Summer arts preview: Top 5 dance picks

They think they can dance and they do! Dancers from all over the world travel to America’s Finest City to perform and compete at our summer festivals. Plus, the family-friendly season offers an opportunity to watch every sort of dance genre, from circus acrobatics to hip-hop to contemporary movement styles.

Shock’N the Park

Culture Shock presents the annual Shock’N the Park, an outdoor festival that offers the chance to see more than 100 dancers of all ages come together to demonstrate their skills in competitive popping, locking, freestyle and hip-hop dance. Bring your own chairs, blankets, and picnic gear and join an event that includes food trucks, a beer garden, graffiti artists and more. The action is located right off the Euclid Avenue trolley stop. Noon to 5 p.m. June 3. Jacob Center’s Market Creek Plaza Amphitheatre and Festival Park, 310 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Free. cultureshockdance.org

The San Diego International Fringe Festival

A range of different dance, acrobat and circus arts are showcased at the annual San Diego International Fringe Festival. Check out choreographer Shannon Mueller, Britton’s Dance Project, Bossy Flyer, Cirque Nocturne, San Diego Mesa College Dance and others. Performances are presented at more than a dozen venues, including the Lyceum Theatre, the Spreckels Theatre and more. Check the festival site for showtimes and locations. June 21-July 1. Various performers and venues. One-time fee for festival admission, good for all days. Pay individually per show, or buy a multi-show pass. sdfringe.org

Monica Bill Barnes & Company in “One Night Only (Running As Long As We Can)”

New York-based Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass join an ensemble of local performers to present a comedic, poignant portrait of what it means to be a dancer and endure a strenuous, athletic life. Robert Saenz de Viteri serves as sportscaster, narrating the night as a live sporting event. The work includes competitive finger-snapping, treadmill running and even spinning. 7 p.m. June 29. White Box at NTC Liberty Station, 2590 Truxtun Road, San Diego. $20. (619) 225-1803. sandiegodancetheater.org

Summer Series at The Vine

The series of performances by presented by Faith Jensen-Ismay and the Mojalet Dance Collective showcases 10 performances by a range of different choreographers and performance troupes. The season opens in July with Soulscape & Core Group, the LITVAKdance performs in August and in September, Mojalet will present Faith Jensen-Ismay’s “The Mercy Triology” along with “Moments” and the premiere of “Inevitable Acclimatization,” a new work that reflects the change in life imposed on society by the integration of technology. 7 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 4:30 p.m. Sundays, July 14 to Sept. 16. The Vine Theater, Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Verano, Rancho Bernardo. $10-$15. (858) 243-1402. mojalet.com

“underlie”

Art Produce Artist in Residence Erica Buechner has choreographed an evening-length dance work that contemplates vulnerability and bravery by exploring all that lies beneath the surface to reveal human stories. The work, supported by a Creative Catalyst grant, was created through a series of free community workshops. The event unites community members and professional dancers to share in an experience of movement and hope. 8 p.m. Sept. 20-22. Art Produce, 3139 University Ave., San Diego. Free. (619) 500-2787. artproduce.org

Manna is a freelance writer.