Anyone who has seen them - dance enthusiast or not - can tell you that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a feverish love poem to the human body. Ailey founded his company in 1958, with an emphasis on ballet lines in the lower body and modern movements in the upper body. Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey's pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. According to pre-show hype, "Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the most talented young dancers with the passion and creative vision of today's outstanding emerging choreographers." Under the artistic direction of Troy Powell, expect an exhilarating and diverse repertory of timeless classics and thrilling new works.

AILEY II: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE, 6:30 p.m., Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Mainstage, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, $25-$35, 360.753.8586