Friday, September 26

If your exposure to dancing is limited to dark Georgetown townhouses head to the Dance D.C. Festival this weekend to experience some real dancing. The festival offers visitors a chance to not only watch performances but also to learn some new moves. Check out the opening night Carnaval Folclórico, a carnival-themed performance. Other events include more than 60 performances and interactive workshops where you get the chance to work out those two left feet.

The opening night Carnaval Folclórico will take place at 5:30 pm at the Historic Society of Washington, D.C., located at 801 K Street NW. All events are free. For information about other events and locations, visit www.dancedcfestival.org.

Saturday, September 27

It seems that each fall weekend means a new neighborhood festival.This weekend, you can continue the trend across the Potomac at Clarendon Day in Northern Virginia. Billed as “Arlington’s Biggest Party,” the festival offers food from local restaurants, crafts and even a moon bounce, climbing wall and jungle gym.

Clarendon Day takes place from 12 to 7 p.m. The festival will be set up on Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards between North Garfield Street and Washington Boulevard. For more information, call 703-812-8881. Metro: Clarendon (Orange line).

Sunday, September 28

You know you’re in trouble when your definition of ethnic food is the chicken fried rice that you ordered last night. For a more eclectic take on your favorite starch, set your alarm and head to Dupont Circle at 11 a.m. for a “giant paella.” The chef from Jaleo, a tapas restaurant, is the mastermind behind this gourmet vat of rice, which hungry shoppers at the Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market can enjoy for free.

Cooks will begin to serve at 11 a.m. Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market is located at the 1500 block of 20th Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Q Street. For more information, call 202-362-8889. Metro: Dupont Circle (Red line).

Monday, September 29

Head to the National Theatre tonight for “Beauty and the Beat,” a drum show with a magical twist. The show has nothing to do with a princess and her hairy, oversized boyfriend, but its short pieces do promise to tell tales of musical magic. The piece is put together by Paula Alprin of Natural Theatricals, a composer known for her whimsical and quirky performances.

The show begins at 6 p.m. The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is free. For more information, call 202-628-6161. Metro: Metro Center (Blue and Orange lines).

Tuesday, September 30

If you’re aching for a trip back to the ’90s, the 9:30 Club is the place to be tonight. Stereolab, an alternative British band that formed and flourished in the decade when most of us undergrads were in elementary school, will be performing its songs, a mix of 1960s pop, lounge music and electronic keyboards. Many of Stereolab’s songs’ lyrics are written in French and contain Marxist themes, so keep your ears sharp and see what revolutionary messages you can pick out.

The concert begins at 7:30. The 9:30 Club is located at 815 V St. NW. Tickets cost $20. For more information, call 703-218-6500. Metro: U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (Green line).

Wednesday, October 1

Today is the last day to browse the International Women Artisans Global Gallery and Marketplace at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Located in the museum’s gift shop, the marketplace offers jewelry, pottery, textiles and other items made by international artisans. The profits from these goods go toward supporting economic independence for women in impoverished and developing countries.

The marketplace is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The National Museum of Women in the Arts is located at 1250 New York Ave. NW. For more information, call 202-783-5000. Metro: Metro Center (Blue and Orange lines).

Thursday, October 2

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is currently showing an all-male version of “Romeo and Juliet,” which is how the Bard himself would have staged the tragedy, but Taffety Punk Theatre Company objects. The alternative performance that Taffety Punk puts on is a far cry from the classic tale: Its cast is 100-percent female. Though Shakespeare may be rolling in his grave, the show is a must-see for anyone who wants a new spin on the teary tale.

“The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet” is being performed at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, located at 545 7th St. SE. It runs through Oct. 4, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee. Metro: Eastern Market (Blue and Orange lines).