Whitney Houston in D.C. this weekend to dance, not sing

Whitney Houston will take a break from her troubled concert tour this weekend to swing by the nation's capital. But the diva will likely be doing more dancing than singing.

Houston plans attend the annual Ball on the Mall Saturday night, a black tie dance that benefits the Trust for the National Mall. The Trust works works to restore the health of plants and grassy spaces on the National Mall, which take a beating under the feet of the tens of thousands of visitors to the park every year.

According to organizers, Houston won't be showing up stag: She'll be the date of jazz legend Ski Johnson, who is her longtime friend. The low-key visit should be a welcome change for the singer, whose international Nothing but Love tour has been beset by vocal problems, lateness, and mangled lip synching.

The Ball on the Mall is held under a tent on the National Mall and guests dance to a swinging orchestra after dinner.