Danish Dance

The Sarasota Ballet celebrates works “Out of Denmark”—highlights from the Danish Ballet repertoire including Flemming Flindt’s The Lesson, August Bournonville’s Napoli, Act III, and guest choreographer Johan Kobborg, March 4-6 at the FSU Center for Performing Arts. And the company’s 20th anniversary gala honors founder Jean Weidner, March 25. 359-0099 ext. 101.

 

Strong Stuff

Spring Awakening won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2007, but it’s not your grandmother’s Tony-winning musical. With its frank subject matter (teen sex, incest, suicide), its hard-driving rock score and partial nudity, it could challenge some audiences. It got great reviews in New York; its Sarasota premiere is March 20 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368 or vanwezel.org.

 

American Master

Composer Robert Ward won the Pulitzer Prize for his operatic version of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which makes its bow locally March 5 in the Sarasota Opera’s new American Classics series (also March 8, 10, 13, 16 and 19) at the Sarasota Opera House. And the 93-year-old Ward himself will discuss the work at 1 p.m. March 5. 366-8450.

 

Circus Daze

For more than 60 years, Sarasota County students have dazzled audiences with their high-flying skills in the PAL Sailor Circus under the big blue tent on Bahia Vista. The spring shows begin March 30 and continue into April. For tickets, call 361-6350 or go to sailorcircus.org. (They’re working hard to raise funds to transform the venerable arena, if you’re able to help.)