Now in its eighth year, Island Moving Company’s five-day Great Friends Dance Festival might be Rhode Island’s biggest dance event of the year, as groups from all over the place descend upon the island for classes, workshops, open rehearsals, and nightly performances. Wednesday’s kickoff features Island Moving Company, of course, but also Pittsburgh’s Staycee Pearl dance project [pictured], Boston’s Kat Nasti Dance, and the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. (Other nights feature companies from New York and Italy.) Each night’s performance will feature an étude choreographed that very day by visiting festival choreographers.
Multi-night passes can be purchased online at a discount.