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Winter Arts Guide: Our top picks for Philadelphia

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BodyVox takes on cinematic genres this winter.Credit: Michael ShayDANCEPhiladancoThe renowned local dance company offers a tribute performance to choreographer Christopher L. Huggins, a longtime collaborator and a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.Dec. 6-8, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.Pennsylvania BalletWhat would the holiday season be without the ballet’s perennial performance of George Balanchine’s timeless “The Nutcracker?”Dec. 7-29, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-893-3600, www.paballet.org.BodyVoxThe multidisciplinary dance company melds dance and film with a production riffing on eight difference cinematic genres.Dec. 12-14, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900, www.annenbergcenter.org.THEATER‘Nerds’Philadelphia Theatre Company brings back this popular musical satire tracing the rise of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.Nov. 29-Dec. 29, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-985-0420, www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org‘Twelfth Night’Pig Iron Theatre Co. revives its popular spin on Shakespeare from the 2011 Fringe Fest, one of the most vibrant and lively takes on the Bard in memory.Dec. 4-22, FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd., 215-413-1318, www.fringearts.com‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’Philly theater artist Sebastienne Mundheim adapts the Dylan Thomas story with her signature blend of handcrafted puppetry and live actors.Dec. 5-Jan. 5, Lantern Theater Company, St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th and Ludlow streets 215-829-0395, www.lanterntheater.org‘Cherokee’The Wilma presents Lisa D’Amour’s new comedy which follows two Texas couples on a fateful camping trip.Jan. 8-Feb. 8, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824, www.wilmatheater.org‘Water by the Spoonful’Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows an Iraq war vet who returns home to Philadelphia.Jan. 16-March 16, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org‘Gidion’s Knot’ InterAct Theatre Company presents Johnna Adams’ play depicting a tense parent-teacher conference following the death of a ten-year-old boy.Jan. 17-Feb. 9, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8079, www.interacttheatre.org‘Ondine’Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium presents Jean Giraudoux’s classic about a sea nymph falling for a handsome nobleman, directed by Aaron Cromie. Feb. 5-Mar. 2, Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St., 215-574-3550, www.idiopathicridiculopathyconsortium.org‘The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess’The Tony Award-winning revival of the classic which courted controversy by “updating” the original.Feb. 18-23, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org/broadwayOPERAOpera PhiladelphiaArgentinean composer Osvaldo Golijov's "Ainadamar” tells the story of Spanish poet Federico García Lorca with an opera tinged with the sounds of rumba and flamenco.Feb. 7-16, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-893-3600, www.operaphila.orgFINE ARTS‘Fiona Tan: Inventory’Tan’s video installation explores the transient nature of time via the collections of London’s Sir John Soane Museum.Dec. 14-March 23, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and Ben Franklin Pkwy., 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.orgMUSIC‘Ninety Miles’Modern jazz greats Stefon Harris, David Sanchez and Christian Scott collaborate with a stellar band of Cuban musicians.Dec. 14, Montgomery County Community College, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, 215-641-6300, www.mc3.edu‘Anonymous 4’The longstanding female a cappella quartet presents a program of sacred songs from medieval France and early America.Dec. 14, Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut St., 215-569-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.orgThe CrossingThe Philly new-music choir's Christmas show features Wolfgang Rihm's meditative “Astralis,” based on Novalis’ poem of hope and sorrow which gave the current season its theme, along with works by Gabriel Jackson, Toivo Tulev, Eriks Esenvalds, and other Crossing favorites.Dec. 20, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., www.crossingchoir.com‘George Burton’s Christmas Yule Log’The Philly-born pianist reprises his holiday show, pairing his piano trio with strings and vocalist Nancy Harms.Dec. 21, Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.comPhiladelphia OrchestraIn a program titled “Cirque de la Symphonie,” acrobats perform high above the orchestra’s heads while they perform music by Sibelius, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky.Jan. 3-4, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.orgKurt Rosenwinkel New QuartetOne of the finest guitarists in modern jazz, Rosenwinkel returns to his hometown with his latest band, a standout line-up featuring pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Kendrick Scott.Jan. 16, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.orgDanilo Perez: Panama 500The Panamanian jazz pianist performs his ambitious new suite celebrating the 500th anniversary of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa’s “discovery” of the Pacific Ocean.Feb. 10, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, www.philly.worldcafelive.comEthnic Heritage EnsembleThe trio led by percussionist Kahil El’Zabar, which marries forward-looking jazz with African folk traditions, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Feb. 12, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., www.arsnovaworkshop.comMendelssohn Club of PhiladelphiaFor “The Sound of Spirit,” the chorus teams with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia to present pieces by Joseph Haydn and Arvo Pärt that deal with wars separated by more than two centuries.Feb. 23, Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut St., 215-735-9922, www.mcchorus.org