Nigerian master dancer King Baba James (pictured above) is the centerpiece in a cross-cultural summit this Saturday, bringing together a scintillating array of talents in a variety of dance and movement styles—from ballet to hip hop, from African tribal dance to mime. Buffalo Contemporary Dance’s Amy Taravella is one participant in this experiment in fluid communication; renowned street performer Aaron Piepszny is another. Ten-year-old break dancer Kyle Nichter—like Piepszny familiar to Thursday in the Square crowds—will be on hand, along with musician, artist and break dancer Solomon Dixon and drummer, dancer and photographer Wise Mecca. Other participants include Odell Northington, Katie Ashwill, Laura Jean Casteluzzo, Kelly Cornelius and Sophia Roberts. Come, watch, participate—there’s a workshop on African dance in the afternoon and a performance at night. King Baba James, a long-time member of the National Theatre of Nigeria, has been performing since age seven. He is currently part of the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, based in Washington, DC. He alone is worth the price of admission—which, for the workshop at least, is as fluid as the event itself.

Saturday, June 9. Workshop, noon-2pm. Performance, 8pm. African American Cultural Center and Paul Robeson Theatre, 350 Masten Street. Workshop $15 (financial assistance available—

contact 465-7408, www.LauraJeanC.com).

Performance $15 adults, $10 students and seniors.