By Cliff Bellamy

cbellamy@heraldsun.com; 419-6744

CHAPEL HILL -- For the 2009-2010 season, Carolina Performing Arts has added a new series called "Loading Dock." In the past, Carolina Performing Arts has had to turn away artists who prefer a more intimate setting.

To accommodate those artists, the series has created "Loading Dock," which will allow the audience to enter the stage at UNC's Memorial Hall through the loading dock, and share the stage with the performers. For the fall, this series features two artists -- Iranian rapper YAS, and poet-performance artist Rha Goddess.

YAS is the first rap artist that the Iranian government has granted permission to perform, and is considered that country's most popular artist in that genre. His lyrics seek to promote cross-cultural understanding. He will perform, along with DJ Shahram and Mahan Sept. 17.

Rha Goddess is a poet, performance and recording artist who will perform "Low," a multidisciplinary theater work that explores myriad issues surrounding mental illness. Rha Goddess will perform Oct. 2.

Other highlights of the season are the return of two veteran master musicians who have appeared in this area previously. Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who last performed at UNC in 2001, will perform in Memorial Hall Sept. 22.

Master musician of India Ravi Shankar is the man most responsible for bringing the sound of the sitar and other traditional Indian instruments to Western ears. He will perform in concert with his daughter Anoushka Shankar Oct. 6.

Here are other highlights of Memorial Hall's fall season. For tickets and information, call 843-3333 or visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org.

n Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain, part of the American Roots music series, Oct. 11.

n Bruckner Orchestra Linz with Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, part of the classical ensembles series, Nov. 11.

n Bang on a Can All-Stars and Trio Mediaeval perform Julia Wolfe's "Steel Hammer," part of Memorial's experimental music series, Nov. 17.

n Leif Ove Andsnes, piano, and Robin Rhode, visual artist, will perform "Pictures Reframed," a new collaborative performance of composer Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," Nov. 18. This is part of Memorial's classical recital series.

n Noche Flamenca, Spain's flamenco touring company, along with founding member Soledad Barrio, will perform Nov. 20 as part of the world stage series.

n The Carolina Ballet's annual production of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" returns for three performances Dec. 5 and 6.