All the moves

The Arizona Republic 2014 Critics’ Pick:
Best alternative to Cirque du Soleil
With shows such as the fashion-inspired “Catwalk” and the annual “A Vampire Tale” — dubbed “the ‘Nutcracker’ of Halloween” — choreographer Lisa Starry’s company is inspired more by MTV than Martha Graham. And it has built an enthusiastic young audience by specializing in Cirque-style aerial dance, on ribbons and the lyra hoop.

Starry’s choreography for A Vampire Tale, filled with pas de deux performed in various couplings, showcases her dancers’ dramatic flair, athleticism, and grace. So, too, does aerial choreography by [Gavin] Sisson. The cast includes 27 dancers, 11 of whom perform aerial feats — sometimes solo, other times in tandem. Chief among them is Sisson, who exudes strength and agility in his work with silks, a suspended hoop, and the trapeze he twirls atop as if powering his own three-ring circus.

Best Contemporary Dance Collective:
Before you try a few new moves, you’ll want to take some notes from the pros. And while the footwork choreographed by Lisa Starry for her Scorpius Dance Theatre might be a little much to take to the club, every step, bend, lift, and stretch performed by her dancers would be guaranteed to get you a double take — given you can pull ’em off.