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SATURDAY

Bill T. Jones is often photographed against a light background—with his sleek brown body, broad shoulders, and bubble butt all looking to lurch into locomotion. Ever since his first contact-improvisation workshops at the State University of New York at Binghamton, he’s known that dance isn’t just the ability to fly. It’s the art of listening, the love of sweat, and the private exchange of touching clavicles. Jones melds yoga, mime, and African folk dance with digital technology to create an experience that candidly explores the adversities of life. The gay, HIV-positive, African-American artist—who co-founded the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in 1982 with his deceased lover—funnels his emotions into multimedia pieces that never fail to challenge his viewers. His troupe will perform at 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts’ Concert Hall, 4400 University Ave., Fairfax. $21-$42. (703) 993-8888. (Ayesha Morris)