LEWISTON — Local and regional choreographers have come together to present the fifth annual F.A.B. (Franco American Bates) Winter Dance Showcase on Feb. 6 at the Franco-American Heritage Center.

This year’s choreographers are Carol Dilley, Patricia Harms, Maria Tzianabos, Debi Irons, Kate Speer, Nancy Salmon, Neil James, Susan Thompson-Brown, Amelia Pullen, Annie Erkkinen, Jennifer Bourgeault and the Brackett Rackett Company.

Among the evening’s performances will be “The Kumari Dance,” one of the most ancient classical dances of the kingdom of Nepal. During the famous Indra Jatra Festival in Katmandu, the “living” goddess Kumari is decorated with ornaments and taken around the old Katmandu in a chariot. In Nepal, the tradition continues with a young girl chosen from the Newari culture every year and worshipped as a goddess.

Debi Irons’ Art Moves Dance Company will present “From Whence Comes My Strength,” performed by Sasha Campbell, Emily Delamater, Erin Hamlin, Kim Hamlin, Irons and Joanna Paterson. Besides the professional company, the nonprofit Art Moves Dance Project includes a teen troupe and school residencies.

Jessamyn Schmidt will perform Salmon’s “Signals” with music by Pink Floyd, Vladamir Cosma and Sweet Honey in the Rock. Salmon has choreographed dances for the concert stage as well as professional and community theaters throughout the Northeast for more than 40 years. She teaches at Bates College and works as assistant director of the Bates Dance Festival in the summer.

Also in the program is “The Moment I Said It,” choreographed by Indiedanceworks and Thompson-Brown, who is known for incorporating contemporary, modern and Latin techniques into her pieces. She has created works for Indiedanceworks, Rhythm Factor Dance Company in Portland and Studio West in Tucson, Ariz.

Some other dance works include Dilley’s “50/50” and “Arriving to Depart to Arrive;” Speer’s “Salakao;” Tzianabos’ “He is Sleeping;” and Bracket Rackett Company’s “Additive Inverse.”

Go and Do
WHAT: FAB Winter Dance Showcase
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6
WHERE: Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston
TICKETS: $14/$12 for students and seniors.
Call 689-2000 or visit francoamericanheritage.org.

Art Moves Dance Company rehearses a piece titled “From Whence Comes My Strength” for the F.A.B. Winter Dance Showcase scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, at Lewiston’s Franco-American Heritage Center.