DANCE ALVIN AILEY Opening night gala kicks off new season ...

Opening night gala kicks off new season w/Ailey's modern dance classic, "Revelations," Bill Cosby & Iman co-host evening; Alvin Ailey Studios, 211 W. 61st St. (betw. Amsterdam & West End Aves.), 212-767-0590, ext.223; Weds. at 7, $250-$2500 [through 12/31].

 

THE MARY ANTHONY DANCE THEATER

Program dedicated to Anna Sokolow feat. new & repertory works performed by Sokolow, Anthony & Kun-Yang Lin; Theater of the Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 212-674-8191; Fri. & Sat. at 8, mat. Sun. at 2, $15, $10 st.

 

BALLET HISPANICO

Two week residency feat. premieres, Ramón Oller's "Eye's of the Soul" & Pedro Ruiz' "Club Havana"; Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave. (19th St.), 212-242-0800 or www.joyce.com; Tues. at 7:30, $36 [through 12/17].

 

CONSTRUCTION CO.

New works-in-progress feat. Beverly Blossom in "Delusions of Grandeur," as part of "The Sunday Series" informal dance concerts at 10 E. 18th St. (B'way), 212-924-7882; Sun. at 5, $5.

 

GOMEZ DANCE THEATER

Pres. "Words" piece, which is based on poems from Chilean Pablo Neruda's Fully Empowered collection; Joyce Soho, 155 Mercer St. (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-334-7479; Fri.-Sun. at 8, $15, $10 st.

 

IMPROVISATIONAL FESTIVAL 2000

Ninth annual festival feat. dancers Katie Duck, Kurk Koegel, Mary Overlie, Kirstie Simson, Julyen Hamilton, Carme Renalias & Martin Sonderkamp; Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, 131 E. 10th St. (2nd Ave.), 212-674-8194; Thurs., Fri. & Sun. at 8:30, $12 [through 12/9].

 

MEN'S STORIES

Lar Lubovitch's world premiere dance for nine men set to music by Scott Marshall; Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts, 172 Norfolk St. (betw. Houston & Stanton Sts.); 212-279-4200; Weds. & Fri. at 7 & 9, Thurs., Mon. & Tues. at 8, $30-$36 [through 12/8].

 

NY CITY BALLET

New season begins w/George Balanchine's ballet The Nutcracker; Lincoln Center Plaza, B'way (65th St.), 212-870-5570; Weds., Thurs. & Tues. at 6, Fri. at 8, Sat. at 2 & 8, Sun. at 1 & 5, $16-$85 [through 12/31].

 

CATHERINE SEAGO

Evening of dance w/Seago & seven-piece troupe set to the music of J.S. Bach; Merce Cunningham Studio, 55 Bethune St., 11th fl. (betw. West & Washington Sts.), 212-924-0077; Fri. at 9 & Sat. at 8, $12/$7 st.

 

SYDNEY DANCE CO.

"Air & Other Visible Forces" piece concludes company's two month transcontinental tour; Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave. (19th St.), 212-242-0800 or www.joyce.com; call for times, $35 [through 12/3].

 

TAP FUSION

NYC-based company brings their blend of modern & tap choreography to Arts at University Settlement, 184 Eldridge St. (Rivington St.), 212-368-9851; Fri. & Sat. at 8, Sun. at 3 & 7, $15, $12 st./s.c.

 

UPTOWN DANCE ACADEMY

Fifth annual "The Black Nutcracker" at Aaron Davis Hall, City College, W. 135th St. (Convent Ave.), 212-690-7289; call for times, $5-$25.

 

DOUG VARONE

Hour-long work by Varone & troupe, "Neither," explores "the transitory moment between life & death" as they move from room to room throughout Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 97 Orchard St. (Broome St.), 800-965-4827; Weds.-Sat. & Tues. at 7:30 & 9:30, Sun. at 6:30 & 8:30, $40 [through 12/17].

 

ELLIS WOOD

Choreographer & her troupe Wood Dance perform as part of Work & Show Festival 2000; Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St. (betw. Greenwich & West Sts.), 212-346-8510; Fri. & Sat. at 8, $10, $8 st.