Fusebox Festival officially starts today with what will surely be an epic display of Texas pride unfolding on the steps of the capitol this evening at 6:30pm. Choreographer Allison Orr and composer Graham Reynolds (whos previous collaboration, The Trash Project, blew us away last year) have teamed up to present T is for: Two Hundred Two-Steppers on the Steps of the Texas Capitol. A fifteen piece Texas swing orchestra featuring vocalists Dale Watson and Christina Marrs will accompany the dancers for their thirty minute performance. For the evening's final "All-Step" piece, audience members will be invited to two step their big Texas hearts out as well. Show up early - Stubb's will be on site serving up free BBQ to nourish ravenous dancers and audience members. more ›

Just as hipsters all over town are completing their post-SXSW Master Cleanse, yet another festival is about to begin. Reassure your aching liver, Fusebox Festival is a tad less beer soaked and requests a bit more sobriety from its audiences - which is not to say that the twelve day, city-wide, performance and art fest won't be a trip. Each spring, Fusebox brings some of the most innovative contemporary artists and performers to Austin - you may have never heard of them before the fest, but be assured, you'll be talking about them afterward. The eclectic nature of the festival means that some performances are free and accessible to hundreds of viewers while other works are presented intimately to a few dozen ticket holders. more ›

Last year, when Allison Orr and Forklift Danceworks presented Skate! A Night at the Rink it was one of the most uplifting performances of 2008. The event brought together professional dancers on skates with dedicated longtime rink skaters in a breathtaking series of dances that were both fresh and nostalgic. This weekend, for one night only, Orr is once again employing her gift of taking ordinary folk (which is to say, non-professional dancers) and shining a spotlight on their inner dancers. The show is called The Trash Project and you needn’t be psychic to know this is going to wind up as one of 2009’s most uplifting performances. more ›