The College at Brockport starts up the Rochester dance season this week with "The Duets Project," a show that explores duets in dance with unique pairings of dancers, musicians, and artists. The pieces to be performed were chosen by distinguished New York City curators and created by choreographers with distinctly individual styles, and many of the dancers and choreographers will be familiar to Rochester dance aficionados. The pieces promise extremes of both style and emotional content.

One of the pieces connects dance, photography, and cello music. Choreographer Richard Walters created this new work for Vanessa VanWormer (faculty, The College at Brockport), and was inspired by the photography of Altamash Urooj, specifically his "Taking Life" series which documents the artist's encounter with a dying bird on a beach. Cellist Hilary Glen provides the music, and visual artist Brad Parquette contributes as well.

Also, look for Daniel Gwirtzman's "Together," in which the dancers — Heather Roffe (faculty, Nazareth College) and Courtney World — are literally connected during the whole piece. Roffe is a striking dancer with a flair for sensual expressiveness, and has performed with World before. This is sure to be a complex and attention-grabbing work. An original score of electronic, instrumental music by Jeff Story will be performed.

Performances are Thursday, September 4, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, September 5, at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Hartwell Dance Theater (180 Holley Street, Brockport) on the Brockport Campus. General public pays $16; seniors, alumni, faculty and staff tickets are $11; and student tickets are $8. Order your tickets online at fineartstix.brockport.edu or call 395-2787.

Please be advised that one of the pieces contains nudity.