Acclaimed dancer Bill T. Jones coming to Santa Rosa’s Spinster Sisters (w/video)

Bill T. Jones, the acclaimed African-American dancer and choreographer, built his reputation on the marriage of high-art aesthetics and social consciousness in dance works that ask the big questions.

The New Yorker has also written a ceaselessly questioning book that reflects on his art and life as illustrated by his autobiographical dance work, “Story/Time,” produced by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.

“Story/Time” the dance work will be performed on Jan. 30 at Stanford University Memorial Auditorium. “Story/Time” the book will be discussed by Jones at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Spinster Sisters restaurant in Santa Rosa as part of Book Passage’s “Dining with Writers” series.

Santa Rosa native Eric Anderson, co-owner of The Spinster Sisters, is a longtime fan of Jones, dating back to Anderson’s days as a poor Columbia University student in search of affordable art.

“I didn’t have a whole lot of money, but I found out that I could see dance,” Anderson recalled. “And there was this crazy guy, Bill T. Jones, and his partner Arnie Zane, and the works they were doing could be very beautiful and very political.”

Anderson, whose Harlem-based Urban Green organization works in affordable housing and community development, first met Jones in 1999, when Jones asked him to dance in a work called “The Table Project,” starring men from Harlem.

“I’m 6-foot-9 and the biggest clod in the world,” Anderson said. “But the New York Times gave it a rave review.”

On Feb. 1, Jones will talk about the genesis of “Story/Time,” which he wrote as a way to get back on stage after retiring from dance for a few years. During the piece, Jones sits on stage and reads one-minute stories from his life, surrounded by the dancers.

The stories delve into Jones’ childhood as part of a poor Southern family, their migration to upstate New York, his struggle to find a niche in a white-dominated dance world, his encounters with notable artists and his love-hate relationship with modernism.

“You might say everything up until this point in my life has been about this piece,” Jones told the New York Times. The menu for the dinner includes Winter Caponata Crostini with House Smoked Ricotta; Escarole Salad with Roasted Pear, Spiced Walnuts, Shaft’s Blue Cheese; Roasted Shannon Ranch Leg of Lamb; Herb Roasted Potatoes and Winter Root Vegetables; Kale Parmigiano; Steamed Chocolate Cake.

Tickets are $95 ($165 for two), including meal, wine, tax and tip, plus a signed copy of “Story/Time.” bookpassage.com or (800) 999-7909.