Weekend Arts Roundup: Music and Dance Galore

As we forge on through to Dean's Date, I know we're all looking for excuses to crawl out of our work-induced hibernation every now and then.  Take refuge in this week's arts events: we've got a myriad of dance and music options from all over the artiness spectrum. There's something for everyone--enjoy, and we'll see you on the other side of Tuesday!

First up is Context Preconstructed, Sydney Schiff's senior thesis piece with the Department of Dance.  A spread of photos from Sydney's rehearsals was featured in this winter's Nassau Literary Review; in it, she described the event as "simultaneously dance deconstructed and Judaism being deconstructed in dance."  The piece combines the evolution of the Jewish identity with the evolution of dance: as Syndey, a History of Science major, explains, “the work reflects an intense period of self-reflection and personal exploration of both professional dance and Judaism that I pursued over the last four years.  This very much reflects how I, as an individual, was completely transformed by the Princeton community.”

Along with its sheer awesomeness factor, the costumer in me is totally digging the piece's outfits, which were handmade by the Department of Theater's costume department (with a little help from yours truly) and lean towards the American Apparel end of trendy.  "We're gonna go global after these tunics! Ubran Outfitters has nothing on us!," joked Keating Helfrich, The Department's Costume Assistant. While the monks' costumes have been cut (don't ask), this event definitely is not to be missed.

The show is in Lewis Center's Patricia and Ward Hagan '48 Dance Studio. Thursday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2 and 8pm. Free.

Also up this weekend:

• BodyHype has its spring dance show running all weekend in Theatre Intime.  Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 10pm, and Saturday at 7pm and 10pm. Student tickets $6, Tiger Tickets eligible.
• The Real World: BAC, the Black Arts Company's spring dance show.  Frist Film and Performance Theater, Thursday and Friday 8pm, Saturday at 6:30 and 9pm. $6 student tickets, Tiger Tickets eligible.
• Akwaaba, the Princeton African Students' Association, has its Spring Fashion Show, with belly dancing galore--and free food (!).  Tonight at 8pm in Campus Club. Free.
• MUS 213, the Music Department's by-audition chamber music class, has its final series of concerts tonight at 4 and 8pm. Taplin Auditorium in Fine Hall. Free.
• University Wind Ensemble presents its spring concert. Highlights include the world premiere of The Ninth Wave by junior Nicholas DiBerardino, who will also guest conduct.  Tonight at 8pm, Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, 8:00 p.m. $6 student tickets. Tiger ticket eligible.
• If you're a Beethoven buff (or just want to hear some beautiful violin and piano music) hit up the Beethoven Marathon from 6:30-10:30 on Friday in Rocky Common Room. Students will perform all ten of Beethoven's piano and violin sonatas. Free admission; feel free to wander in and out.
• Sinfonia, Princeton's chamber orchestra, has its spring concert at 8pm on Friday in Richardson, with pieces by Copland, Brahms, Shubert, and Beethoven. $6 student tickets, Tiger ticket eligible.
• Soul on Soul: Celebrating the Music of Mary Lou Williams, from the University Concert Jazz Ensemble.  Saturday at 8pm in Richardson. $5 student tickets, Tiger ticket eligible.
• MUS 214's Broadway Cabaret, featuring songs from Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Steven Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and others. Sunday at 3pm at Taplin Auditorium in Fine Hall. Free.