Dancing at the boundaries

For devoted fans of modern dance, New York City's Twyla Tharp needs little introduction. For the uninitiated, however, it's key to know that Tharp has contributed much to theater, ballet and dance after years on stage, both in the United States and abroad. The Twyla Tharp Dance Company's 50th Anniversary Tour finds the dancer and choreographer pushing at the boundaries of avant-garde dance yet again with a 12-dancer troupe that will both honor her legacy and perform her strange but wholly compelling choices of music. Selections include works by John Zorn, J.S. Bach, Henry Butler and Steve Bernstein. Overall, Tharp's show is the true embodiment of a complete dance experience. Not only is she celebrating her 50th year in the dance business—an accomplishment very few have achieved—but she is also here to remind us there are few limits to professional choreography. 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 6; $13.50-$65. Mondavi Center, 1 Shields Avenue in Davis; www.twylatharp.org.