Dance: A new ‘Pulcinella,’ and much more

This spring's dance season looks to be one of the most exciting in years. Part of it, of course, is the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, but there are lots of enticing shows throughout the months between now and June.

Top of the list is the festival highlight Pulcinella, a rare collaboration between two premier city institutions, the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. But Pennsylvania Ballet has other treats to offer: a world premiere by Benjamin Millepied, one of today's hottest choreographers, as well as Swan Lake, choreographed for the ballet in 2004 by Christopher Wheeldon, another superstar.

Meanwhile, perhaps the most famous choreographer to ever come out of Philadelphia, Judith Jamison, is retiring this year as the artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Before she takes a final curtain call, however, her company will visit the Kimmel Center with a program celebrating her legacy.

- Ellen Dunkel

Alvin Ailey Modern dance doesn't get much better than Ailey, and this Academy of Music outing promises a lot of company favorites. The program pays tribute to Jamison's legacy, including perennial favorite Revelations. Philadelphia dance-goers may recognize names in the program - several dancers are Philadanco alumni. Feb. 26-27. (215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org)

Swan Lake Royal Ballet and New York City Ballet alumni Christopher Wheeldon - who also founded the highly regarded company Morphoses - choreographs for the best of the best. Pennsylvania Ballet commissioned him to make a new Swan Lake as a 40th anniversary present to themselves in 2004, and last performed it in 2005. The company generally rotates its full-length ballets, so catch it while you can. March 3-6, March 12. (paballet.org or 215-551-7000)

Pulcinella Alive With all due respect to the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, this outing has the Pennsylvania Ballet dancing to one of the best orchestras in the country, the Fabulous Philadelphians, and in an unlikely venue - Verizon Hall. Boston Ballet resident choreographer Jorma Elo was commissioned to create a new Pulcinella, set to Stravinsky, to provide a grand opening event for PIFA. April 7-10. (215-546-7432, www.pifa.org)

Punch Pulcinella is not a frequently performed ballet in the United States, but the festival will host two versions. Miro Dance Theatre's is Punch, at the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio, with a score commissioned by Zeena Parkins, choreography by Amanda Miller (the MI in Miro) and video work by her husband and artistic partner, Tobin Rothlein (the RO). April 21-23, (215-546-7432, www.pifa.org)

BalletX The resident dance company of the Wilma Theater is partnering with the theater for PIFA to present Proliferation of the Imagination, inspired by Guillaume Apollinaire's surrealist The Mammaries of Tiresias. Matthew Neenan choreographs the work, which also includes spoken text, video, and original music. April 12-17, 19-24 at the Wilma (215-546-7432, www.pifa.org)

Millepied world premiere Fifteen Pennsylvania Ballet dancers performed in the movie Black Swan, which Benjamin Millepied choreographed. As a thank-you gesture, Millepied, who is also a New York City Ballet principal dancer, offered to set a ballet on the company. Millepied is off on red-carpet duty, so no specifics are available yet. April 14-17 at the Merriam Theater. (paballet.org or 215-551-7000)

Rennie Harris One of the nation's top hip-hop choreographers, Philadelphian Harris takes his art very seriously. For PIFA, he and French choreographers Gemini and Michel "Meech" Onomo are creating a new work, Heaven, inspired by Stravinsky's Rite of Spring - 15 dancers, live music, Japanese motifs, and multimedia anime. April 15-17. (215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org)

Jeanne Ruddy Dance Ruddy, a former Martha Graham principal dancer, is presenting her first site-specific work, a world premiere for PIFA at PAFA. MonTage à Trois, set to music by Debussy and Satie, will run at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art's Hamilton Building April 15-17. (215-546-7432, www.pifa.org)

Philadanco "Daddy, meet your future son-in-law!" The movie Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a 1967 Tracy and Hepburn classic, which was remade several times. Now, choreographer Ray Mercer is tackling it in a modern-dance piece for Philadanco, which the company is describing as "dare-devilish." May 6-8. (215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org)

Aszure Barton This young Canadian choreographer has already made works for American Ballet Theatre, Baryshnikov, and Broadway. Now she's making her Philadelphia debut at the Annenberg Center with her own company of dancers. May 5-7. (215-898-3900, www.danceaffiliates.org.)

Pilobolus The modern-dance troupe that has featured dancers twisting their bodies like pretzels for 40 years comes to the Annenberg Center March 3-6. (www.danceaffiliates.org)

SCUBA National Touring Network for Dance always brings edgy, innovative works. This year's participating companies, at Temple's Conwell Dance Theater, are Philadelphia's IdiosynCrazy Productions, Amelia Reeber of Seattle, and Little Seismic Dance from San Francisco. March 18-19 (www.philadanceprojects.org)

Savion Glover One of our premier tap dancers, and a perennial favorite here, returns to the Kimmel Center Feb. 13 with "SoLo in TiME." (215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org)

Nichole Canuso Dance Company As the Eyes of the Seahorse is Canuso's new evening-length collaboration with indie-rock band the Mural and the Mint. Feb. 18-19 at the Performance Garage. (www.brownpapertickets.com)