Mark Morris Dance Group
Homegrown dance hero Mark Morris returns to the Pacific Northwest with a rep that includes a pair of Seattle premieres: Whelm, set to the music of Claude Debussy and The, set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. And if you happen to remember the piece they did when they were at On The Boards back in 2012—you know, the one that featured guest star Baryshnikov himself--you might remember A Wooden Tree. That piece, even without Baryshnikov, is also on this weekend’s program and it should be a treat as well.
If you go: Mark Morris Dance Group, The Moore Theatre, Nov. 20-22 ($31-$75)—F.D.
Grouch & Eligh, Chali 2na
Among followers of the long-dormant "backpack rap" movement, nearly all can remember the first time they heard Jurassic 5. The group rhymed with the sort of earworm harmony that one imagined as reminiscent of the genre's origins in the 80s, though no group from that era nailed it quite so well. That California ensemble may be laying low, but its standout star – the baritone Chali 2na – will be reminding hip-hop fans how it's done this Friday. He opens for his fellow backpack era holdouts, Grouch & Eligh of the two decade-strong Living Legends crew, who have continued to maintain their creativity and fanbase in a way rarely seen in the youth-focused hip-hop scene (we're choosing to overlook their collaboration with Kreayshawn). It's an all-star lineup for fans of intelligent, independent rap from the Los Angeles area, which will feature Colorado-based The Replacements as openers.
If you go: Grouch & Eligh, Chali 2na, The Crocodile, 8 p.m. Nov. 20 ($23) – D.A.
