The power of dance

Is the plié mightier than the sword? Find out at “Dance Is a Weapon,” the Martha Graham Dance Company’s multimedia performance that explores the political and social activism of the Depression era and the relationship with present-day struggles. The piece features narrated film montages that provide historical context for the works of female pioneers in choreography, such as Jane Dudley, Eve Gentry, Isadora Duncan and Sophie Maslow, in addition to Graham, showcasing how they took on the plight of the oppressed through their art.
8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. $48-$60. www.jccsf.org

saturday/28

“The Date Whisperer.” One-woman musical comedy by Caylia Chaiken about the dating mishaps of a single Jewish woman. At Showcase Theatre–Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 8 p.m. $25. (415) 499-6800.

“Rabbi Sam.” One-man play by Charlie Varon about a man reinventing American Judaism. At San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo. 8 p.m. $10-$18. www.sgvcc.org.

wednesday/1

“Higher.” World premiere of American Conservatory Theater play about American architects competing to design a memorial in Israel. Through Feb.19. At Children’s Creativity Museum theater, 221 Fourth St., S.F. 8 p.m. $45-$65. www.act-sf.org.

thursday/2

“Cordelia, Mein Kind.” Performance combining dance, theater and visual art, inspired by Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” Includes imagined dialogue between modern-day Cordelia and her late father, a Yiddish-speaking Holocaust survivor. At Marsh Theater, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 8 p.m. Also Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Also Feb 4 at 5 p.m. and Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. $15-$50. www.themarsh.org.

thursday/9

“Rooms.” Reconstructed performance based on choreography of Anna Sokolow, Jewish feminist who explored anti-Semitism through dance. At Stanford University, Roble Studios Gym, 375 Santa Teresa St., Stanford. 5 p.m. Free. http://dance.stanford.edu.