Features

New Mexico Dance Theater will perform its fourth annual spring recital, “Mother Goose,” Friday and Saturday at Duane W. Smith Auditorium.

“NMDT spring recitals offer a chance for every student from the age of 2 through adult to perform in the style of dance in which they take lessons on a weekly basis,” said NMDT director Susan Baker-Dillingham. “Recitals are each student’s opportunity to shine, and show their families and friends the improvements they have made during the year.”

Throughout the school year, Los Alamos High School bands have been playing the tune of success and were able to finish their victorious score during the New Mexico Activities Association State Concert Festival in April.

The winds ensemble and symphonic band traveled to Cibola High School in Albuquerque to compete. While the symphonic band performed for comments only, the winds ensemble captured first place in the AAAA division.

Whether you love the movie or have never even heard of Rick Moranis, the Olions’ production of “Little Shop of Horrors” will have you laughing the antics, caring about the characters and applauding wildly, standing in front of your Duane W. Smith seat.

I enjoyed so many elements of the musical I almost don’t know where to begin. But, since it is “Little Shop of Horrors,” I’ll start with the plant.

The plant is awesome.

In a foreign country, with a tour group full of people you don’t know, sometimes the best thing you can do is go to the gym.

I need to pause for a disclaimer: If I am a rat of any kind, it is not a gym rat. I’m a road rat, a trail rat, a barre rat – but I don’t like the machines, the musk, the towels, the TVs or any of the complimentary ambience that comes along with a trip to the gym. I can’t stand the sound of the treadmill, the way my face looks in the mirror while I run or the useless, tiny cups of water.

Russian architect and artist, Viktor Alexandrovich Hartmann, grew up in St. Petersburg. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg and at first started working by illustrating books.

In his work as an architect, he sketched, among other things, the monument to the 1,000th anniversary of Russia in Novgorod, which was inaugurated in 1862. His watercolors and pencil drawings were often made while traveling abroad from 1864-1868. Hartmann was one of the first artists to include traditional Russian motifs in his work.

Janet Bosarge of Los Alamos may not paint or photograph, but she does know the art of marketing. To help promote several local artists’ works and the work of visiting artists, Bosarge is hosting a fine arts party from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at her home, located at 2326 Canyon Glen.

Artists whose works will show at the party include sculptor John Fleming of Kirkland, Wash., photographer Harry Clifford of Los Alamos, painter Stede Barber of Los Alamos, painter Beth Ferguson of Abquu and Barb Ruble of Washington.

Join Juanita “Winnie” Madland for another pedagogical pianist concert-lecture, at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fuller Lodge. The concert is a part of the free Los Alamos Arts Council Brown Bag series.

In “Dear Frankie,” Director Shona Auerbach manages to find lots of heartfelt drama in a scenario that could have easily been written off as comedy. If you’re willing to suspend your disbelief just a little, you might even cry at the next presentation of Mesa Public Library’s Free Film Series, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the upstairs meeting room theater.

Look up in the sky! Its a bird! Its a plane! No, its one of more than 20 rockets launched by members of the Pion Rocket Club during an early morning assembly at the school. Students at the school participated in the countdown for each launch, which featured rockets with names such as Big Bertha, Big Daddy and Screaming Eagle.

There was also a three-stage rocket, a rocket that measured more than 5 feet and one less than 5 inches tall.