Attention, theater and dance fans: Momix, the dance company celebrated for its creations rich in magical imagery, returns to the Hawai'i Theatre this weekend with "Lunar Sea."

Speaking by phone from Las Vegas, where he is working on a new project, Moses Pendleton, founder, choreographer and artistic director of Momix, described "Lunar Sea" as "... our most illusionistic show. It's full of mystery and fantasy. Its subtitle could be 'No Visible Means of Support.' " Performed in black lighting, the production features music by Hans Zimmer and angel-like puppets created by Michael Curry.

Pendleton was born and raised on a dairy farm in northern Vermont, and his initial taste of performing came from exhibiting his family's cows at the county fair. While majoring in English literature at Dartmouth College in the early 1970s, unusual circumstances led to his involvement in dance.

"I was always aware that you have to go with the flow," he says, referring to the unexpected way in which he became a dancer and choreographer. "It happened quite by accident. My dream was to become a skier. Then I broke a leg and started taking dance classes as a way to recuperate. I found them interesting and challenging from both an athletic and aesthetic point-of-view." The dance teacher was Alison Chase, who would join Pendleton in future dance endeavors.

In spring 1971, Pendleton and two other students created an 11-minute dance, "Pilobolus," named after a gravity-sensitive fungus. After a successful performance in New York, the group, now a male quartet, formed a company that relied on athletic and gymnastic skills. They developed humorous and sculptural dances that experimented with gravity, balance and strength. The company took the name of that first dance, eventually added two female dancers, and has since become world famous.

By the end of the 1970s, Pendleton began choreographing independently. In June 1980, he and Chase (who had joined Pilobolus in 1973) presented a show of his works in Milan, Italy. That event marked the beginning of Momix, which became an official company in 1981. The name derived from a milk supplement for calves.

From that two-person entity, Momix has grown to a company of more than 30 dancers. Although still based in rural New England where Pendleton lives, the group is usually divided, with half touring Europe while the other half tours the U.S. There are five shows in the repertory, including "Opus Cactus," seen here three years ago. Now in its 25th year, the company has performed in more than 22 countries and has been featured on stage, screen and television.

An avid photographer, filmmaker and gardener, Pendleton claims some of his best ideas are from nature. "Though I enjoy the physical life, nature is my passion. I try to find ways to incorporate that interest in my work," he says.

This love is apparent from the critters, both real and surreal, that people the stage. And, Pendleton explains, some of the most magical creatures will be seen in "Lunar Sea."