CITY ARTS : Family Reunion

If the West African saying “Dance makes us children of one family” holds true, then the fourth annual Dance Roots Festival at the Los Angeles Theatre Center this weekend should be a real family reunion, organizers said.

The free two-day event features 13 Los Angeles-based performance groups, which will present classical and ceremonial dance from Cambodia, prehistoric dance from the Yaqui Indians of Mexico and works from Bali that depict 18th-Century harem rituals.

The festival’s eclectic programming also includes contemporary works that show influence from a variety of cultures, said Leslie Sisson, the show’s producer and curator. American tap, jazz and hip hop will be highlighted.

The event, sponsored by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, was launched in 1991 to acknowledge the diverse cultures and dance traditions found throughout the city.

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Fourth annual Dance Roots Festival, Los Angeles Theatre Center No. 2, 514 S. Spring St.; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, free. Reservations required: (213) 485-2437.