This weekend sees a contemporary dance concert unusual in a number of ways. Firstly, it’s put on by the Barefoot Collective, but features not only their professional work but that of Gig Harbor High School students as a result of free workshops given there recently by the group. And secondly, it’s not at a theater: Instead, the show is at an empty storefront space on Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, as part of the Spaceworks program.

The high school workshops are new to Barefoot, a contemporary dance collective which has been giving creative and unusual performances over the last few years …

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Tacoma Symphony at the Rialto

Janet Sung and Mendelssohn are the stars of this weekend’s Tacoma Symphony Orchestra program. The young violinist virtuoso plays the composer’s famous concerto; also on the program are Ravel’s haunting “Tombeau de Couperin” and Beethoven’s exuberant Symphony no. 7, all in the beautiful acoustics of the Rialto. 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21. $12-$62. Rialto Theater, 310 S. 9^th St., Tacoma. 253-591-5894, www.tacomasymphony.org

Click Flick: “Shark Tale”

This month’s free Click Family Flick at the Grand Cinema is the 2004 animated “Shark Tale,” about a little fish with big dreams and big adventures. Doors open 10 a.m., …

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Seen pole dancing yet? Next week you’ll have two opportunities to see local pole dancers show off their athletic art here in Tacoma – at Barefoot Collective’s 8@8 night on Monday, and at Poledello dance studio on Wednesday.

The Monday night 8@8 is part of a regular Barefoot series of works-in-progress nights. Each performer gets around eight minutes to present something they’re working on, with eight performers starting at eight o’clock (get it?) The audience gives feedback, and it’s a great chance to see new work and offer your take on it. Monday night’s line-up includes a …

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Tacoma City Ballet’s “Fingers and Toes”

In collaboration with guitarist Neil Anderssen’s band Malibu Manouche, Tacoma City Ballet’s new performance “Fingers and Toes” choreographs to the band’s new album of surf-toned jazz. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. $10. Jan Collum ballroom, Merlino Building, 508 S. 6^th Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-4219, www.tacomacityballet.com

Barefoot Dance Film Night

A casual evening of short dance-based art films by local artists, hosted by the Barefoot Collective. 8 p.m. March 1. $5, hot drinks, popcorn and cushions provided. Studio B, Tacoma City Ballet, Merlino Building, 508 S. 6^th Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-4219, www.barefootcollective.org

Showtime at the D.A.S.H. center

In …

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“I Love You, You’re Perfect…” at Encore

Encore! Theater Company in Gig Harbor presents the hilarious off-Broadway musical revue “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” a series of scenes with four actors exploring relationship quirks. Opens 7:30 p.m. tonight, then 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat-Sun through Jan. 14. $18/$14. 6615 38^th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor. 253-858-2282, www.encoretheater.org

Korean art in the Woolworth Windows

Just up in the Woolworth Windows downtown: a collection of work by Korean artists organized by Art Connection Korea, and sponsored by Tacoma Contemporary. 24/7 through Apr. 25. Free. Corner Broadway, Commerce and South 11^th Streets, Tacoma. www.tacomacontemporary.org …

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Well, I was busy this weekend. Apart from an illuminating concert from the Northwest Sinfonietta (to find out just what difference a conductor makes, go here for the review) I also went along to the Barefoot Collective‘s latest evening show at the Merlino Arts Center. The review’s here, but I just have to say that seeing what Barefoot and Tacoma City Ballet are doing in that building to create a multi-discipline, collaborative arts center is inspiring. The two very different dance companies share rehearsal space, collaborate on projects, join each other in class and …

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Tacoma, do you realize how lucky you are? You not only have several reputable ballet companies but two creative contemporary dance companies working to break the bounds of dance, while collaborating with ballet companies to mix things up even more. For a mid-sized town, that’s pretty good going.

One of those dance companies, MLKBallet, is producing an event next week, part of the MOVE! series it’s getting quite a following for. (More on that next week.) The other company is the Barefoot Collective, which is staging an evening this weekend of completely new work from two Tacoma choreographers and Barefoot members: …

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