There is just one thing to gripe about when it comes to the Houston International Dance Coalitionย’s annual Dance Salad Festival: the name. This is no longer a salad. Itย’s a mile-long buffet. The 17th annual installment features more than a dozen companies and soloists from eight countries (67 dancers and choreographers in all). But the variety of the nations represented pales in comparison to the range of styles shown over the three-day mega-recital. Pointe shoes will share the stage with bare feet, and music will range from Bach to Swedish fusion pop.

ย“Mats Ek is coming. Heย’s a very famous Swedish choreographer, and itย’s very, very special to have him,ย” says Dance Salad producer/founder/director Nancy Henderek. ย“Heย’s been doing choreography for 40 years around the world and is in great demand. Heย’s going to be dancing with his wifeย…itย’s a lovely piece about working with someone you live with, itย’s very intimate. He also has two other pieces in the showย…His wife is doing a solo, and then the Royal Swedish Ballet from Stockholm is also performing one of his pieces. Itย’s wonderful to have him here, because heย’s not going anywhere else in the United States.ย” The same goes for many of the other companies appearing.

Each company will perform twice over the three-day festival, so two trips will guarantee a balanced dance diet. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 501 Texas. For information, call 713-621-1461 or visit www.dancesalad.org. $19 to $47.

Thu., April 9; Fri., April 10; Sat., April 11, 2009

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This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2009.