For most of the year, Jamie Nichols prowls dance performances and choreography festivals, drawing on her own deep knowledge as a dancer, choreographer and teacher to evaluate what she encounters. But each spring, Nichols dons her producer hat and invites the cream of what she's seen to share the stage for one night in Celebrate Dance. She collected a Lester Horton Award for best dance festival, and this year's edition promises to continue that award-winning tradition with a roster of established and emerging dance companies drawn from the local and national dance scene. Perennially a sell-out event, this year's Celebrate Dance boasts choreographer Mike Esperanza, who leads BARE Dance Company; Jamel Gaines, who brings his high-energy Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; locally based Deborah Rosen and Dancers; San Diego's John Malashock and Michael Mizerany with Malashock Dance; the South Bay's Regina Klenjoski Dance Company; Sophie Monat with her Monat Dance; Terri Best Dance; and Macarena Gandarillas, who leads Visions Dance Theatre. Nichols' travels and search for the best provides audiences an unmatched chance to sample an array of great dance while only having to park once.

Sat., March 12, 8 p.m., 2011

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.