Rialto gives Atlantans music from around the world

HOME: Spain

PERFORMANCES: Include flamenco singers, guitar players and dancers.

FANS LOVE THEM FOR: Connecting with audiences via emotionally nuanced movement and music.

INTERESTING BIT OF BACKSTORY: Founded in 1993, Noche Flamenca is centered around a marriage. Artistic director Martin Santangelo and ballerina Soledad Barrio not only founded and lead the company, but also juggle the demands of partnership and parenthood offstage.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Barrio won a New York Dance and Performance Award, or a Bessie, in 2001. In 2009, The New York Times called Noche Flamenca “one of the most highly regarded flamenco troupes in the world.”

Lila Downs, Oct. 30

HOME: Downs divides her time between New York City and Oaxaca, Mexico.

PERFORMANCES: Include sultry blues sung in English to Meso-American folkloric music in Spanish and other native Mexican dialects. Downs also studied Trinque weaving techniques and dons elaborate garments she makes herself.

FANS LOVE HER FOR: Her range of talent, which includes masterful jazz compositions to indigenous Mixtec and Mexican sounds.

INTERESTING PIECE OF BACKSTORY: Downs got tired of waking up early for classes while she was in college and dropped out for a while, following the Grateful Dead and making and selling jewelry.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Downs appeared in the film “Frida” and has performed with Carlos Santana. She and her husband, jazz musician Paul Cohen, are currently working on the score for the theatrical version of “Like Water for Chocolate.”

Ballet Preljocaj, Nov. 7

HOME: France

PERFORMANCES: “Empty Moves (Parts 1 & 2)” will be performed next month in Atlanta. It is inspired by a reading of Thoreau given by John Cage in 1977.

FANS LOVE THEM FOR: Keeping ballet current through unexpected collaborations, including French electronica duo Air and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

INTERESTING PIECE OF BACKSTORY: Though their style is contemporary, the company is influenced by Angelin Preljocaj’s work researching the history of ballet. Since founding the company in 1984, Preljocaj has created 45 choreographies performed by companies around the world, including the New York City Ballet.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Angelin Preljocaj is revered as a master in France and New York and has received numerous awards.

Angelique Kidjo, Nov. 13

HOME: Republic of Benin, West Africa

PERFORMANCES: Can include love ballads sung in Swahili to Jimi Hendrix and Rolling Stones covers, all of which fittingly display Kidjo’s moxie and talent.

FANS LOVE HER FOR: Not just her deep, soaring voice, but her fearlessness. She was nearly ambushed by police during a 2006 concert in Zimbabwe for calling Robert Mugabe a “monster.” She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and promotes education for girls in Africa through The Batonga Foundation, which she created.

INTERESTING BIT OF BACKSTORY: Kidjo is fluent in so many languages that occasionally she invents words in songs that are a combination of many linguistic sources.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Kidjo’s album “Djin Djin” won a Grammy Award in 2007 for best contemporary world music. It included recordings with Ziggy Marley, Alicia Keys, Branford Marsalis, Carlos Santana, Josh Groban and Peter Gabriel. She’s also collaborated with Dave Matthews, Joss Stone and John Legend. Time Magazine called Kidjo “Africa’s premiere diva.”

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension, Nov. 20

HOME: England

PERFORMANCES: With McLaughlin's tremendous breadth as an artist, performances cover many genres. McLaughlin's expert guitar work is offset with intense keyboard solos by Gary Husband.

FANS LOVE HIM FOR: Introducing Western listeners to the sounds of India.

INTERESTING BIT OF BACKSTORY: When he was 24, British R&B musician Graham Bond introduced McLaughlin to tarot, astrology and mysticism, which set the course for his non-Western personal philosophy and ultimately his exploration of Indian music.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Playing and recording with Miles Davis. Won a Grammy with Chick Corea in 2010. In 2003 was ranked 49th in Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time.