'Manifesti-val'

Nov. 5-20, Dance Mission Theater

THIS SATURDAY DANCE Brigade kicks off three weekends of performances entitled "Manifesti-val," another one of their yearly Festivals for Social Change. Some of the progressive ideas presented during those programs may not be new. But maybe this is exactly the time we need to hear them articulated again – otherwise we may give up hope for change to materialize. Having artists bring their own particular visions (both human and artistic) to apparently unsolvable issues is one way to keep addressing them. The collection of artists that the indomitable Krissy Keefer has lined up for this three-week festival of hope include Lichi Fuentes, Susana Arenas, Keith Hennessy, and Jose Navarrete. They'll collaborate on the second weekend's Border War. Keefer will also retrieve her satiric and pungent Dry/Ice from last summer and present two new works, Katrina and Dear Fidel. Why is Dance Brigade, after all these years, still committed to fighting the good fight? Because, as Keefer has said, "the artist's voice is perhaps the voice with the most honesty and passion, as well as craft and method, to make a difference." Sat/5, 7 p.m.; Nov. 11-12 and 18-19, 8 p.m.; Sun, 6 p.m. (also Nov. 20, 2 p.m.). Through Nov. 20. 3316 24th St., SF. $20-$22. (415) 273-4633. (Rita Felciano)