PORTLAND – For the third year, Portland Ballet Company and Ram Island Dance are collaborating on a program.

Their “Portland Dances – A Night of Surprises!” will run two evenings, 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, and Saturday, Aug. 21, in the John Ford Theatre in Portland High School.

This annual August event invites established and emerging Portland-based choreographers to create new works as an alternative to the classical genre.

Returning for a third year is guest resident choreographer Adrienne Hawkins. As artistic director of Impulse Dance in Boston for more than 30 years, she has brought fresh, powerful and innovative works to the stage. In previous years, her choreography has been everything from pulsating, rhythmic funk to the sultry and sexy embodiment of Duke Ellington’s music.

Other returning choreographers are Karen Montanaro, Christine Philion-Dufour and Daielma Santos. Also presenting works for “Portland Dances!” will be Debi Irons, Melissa Cloutier, Nell Green, Sasha Soreff, Elyse Sparks and Rachel Willis.

A reception will be held at Portland Ballet Studios, 517 Forest Ave., at 5 p.m. Saturday Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. Called “Two to Tango,” the reception includes an exhibit of the works of Maine dance photographers Stuart Nudelman and Jack Montgomery.

The reception will begin at 5 p.m.; tickets are $15 each and will be available at the Portland Ballet Studios Saturday, Aug. 21, or in advance through Portland Ballet. Tickets for both “Portland Dances” and the reception are $25. Student discounts are available.

Tickets for the dance programs are $15 and are available in advance through Portland Ballet, 772-9671, or at any Bull Moose Music store. Tickets will also be available at the John Ford Theatre the evening of the performance.