http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/26/arts/dance/26danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

'HOPE & ANCHOR' On certain spring and summer nights, it feels like quite a sacrifice to leave the purpling evening sky and birdsong behind for a cramped theater seat. Luckily, the River to River Festival offers an alternative; with its Sitelines series, you can have your sky and see dance too. This summer the program's curator and producer, Nolini Barretto, chose to pair established downtown choreographers with emerging ones, letting the chips fall where they might. "Essentially, it was a foist," Ms. Barretto said with a laugh, adding that she hoped to create informal mentorships through the pairings. The first fruits of this experiment can be seen tonight at the South Street Seaport, when the wickedly clever Keely Garfield and Zach Morris present "Hope & Anchor" (with Donna Ahmadi, above), riffing on various aspects of New York's nautical history. As opposed to their partners, the artists could choose their locations; the idea, Ms. Barretto said, was to find unusual places within high-traffic areas. Later in the festival Douglas Dunn and Elke Rindfleisch will inhabit the elevated acre at 55 Water Street in "Multiple Undo & Other Distortions," and H. T. Chen and Sharon Estacio will create an "Oasis" in frenetic Columbus Park in Chinatown. Performances will also unfold at Laundromats, lobbies, exterior balconies and street corners. So keep your eyes open, and your fingers crossed for good weather. ("Hope & Anchor" can be seen tonight and tomorrow night, as well as May 31 and June 1 through 3, at 7. For a complete list of programs, visit www.rivertorivernyc.com. Performances are free; no rain dates.) CLAUDIA LA ROCCO