November is perhaps the busiest month for many dance companies and theaters, and consequently, one of the best times to see dance. Fall Seasons are already in full swing at the bigger players (The Joyce, City Center, David H. Koch Theater, and BAM, to name a few), but that’s not a free pass to forsake some innovative work being presented at the smaller theaters in town (The Chocolate Factory, The Kitchen, Movement Research). Keep reading to learn a little bit more about what I’m hoping to see this November.

Mark Morris and Akram Khan bring White Light to Lincoln Center

This year’s White Light Festival at Lincoln Center is already underway (it began Oct. 24), but there’s still plenty to be seen. The first week in November features the U.S. premiere of DESH, the Olivier Award-winning solo by English-born dancer Akram Khan (who gained widespread acclaim for his choreographic contribution to the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies), showing at the Rose Theater. Later in the month, Brooklyn-based choreographer Mark Morris, known as much for his outrageously unpredictable personality as he is for his beautiful dances, will be spending a weekend (Nov. 21-23) at the David H. Koch Theater, where the Mark Morris Dance Group will present his  L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, an undeniable masterpiece set to music by Handel and inspired by the poems of John Milton.

Akram Khan: Nov. 6 & 7 at 7:30pm
Mark Morris Dance Group: Nov. 21-23 at 7:30pm
Lincoln Center
Broadway at 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 875-5000

A New York Premiere from Ballet Preljocaj

Still riding the worldwide success of his Blanche Neige and the buzz surrounding the world premiere of Spectral Evidence at NYC Ballet’s 2013 Fall Gala in October, Angelin Preljocaj is on his way to becoming a household name. Known for his creative mixture of ballet with the avant-garde, the French choreographer and his Provence-based company, Ballet Preljocaj, return to the US for the New York premiere of And then, one thousand years of peace at the Brooklyn Academy of Music this November.

Nov. 7-9 at 7:30pm
Brooklyn Academy of Music – Howard Gilman Opera House
30 Lafayette Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 230-4352

*If you’re a student under age 29, or are over age 65, check out BAM’s excellent Rush Ticket policy here.

Six new works over three nights at CPR in Brooklyn

A new contender in the experimental dance scene, the Center for Performance Research has lost no time in taking on its mission of presenting and developing new works in contemporary dance and performance art. This month, CPR presents its Fall Movement series, in which six emerging choreographers will present their latest creations. Each night features a different mix of four out of the six choreographers.

Nov. 7-9 at 7:30pm
Center for Performance Research
361 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 349-1210

Extreme Action continues in BKLYN, thanks to Elizabeth Streb

Whether it’s your first time seeing the daredevil “action heroes” of STREB or your tenth, it’s never a dull moment at SLAM (Streb Lab for Action Mechanics), the company’s “Williamsburg playground.” This season, the Extreme Action Company STREB (led by crazy cool super-woman Elizabeth Streb) revamps an audience favorite, entitled Forces, for their Fall Performance series. Though the action can be cringe-inducing (since the danger is definitely real), the courage of Streb’s Action Artists gives “performing arts” an entirely new meaning.

To get an idea of what STREB is up to, click here.

Nov. 8 – Dec. 22
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00pm
SLAM
51 N 1st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11249
(718) 384-6491

Jérôme Bel’s Disabled Theater promises an unprecedented night at NYLA

For this project, renowned French choreographer Jérôme Bel has partnered with Zurich’s Theater Hora – a theater group comprised of actors with mental or learning handicaps – to present a work that is sparking discussions around the world. Featuring 11 of Hora’s dancers/actors, the work has been applauded by critics for the way that it openly presents the various abilities of its actors, while simultaneously using the work as a platform for discussing what this means for the performing arts community at large.

Nov. 12-16 at 7:30pm, Nov. 17 at 3:00pm
New York Live Arts
219 W 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 619-6500

Ballet Hispanico makes a triumphant return to the Apollo

Coming off a spectacular performance at City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, Ballet Hispanico will return to the Apollo Theater for a one-night-only show. Last year’s event was a sell-out, and this year will most likely follow suit – the program contains the magnificent Sombrerisimo that premiered at Fall for Dance, as well as a world premieres from Edgar Zendejas and Ballet Hispanico’s own Artistic Director, Eduardo Vilaro.

Nov. 23 at 7:30pm
The Apollo Theater
253 W 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
(212) 531-5305

Brand new dances in ten minutes or less 

The concept behind NYC10 is simple: give emerging choreographers and companies a free stage and ten minutes to present their work. For its Fall Season finale, NYC10 has compiled a program featuring the audience favorites from the previous fall performances, including works by Kalamandir Dance Company, Zella Dance, and The Beat Club, among others. The beauty of the project is in the time limit. If you love the piece, great. If you don’t, it’s only ten minutes. 

Dixon Place
161A Chrystie Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 219-0736