When most people say that they are going to hang out in and on a building by architect Frank Gehry, a few mean it literally. Walk by the Fisher Center at Bard and don't get freaked out if you see dancers performing on the outside of the building.

The idea here is part of a series put on by a forward-looking choreographer, Noemie Lafrance (great name for one hailing from Montreal!) who is setting out to stage performances on the exteriors of nine Gehry-designed structures worldwide, using dancers rigged with harnesses and ropes. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles are also on the "list."

Rapture consists of eight once-nightly 40-minute pieces, which start at twilight. Audience members can roam the lawn of the Fisher Center to get different views of the spotlighted cast. "The idea for Rapture is inspired by Gehry's bold architectural style, made of irregular shapes and curves: His buildings express the essence of movement, constantly challenging your perceptions depending on your vantage point," said Lafrance. A handful of string musicians will supply live accompaniment to a prerecorded score.

Bard and the Fisher Center, which last year invited Lafrance to integrate the building into a dance piece, commissioned Rapture. The crucial negotiating point? The fact that Lafrance told the Powers That Be her intention not to dance in the building, but on it.

Rapture will be preceded by Lafrance's work Manor Field, exploring topography and time, set in the adjacent field at sunset. Manor Field will be performed by Bard College dance students and accompanied by live piano.

Performances continue October 2 through 5, and tickets cost $25. For info and to order, visit www.fishercenter.bard.edu or call the box office at (845) 758-7900.