Elite dancers at the top of their form arrive at UCLA Live’s Royce Hall Friday May 7 and Saturday May 8 at 8 p.m. with the Los Angeles debut of premiere dance company Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet.

The New York-based Cedar Lake-also recently announced as  UCLA Live’s first ongoing dance residency company-will  perform two unique programs from some of today’s most innovative modern dance choreographers including work from Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Crystal Pite, Didy Veldman and Joe Strømgren.

Friday May 7

Orbo Novo (New World), from Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, explores themes of balance, perspective, loneliness and enlightenment. Orbo Novo was inspired by Jill Bolte Taylor’s book My Stroke of Insight, a memoir of one woman’s return to self after a debilitating stroke.

Cedar Lake’s performance of Orbo Novo features live accompaniment from the Mosaic String Quartet performing a score written especially for the dance by up-and-coming Polish composer Szymon Brzoska.

Saturday May 8

Cedar Lake performs three works, including Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue from acclaimed Canadian dancer/choreographer Crystal Pite with movement that embodies the spirit of liberation set to music from the film Solaris.

Joe Strømgren ’s Sunday Again weaves abstract movement patterns with baroque musical ornamentation from Johann Sebastian Bach to tell  the simple story of a couple taxed by the quirks of cohabitation.

Tinged with irony and humor and set to a varied score, acclaimed Dutch choreographer Didy Veldman’s piece frame of view investigates how emotion can energize and overtake the body.

UCLA Live Residency

UCLA Live recently announced its first interactive residency program with Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, which will offer UCLA students and the Los Angeles community a unique hands-on performing arts experience as well as biannual UCLA Live performances from the company.

Beginning in 2011, the New York-based Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will be present on the UCLA campus and within the Los Angeles community at large via dance activities, master classes, workshops and other events. The company will also provide master classes to UCLA students around its May appearances.

Single tickets are on sale now.  UCLA Live at Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood.  Friday May 7 and Saturday May 8, at 8 p.m. $24/36/48 ($15 UCLA students.)  (310) 825-2101, www.uclalive.org.

Feature image of Orbo Novo (New World), from Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui by Julieta Cervantes