ONE WEEKEND ONLY ARC Dance: Summer Dance at the Center @ Seattle Rep. Stunning contemporary ballet by the best local dance company you've never heard of. (Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. Leo K. Theatre @ Seattle Rep. Tix $15-$25.) more ›

Not that plenty of gray hairs won't like ARC's "Summer Dance at the Center" (8 p.m tonight and tomorrow at the Leo K. at Seattle Rep; tix $15-$25) fine, but let's face it: Ballet as an art form is a consumable cultural commodity. Like Shakespeare, it's something a number of people go see because they want to be cultured, and just as theatres do Shakespeare constantly to meet that demand, ballets cater to an older moneyed crowd (as well as princess-loving little girls) by trotting out the pretty Balanchine pieces with their tiaras and tutus on a regular enough basis to ensure that they don't scare off subscribers. more ›

This Thursday through Saturday, ARC Dance, a North Seattle contemporary ballet company, is taking over the Leo K. Theatre at Seattle Rep with an ambitious mixed-repertory evening, including four world premier ballets (8 p.m., tix $15-$25). Aside from Trinidad Marinez's Tres Tristes Tigres, this is one of the finest dance experiences available this summer. more ›