Jacques Heim describes the work of the company as "Architecture in Motion," a fitting subtitle for a dance company that employs elaborate moving sets as part of its vision. Where "Transit Space" has dancers skateboarding on abstracted ramps and "Fluid Infinities" sees them climbing on an enormous dome, "Cubicle" promises no less an impressive visual element — filling the stage with giant cubes among which the highly acrobatic dancers tumble and leap. With a mix of dance styles including hip-hop, ballet, martial arts and gymnastics, Diavolo specializes in a daredevil, high-risk approach. (7:30 p.m. Sat.; Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $23-$50, 651-224-4222, www.ordway.org) S.R.