Brush Strokes

Art will imitate art as BalletX turns E.J. Thomas Hall into a studio with dancers splashed like paint across a canvas during the performance of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Still@Life Oct. 5. Dressed in dark skirts and vests, performers emulate the start of the creative process with ballerinas pulled across the stage by male dancers. "My take is that the man who's dragging the woman might be the painter, and she might be the medium," says Chloe Felesina, a member of the Philadelphia-based BalletX. The initially posed movements are replaced by relaxed steps and vibrant fabrics. "By the end, we're this explosion of colors." 198 Hill St., Akron, 330-972-7570, ejthomashall.com