Connecticut is known for its incredible dance legacy. Many modern dance companies were created here and the state still boasts some of the finest college dance programs in New England. The variety and vitality of dance is constant, especially this week.
The Avon-based New England Ballet Theatre has a big season-opening concert Oct. 11 and 12 which not only celebrates original work by the company with a new version of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” but honors Hartford dance history by presenting a work originally choreographed by former Hartford Ballet artistic director Michael Uthoff. The ballet concert takes place at a hall that is acknowledged as one of the best dance stages in the state, Hoffman Auditorium at West Hartford’s University of Saint Joseph.
“The Firebird” was composed in 1910. Sixty years later, a different type of fiery dancing was all the rage. The disco era lives on with KC and the Sunshine Band, who had several of the biggest hits in that genre and never really broke up as a band. You may be dancing in your seat at the Waterbury Palace.
A couple decades later, a different type of dance move was popularized by MTV. Those vibrant urban styles come back in force through the national Dance Now America Tour coming to Mohegan Sun with Crystal Waters, Jocelyn Enriquez and many others.
For more extraordinary dancing, the classic musical “A Chorus Line,” about a group of dancers anxiously auditioning for a new Broadway musical, is still at the Goodspeed Opera House through Nov. 2.
Manual Cinema: ‘Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster’
Quick Center, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield
Manual Cinema, the Chicago-based theater troupe known for blending live action with ingenious projections and lighting tricks, has done some dark stuff, but “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster” is a family-friendly piece based on two children’s books by the great Mo Williams. Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. $15. quickcenter.fairfield.edu.
Alexandra Kay
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
Social media star and 2011 “American Idol” contestant Alexandra Kay is on her “Second Wind” tour, playing Toad’s Place on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. Julia Cole opens. $40, $35 in advance. toadsplace.com.
David Byrne
Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Jerry Harrison screened the Talking Heads movie at a couple of Connecticut theaters last month. Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz have called Connecticut home for decades. Now you can catch their long-ago bandmate, David Byrne, in concert on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. at the Oakdale Theatre. $75.50-$1014.20. livenation.com.
Seether and Daughtry
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport
The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater season draws to a close with a hard rock bill co-headlined by South Africa’s Seether and North Carolina’s Daughtry, with equally powerful opening acts P.O.D. and Kami Kehoe. Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. $25-$565.65. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.
Coco Montoya
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook
Blues guitarist Coco Montoya, who learned his craft working with legends like Albert Collins and John Mayall, plays The Kate on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. $41. thekate.org.
Blues guitarist Coco Montoya is at The Kate on Oct. 9. (Victoria Smith)
‘Living Dead in Denmark’
Nafe Katter Theater, 802 Bolton Road, Storrs
Playwright Qui Nguyen is best known for “She Kills Monsters,” a psychological comedy/drama beloved by college theaters. UConn’s Connecticut Repertory Theatre, which staged “She Kills Monsters” twice, is doing another Qui Nguyen opus, the zombie/“Hamlet” mash-up “Living Dead in Denmark,” Oct. 9-19, directed by Tlaloc Rivas. Performances are Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m., Oct. 14 at 10 a.m., Oct. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 17 at 8 p.m., Oct. 18 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. $32-$42, $25-$35 seniors, $12 and $15 students and seniors. connecticutrep.uconn.edu.
‘The Bill of Rights: Ten Amendments in Eight Motets’
Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown
Wesleyan University offers a timely — and free! — concert of Neely Bruce’s music setting of the Bill of Rights, performed by Bruce, the ensemble Alchemy and special guests. Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. Free. wesleyan.edu.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert’
Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
The series “The Last Airbender” marks its 20th anniversary this year, another good reason to see this orchestral tour where excerpts from the show are given a live musical soundtrack. Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. $42.70-$156.05. livenation.com.
Leo Kottke
StageOne at Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield
Acoustic guitar genius Leo Kottke’s fingerpicking style graces a lot of theme songs and soundtracks, from “Spenser Confidential” to “North Country” to “The Rick and Rob Report” and Al Franken’s podcast. He’s also made over two dozen albums. Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. $52.80. fairfieldtheatre.org.
Joe, Ginuwine and Mya
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Some of the smoothest R&B/soul singers of the ‘90s are at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m..: Joe (whose biggest hit was probably “Beautiful”), Mya (“It’s All About Me”) and Ginuwine (“Pony”). $49.35-$119.20. foxwoods.com.
Travel back to the ’90s with R&B singers Ginuwine, pictured, Joe and Mya at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Oct. 10. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
KC and the Sunshine Band
Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury
The disco icons KC and the Sunshine Band have been getting down tonight, shake-shake-shaking their booty and telling you the way they like it for 52 years. Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. $55-$125. palacetheaterct.org.
Pete Yorn
Infinity Music Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford
Revered singer/songwriter Pete Yorn, who released his 10th album last year, is doing an “Evening with…”-style solo acoustic concert at Infinity Music Hall Hartford on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. $57.73-$78.35. infinityhall.com.
Skin Crawl
The Webster Underground, 31 Webster St., Hartford
The heavy East Hartford band Skin Crawl plays a big local show with Dethwish, American Amnesia, Wxther and Whisper Upon Wind is also playing. $21.15. Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. thewebsterct.com.
Out of Town Spotlight
Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St., Hartford
The local improv sketch comics who hang out at Sea Tea Comedy Theater welcome a headlining act from New York City, Full of Bones. Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. $10. seateaimprov.com
Masters of Illusion
Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington
The internationally touring multi-artist magic show brings its wonderment to the Warner Theatre on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. $39.50-$78.50. warnertheatre.org.
Howl of a Night
Little Theater of Manchester, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester
It’s a howl of a night with an old-time radio-style rendition of four creepy one-acts by local playwright Bill Arnold: “Sally Fitz, Private Dick,” “To the Dogs,” “The Deading Anniversary” and “Sally Fitz Meets the Monster.” Oct. 11 at 2 and 7 p.m., Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. $14-$44. cheneyhall.org.
Dance Now America Tour
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
It’s a celebration of the type of club dancing that ruled the ‘90s, featuring Haddaway, Real McCoy, La Bouche, Chris Willis, Ultra Nate, Crystal Waters, Jocelyn Enriquez, Turbo B (of Snap), Charvoni (of Black Box) and No Mercy. Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. $82.85-$174.65. mohegansun.com.
New England Ballet Theatre
University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford
New England Ballet Theatre opens its 2025-26 season with a ballet concert at Hoffman Auditorium at the University of Saint Joseph that features a new production of “The Firebird” choreographed by the company’s leader Rachel Gnatowski, “Reflections on the Water” featuring choreography by former Hartford Ballet artistic director Michael Uthoff and more. Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. $32, $16 dance students. neballettheatre.com/firebird.
