A NEW dance show for children and commissioned by Sadler's Wells and the Dance Touring Partnership visits Lighthouse, Poole next month.

Mischief by Theatre-Rites and rising choreographer Arthur Pita is a thrilling, colourful and unpredictable mix of dance moves with visual art, clowning, puppetry, music and song.

Mischief is performed by seven of the UK's best contemporary dancers along with composer/musician Charlie Winston (recently on tour with Peter Gabriel) live on stage.

They inhabit a rainbow world of weird shapes and forms where visual artist Sophia Clist transforms simple materials into jaunty characters and mythological creatures, into dark forests or magic caves accompanied by songs and music. Feats of theatre and puppetry are interspersed with bouncy dancing and forays into the audience.

The award-winning Theatre-Rites company has been stirring the imagination of children and adults alike since 1995. Portuguese choreographer Arthur Pita performed lead roles with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures before launching his own company, Arthur Pita Open Heart, in 2003.

His commissions include Phoenix Dance Theatre, CandoCo and The Royal Opera House.

You can see Mischief at Lighthouse, Poole on Friday, November 9 at 1pm and Saturday, November 10 at 2pm. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults, £6 for children.

Early music mavericks I Fagiolini return to Dorset for a one-night festival of Madrigals by Monterverdi entitled Flaming Heart on Sunday, November 11 which also includes special interval performances by local prizewinning singers, the Highcliffe Junior Choir. Taken from the title of their best-selling CD Flaming Heart, the festival features secular music by Claudio Monteverdi, described by concert organiser Graham Stansfield as 'one of the most emotional composers ever'.

I Fagiolini, who thrilled Dorset audiences last Christmas with their take on Bach, will perform Monteverdi's songs in Lighthouse's Concert Hall. The concert takes place on Sunday, November 11 at 8pm and tickets are £18 plus concessions. For all Lighthouse details and bookings call 08700 668701.