It’s been a few years since the local Nebula Dance Lab hosted its HHII Dance Festival, so this weekend the Selah Dance Collective has agreed to offer something similar at the same Center Stage Theater. While the event won’t be as extensive and lengthy as HHII, the lively and compact Summer Dance Fest will actually feature performances from a wide and colorful spectrum of dance genres, including contemporary dance, hip-hop, ballet, jazz fusion, folk, and flamenco, celebrating the diversity and creativity of the local dance community.

“We have been dying to host a festival here for a few years now,” said Selah’s founder Meredith Venturawho has focused on full-length pieces that have performed and toured in the city over the past few seasons. “It’s great to be able to present some shorter pieces and network with other companies and dancers in the city.”

Selah will feature two new works, including the dancer from the State Street Ballet Arianna Hartanovs untitled piece, which Ventura says was shaped by the process of exploration that emphasizes the dancers’ sensitivity to one another. Ventura will also present an excerpt from her next full-length work — scheduled to premiere in January — which focuses on Italy in the 1930s and shows how satire and humor emerge as tools for artists in times of authoritarian regimes.

Other highlights include performances by SYNRGY Dance Co, a new collective focusing on street dance styles such as hip hop, house and breaking. Segments include both group work and a duet with founders Bethany Sutherland And Richard Chung. The EvokeMotion Society is also celebrating its local festival debut. Founded by Emily Stokes With inclusivity in mind, EvokeMotion explores emotions and self-expression through dance. Ventura has worked with both companies over the past year.

“Cultivating this community platform and supporting other dancers is a really important part of our mission,” she said. “Both ventures are very exciting.”

Other works by Ashley Almada, Chloe Roberts, Catherine H. Fisher, Sascha Serdjukow And Erika Soto, Riley Haley, Marika Stellwagen, Katie Brady, Karyn Laverand the Dance Network SB are also on the program, as well as a performance of Salted earth, the latest dance film from Robin Bisio with local dancer Kaita Mrazek.

Visit https://centerstagetheater.org.