Valerie Williams Co’Motion Dance Theatre will begin their 18th season with a Greatest Hits show this month. The performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21.

Williams and dancers Paula McArthur and Lana Lyddon Hatten performed the recital last Saturday and Sunday for a special family matinee show.

“Our kids’ show on Sunday went really well,” McArthur said. “Our funny, slapstick dances went really well.

“We were hoping to have the house a little more full, but I think the nice weather worked against us.”

This is the first year the theater has had the matinee show, which was this past Sunday. It was directed more at children, while next weekend’s performances will be adult-oriented.

“We haven’t had as many college students in our audience as we would like,” McArthur said. “I think we are kind of like Ames’ best kept secret.”

McArthur began dancing when she was five, and has been performing for 17 years. She, along with Williams and Hatten, have become the company’s three full-time dancers. “This is the first time we’ve done a Greatest Hits show,” she said.

“A lot of Valerie Williams’ followers were asking about some of our pieces from the past, and she just decided to put them together.”

This weekend’s performances will include dances from Parlour Murders, Officium and Divine Liturgy. Other dances featured include “How Sweet It Is,” “Sandwich Dance,” “Draidl,” “Tightly Reined” from Manipulations and excerpts from “Lullabies,” “Regret” and “Don’t Think Twice.”

Williams’ Dance Theatre trio practices at Iowa State’s dance studio and will perform at Ames City Auditorium, located at 515 Clark St. Tickets are $10 and $7 for students.

“It is a great concert!” McArthur added.

For more information call Co’Motion Dance Theatre at 232-7374.