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http://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2009/award/best-dance-company-1525035/Best Dance Company
Presidio Dance Theatre
Dance habitués who like their movement with an international flavor needn't rely on the annual Ethnic Dance Festival alone to feed their fancy. Presidio Dance Theatre has effortlessly employed a global aesthetic for the more than 100 productions in its repertory. That means moves specific to a certain culture are never marginalized and separated from the rest of the show. Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Sherene Melania has whipped up a tantalizingly diverse ensemble of principal dancers trained in modern and traditional styles, all the while ensuring that all the elements fit together. Showcases with themes like "Dancing Across Cultures" and guest choreographers with routines including the Turkish dances of the Black Sea and the Iranian dances of the Qajar court illuminate without being pedantic. The theater also has a slew of intensive summer camps and classes for kids, while adults can dabble in everything from Greek folk dancing to flamenco.
