Remember that time Gloria Estefan told us to turn it up, turn it up, turn it upside down? You know who was listening? Teatro Dallas. On Thursday it kicks off the 16th International Theater Festival and in the grand tradition of enumerated threats, this promises to be a triple — music, martial arts and dance. Alejandro Peréz, Will Richey, Alia Mohamed and Jamal Mohamed have created an evening filled with poetry, songs, spoken-word theater and “Middle Eastern music and dance that will transport you to Arabia.” Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, will also take center stage. It was created by enslaved Africans and performed publicly as a dance, but behind the scenes it was used to plan a revolt that eventually led to freedom. Sounds fascinating? You should see it in person. The show starts at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, and will be performed at South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. Tickets start at $16. Visit teatrodallas.org.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 16, 3 p.m. Starts: Feb. 13. Continues through Feb. 17, 2014