Nov. 4-6
“Vespers” by the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre
Work by Erik Beehn
Through Nov. 13
“Locals only”: Erik Beehn
Nov. 3-6
If you glimpse one of Erik Beehn’s
Vegas Valley Book Festival
mixed media works — a depiction of a coffee
This year marks the 10th
shop counter, say, or a suburban street — and
anniversary of the Vegas
succumb to a suspicious touch of déjà vu, that’s
Valley Book Festival.
the point. His works focus on subtle, disquiet-
That’s 10 years of our city
ing elements of both American interiors and
appreciating the human-
exteriors, giving a ghostly impression of recent
izing power of literature,
presence recently fled. Better yet, if his exhibit at
without which we would
CENTERpiece Gallery isn’t enough, MCQ Fine Art
probably descend into
Salon at 620 S. 7th Street also hosts an extension
a twitchy, inescapable
of the show.
feedback loop of com-
Sept. 8-Nov. 13. Free. CENTERpiece Gallery inside
pulsively checking our
CityCenter. www.centerpiecelv.com
Facebook status on our
Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre is directed by dancer/ choreographer Bernard Gaddis and presents its 5th annual fall concert series at the West Las Vegas Library Theatre. The featured piece is “Vespers” by the late master choreographer Ulysses Dove to a percussive score by Mikel Rouse. Dove was a principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey Company (as was Mr. Gaddis), and he choreographed ballets for major dance companies worldwide. “Vespers” was inspired by memories of his grandmother and other ladies worshipping in a small, old wooden building in South Carolina. Dove’s choreographies are difficult for companies to acquire: They are expensive and, like Balanchine ballets, troupes must first meet high artistic standards. This is a rare opportunity to see one of his works. — H.B. Nov. 4-6. Tickets $30-$40. West Las Vegas Library Theater. www.lvdance.org.
iPhone while simultaneously playing Angry Birds Nov. 5
on our retinal screen
Complexions
implant. While also, of
The directors of New York’s Complexions Contem-
course, obliviously driving
porary Ballet, Desmond Richardson and Dwight
into oncoming traffic.
Rhoden, are also former Ailey company members.
Among this year’s literary
They founded their own troupe in 1994. Their
and cultural lights: Jane
artistic vision has sought to establish a new form
Smiley, Max Brooks, Tony
of dance movement through the elimination of
Hsieh and more.
all limits on the art, be they technical, stylistic or
Nov. 3-6. Free. Various
cultural. It will be interesting to see if they have
locations around the His-
succeeded. — H.B.
toric Fifth Street School
8 p.m. $35-$75. UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall
and downtown. www.veg-
http://pac.unlv.edu
asvalleybookfestival.org
Nov. 7
Talking Trash: Listening to What People Leave Behind The past is garbage — literally. That’s what archeologists look at when studying the lives of ancient peoples: The tools, utensils, weapons and accessories they threw away. Illnois State University anthropologist James Skibo will talk about how this kind of historic Dumpster-diving can yield real treasure — not just in terms of rare objects, but in terms of valuble insights into prehistoric cultures. 7:30 p.m. Free. UNLV’s Barrick Museum Auditorium
60 D e s e r t C o m pa n i o n S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre