The New Mexico Dance Festival is like no other dance show or festival in the state. Founded by Patricia Dickinson and Dance Theatre Southwest, the festival is a means of bringing together the myriad of talented professional and rising new choreographers throughout the region. Over the years, with critical acclaim, the festival has grown to include choreographers from New York, Florida, Las Vegas, Washington, and as far away as Haiti.

Choreographers in this year's festival include: Paul Paradise, Donna Jewell, Celia Dale, Suzanne Johnston, Jolie Simballa, Benigna Sánchez-Duty, Katherine Giese, Louie Giannini, Jackie Oliver, Jennifer Boren, Hans Kliphuis, Amber Vasquez (Taos), Jonathan Meyer (Khecari Dance Theatre-Taos), Travis Jarrell (Santa Fe), Lonika Majithia, and Rosalinda Rojas.

The styles of dance will include classical ballet, contemporary ballet, modern, tap, jazz, flamenco, dance gymnastics, Native American, East Indian, Middle Eastern folkloric, and everything in between. The festival was first founded as a means of bringing together the professional and rising young choreographers, sharing one stage and sometimes even the same dancers.

9th New Mexico Dance Festival October 15 & 16 - 7:30 pm KiMo Theater 432 Central Avenue NW Tickets $12 Tickets available at ticketmaster.com (505-883-7800), all Ticketmaster Outlets and the KiMo Box Office (505-768-3522). Tickets and information also available from NMBC (505-292-4245)