photo by: Contributed/Jane Gardner

Dancers from Lawrence's Point B Dance Company posting on stage. The company is hosting an in-house performance Saturday night that features an item drive for items that can help the Willow Domestic Violence Center.

A Lawrence dance company is hosting an intimate show Saturday evening with the aim of encouraging attendees to bring items that can help a local domestic violence support center.

The Point B Dance company is hosting a show called “Winter Works: A Premiere & a Revival” that will feature performances from the 12 dancers in its repertory company. Cathy Patterson, the director of the studio, said the group will also host an item drive for guests to bring crucial items for the Willow Domestic Violence Center.

Patterson said the company began partnering with the Willow Center about three years ago as she was looking for ways to give back to the community. She said the Willow Center is an “incredible organization,” and she has worked to make sure most of the company’s performances support the center.

For this performance, the company is encouraging guests to bring items to donate in lieu of the price of a ticket. Some of those crucial items include shampoo, baby wipes, deodorant, shaving gel and feminine hygiene products.

“Those things run out very quickly,” Patterson said.

The show, which will be an “in-house performance” at the company’s studio — Lawrence Dance Gallery, 4940 Legends Drive — will feature two pieces, with each piece lasting about 20 minutes each. One of the pieces is a new one called “The Night Circus,” a jazz and lyrical work, and the other is called “She Lived!” and traces the journey of a woman’s life. Patterson said the dancers range in ages from 19 to 45, and each dancer gets to perform a solo. She said they are “very excited” to showcase their talent and their dancing is very moving and “beautiful to watch.”

Patterson that this smaller show is like a preview for the company’s biggest performance, which is coming April 18 at the Lawrence Arts Center. On that night, all the proceeds for the show will go to the Willow.

Patterson said the support comes at a crucial time. With the World Cup coming up, local organizations are working to make people more aware about potential risks of human trafficking — which could increase around areas that are host cities since large numbers of people enter the community. Patterson said The Willow is involved with hosting trainings in Lawrence that help hospitality industry workers recognize potential signs of human trafficking, and being able to provide additional support comes at a great time.

“We’re hoping to be able to help as much as we can,” Patterson said.

Point B Dance’s performance will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Lawrence Dance Gallery. Along with the item drive, monetary donations will be accepted at the door, Patterson said.

photo by: Contributed/Jane Gardner

A dancer performs during a show from Lawrence’s Point B Dance company. The company is hosting an in-house performance Saturday night that features an item drive for items that can help the Willow Domestic Violence Center.