Living Water Dance Company, a contemporary dance company initiated in Tulsa last year by Oral Roberts University's founding Director of Dance, has operated largely under the radar, much of its repertory consisting of collaborations with other local arts organizations.

But a collaboration this weekend with Tulsa Ballet's pre-professional ensemble, Tulsa Ballet II, at TB's Studio K, could be the concert to launch the company onto the local radar.

Amy Roark-McIntosh, artistic director of LWDC and modern dance teacher at Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education, originally founded the contemporary dance company in Jackson, Miss., in 2004 with two of her former students at Belhaven College.

When her husband's job moved her to Tulsa in 2006, she waited to reinitiate the organization until she found the "right people."

"I was waiting for the right people to restart Living Water in Tulsa, artists who wanted to create and perform dance that would serve the local community," Roark-McIntosh said in a release.

She found those people in Jessie Dolezel and Rachel Johnson. Since 2006, the company has grown to six dancers and incorporates guests in order to expand its repertory.

On Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1212 E. 45th Place, the company performs original works by Roark-McIntosh and Johnson and features tap artist Heather Fick and jazz artist Sheri Sprague, as well as short films by Johnson.

"LWDC seeks to connect the artist and the soul through work that is organic, working collaboratively with artists, organizations and residents to dialogue about and create art that embraces community..." reads a release provided by the company.

LWDC's 2008-2009 season included a collaboration with The Playhouse Theatre and appearances at Living Arts' New Genre Festival and Bell House's The Exchange Festival.

This season, LWDC will participate in Jenks' Art on Main festival and "An Evening of Thanksgiving" with Olympic medalist Madeline Manning at the Mabee Center.

"I have found that art demands of the soul," said Roark-McIntosh. "As artists, we draw from within and discover our inner landscapes in order that we might bring something fresh to our world. When we dance we communicate from the deepest parts of our being, this is to be vulnerable, to be honest and open, and to share."

Tickets to Saturday's performance are $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. They're available at the door or by calling 749-6006.

New Works

Opening Thursday, Sept. 10 at M.A. Doran Gallery, 3509 S. Peoria, is the September Group Show, an annual fall showcase by gallery artists. New work by these artists will be on display.

The opening reception for the exhibit is Thursday from 5-8pm, and the show will hang through Oct. 3. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-6:30pm.

More information at www.madorangallery.com or 748-8700.

A Celebration

On Friday, Sept. 11, Lovetts Galery, 6528 E. 51st St., will host "Community First: Celebrating Penny Painter," a retirement party for Penny Painter, 16-year executive director of Resonance Center for Women.

"Penny has impacted the lives of thousands of Oklahomans," said Waylon Summers, gallery director at Lovetts. "For every woman that Penny has empowered, encouraged and equipped, she has turned and instilled equal values and ethics in her children, family and social groups.

"(Painter) is certainly worthy of being honored and celebrated. We hope that Tulsa will join us in recognizing Penny for the good she has seeded, watered and grown within our community."

The event, which begins at 5pm and finishes at 8pm, is free and open to the public. In addition to those whose lives she's touched, expected in attendance are fellow philanthropists and community activists and leaders.

Mayor Kathy Taylor is expected to speak and to proclaim Sept. 11 "Penny Painter Day" in Tulsa.

More information available at www.lovettsgallery.com or by calling 664-4732.

Learn from the Best

The Actor's & Children's Theatre presents adult acting classes at Theatre Tulsa's headquarters at 201 N. Main. The classes, for adults 18 and older, focus on acting fundamentals, including voice and movement, technique, auditions and cold readings. Classes begin Sept. 14.

The three-month-long class meets on Monday from 6-7:15pm. Cost is $60 per class, or $160 for three months if paid up-front.

Find more information and an enrollment form (there is a $10 enrollment fee) call 455-2953.

Heart Strings

Also beginning Sept. 14 is the Waiting Child Heart Gallery, held this year at the Oklahoma Aquarium, near the RiverWalk in Jenks.

The Waiting Child Heart Gallery, presented by Wendy's Wonderful Kids, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and KTUL-TV, consists of black and white professional photographs taken by Oklahoma photographers of children living in DHS care, waiting on a permanent, adoptive home.

The ultimate goal of the exhibit is to find permanent homes for all of the children featured. Past galleries have toured the state in 2002, 2004 and 2006, resulting in more than 100 adoptions.

Following its stay at the Oklahoma Aquarium, the exhibit will move to the Tulsa State Fair, on the Tulsa County fairgrounds, Oct. 1-11.

Funky Music

Celebrity Attractions is bringing ABBA back, once again, in the form of Broadway smash musical Mamma Mia!. The show, an add-on to Celebrity Attractions' 2009-2010 season, tells the story of a young girl living on a Greek island and preparing to marry the love of her life.

She wants her father to walk her down the aisle, but she doesn't know who he is. By reading her mother's journal, she discovers her father could be one of three men and invites them all, unbeknownst to her mom, to the island the weekend of her wedding.

The musical is set to tunes by 1970s sensation ABBA. It plays at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center's Chapman Music Hall, 110 E. Second St., Sept. 15-20. More information and tickets at www.tulsapac.com or 596-7111.