A&E

Stay aglow in the snow

SIDEWALK RUNWAY

On their toes

Despite the chill that has pervaded Bloomington throughout the past week, with the advent of spring, the anticipation of warmer days ahead promise the excitement of new beginnings to both students and faculty. The IU Ballet Theatre is no exception. This weekend, the company will present "From Bournonville to Balanchine: An Evening of Legendary Ballets," a selection of three well-known pieces: the classical "Paquita," the modern American "Who Cares?" and the festive and vivacious "Napoli." This production represents an interdepartmental collaboration, as each segment will be danced by the students of the Ballet Department of the Jacobs School of Music and accompanied by guest conductor Ronald Zollman and the IU Symphony Orchestra. The world-renowned ballets featured in this performance have been performed internationally, but have been given a new energy and enthusiasm by the dancers and production staff of this year's Spring Ballet.

Tap Dogs dancing onto stage tonight

Tap Dogs, a group of performers from around the world, will be on stage at 7:30 tonight in the IU Auditorium to perform a family-friendly show, according to a press release. Tickets are $19.50 to 37.50 for the general public and $13.50 to 27.50 for students with their IDs.

Defying gravity

Defying gravity -- In this undated studio photo supplied by the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Sean Mahoney and Lisa Viola perform "Spring Rounds." The dance had its New York premiere during the company's three-week annual City Center stint, which wrapped up this weekend in New York.

Art museum to hold horse discussion

The IU Art Museum will hold "Horses and Horsemanship" as part of its free Noon Talk series today from 12:15 to 1 p.m. in the museum's Special Exhibition Gallery.

'V for Vendetta' No. 1 with $26.1M debut

LOS ANGELES -- Audiences were in a rebellious mood, lifting the action tale "V for Vendetta" to the top spot at the weekend box office with a $26.1 million debut. The Warner Bros. film, which stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in a story of revolution against a totalitarian British government, bumped off the previous weekend's box-office leaders. Paramount's romantic comedy "Failure to Launch," which debuted at No. 1, slipped to second place with $15.8 million, raising its 10-day domestic total to $48.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Hollywood's next Kevin Smith

Making a movie is easy. All you need to do is max out all of your credit cards, take out a bank loan and fit the first day of shooting in while your wife is giving birth to twins. OK, none of that is easy, but it's only part of what writer/director Chris Folino went through to bring his long-standing dream to fruition.

Classical guitar major finds healing in music

A native of Detroit, home to rock legends KISS and more recent rock star Kid Rock, Matthew Douglas Smith wanted to play guitar his whole life. Detroit had established itself as a city infatuated with rock 'n roll, and it was the perfect laboratory for up-and-coming rock stars. But Smith wasn't really interested in any of it. Ever since he began to play guitar seriously as a freshman in high school, Smith has known his talents were better suited for the Metropolitan Opera than they were for the Mets' Tigers' stadium, which hosts occasional rock concerts.

"Piss Christ:" a controversial crucifix

Andres Serrano mixed blood, urine and a crucifix in a vat and concocted a controversy. In 1987, he photographed his creation, called it "Piss Christ" and was given a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. At a Senate meeting in 1989, Alfonse M. D'Amato, R-N.Y., and Jesse Helms R-N.D., expressed their outrage.

College prodigy is first woman tuba player in top orchestra

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was 9:30 on a Saturday night, and Carol Jantsch was at an ultimate frisbee tournament when her cell phone rang with an audition invitation from the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of America's finest symphonies.

ARTifacts

What: Venus de Milo where to find it: A duplicate is in the hotel lobby at the Indiana Memorial Union. The original is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Why you should care: The IU class of 1897 donated this statue depicting Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The unknown sculptor created the piece in the second century B.C. Source: www.sculpture.com

ARTiFACT

WHAT: Showalter Fountain WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT: In the Fine Arts Plaza in front of the IU Auditorium

ARMED AND READY

Taiko drumming masters of Japanese group TAO perform on stage, during their spectacular percussion-dance show in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday. The show is part of the "TAO - Art of the Drum" world tour.

Live music, food to be offered at fundraiser

Beer brews and kazoo music will be offered at the first annual 4th and Walnut Block Party. The celebration will run from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and is a fundraiser for the Bloomington Area Arts Council and WFHB, a local volunteer radio station.

Cartoonist to receive cancer treatment in Bloomington

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A cartoonist with a rare tumor threatening his vision is getting some help from artists who draw rival strips.

Union Board: 'Show Me the Funny'

Friday is the deadline for submitting entries to the Union Board's "Show Me the Funny" contest. Competitors must submit a five- to seven-minute stand-up routine, sketch or improvisational bit containing either one or two performers. This competition is open to all IU students. The Union Board expects a very diverse group of entrants, ranging from amateur comedians to those who have acting experience or are already performing in a group.

JOHN HANCOCK

JOHN HANCOCK -- GZA "the Genius" signs a pair of chucks brought in by a fan. The owner of the shoes, actually named Charles, or Chuck, Taylor prompted laughter among the veteran |rappers.

Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett offer insight in Van Zandt documentary

Besides being prominent musicians in their respective fields, what do artists Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Sonic Youth, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson have in common? They all make up the growing cult fan base of singer songwriter Townes Van Zandt and play a part in a new documentary based on the late artist's music and life.

African-American art on display at Art Museum

This month, the IU Art Museum will feature works depicting 60 years of "Black Spirit" conceptualized by one person, displayed in one place and portrayed in many ways.