Weekend Forecast

TODAY

They make the hip hop

REDCAT at Disney Hall celebrates the vitality and variety of street dancing in “The Legends of Hip-Hop,” a program featuring groundbreaking Philadelphia-based concert-dance choreographer Rennie Harris as well as such earlier pop-dance pioneers as the Electric Boogaloos, Don “Campbell Locking” Campbell, Crazy Legs and Boogaloo Sam. Archival films will fill in the historical blanks.

“The Legends of Hip-Hop,” REDCAT Theater at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown L.A. 8:30 p.m. today. $14 to $32. (213) 237-2800.

* Also 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

FRIDAY

In tights once again

No wonder people have midlife crises. Your gut sags, you punch a clock at a mind-numbing job and live a suburban life of quiet desperation yearning for the days when you were a ... superhero! At least that’s the scenario facing middle-aged Bob Paar (voiced by Craig T. Nelson), once known as Mr. Incredible, who’s bored to tears working as an insurance claims adjuster until he gets a mysterious call in Pixar’s new animated feature “The Incredibles,” directed by Brad Bird (“The Iron Giant”).

“The Incredibles,” PG for action violence, opens Friday in general release.

A history of 1917 Russia

Like many of Shostakovich’s works, the Symphony No. 12, “The Year 1917,” has a tangled history. Initially announced as a commemoration of Lenin’s life, the piece -- according to some accounts -- evolved into a parody instead and had to be hurriedly rewritten to avoid political fallout. As part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s five-year survey of Shostakovich’s 15 symphonies, up-and-coming Finnish conductor Mikko Franck will make his Philharmonic debut directing this work. His program also will include Sibelius’ “Karelia” Overture and John Adams’ Violin Concerto, with soloist Leila Josefowicz.

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., 8 p.m. Friday. $15 to $125. (323) 850-2000.

* Also 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Power to transform

After losing his mother to the Armenian massacres in Turkey, Arshile Gorky fled to the United States and became inspired by the works of European Cubists and surrealists. “Arshile Gorky: The Early Years” is an exhibition of drawings and paintings that offers a glimpse of how the young immigrant became one of the driving forces behind the Abstract Expressionist movement in the U.S.

“Arshile Gorky: The Early Years,” Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, 357 N. La Brea Ave., L.A. Opens Friday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. (323) 938-5222.

* Ends Dec. 24.

Moon over America

Avant-garde multimedia artist Laurie Anderson has created a new epic in her exploration of contemporary American culture, “The End of the Moon,” a blend of stories, songs and new music for violin and electronics inspired by her stint this year as NASA’s first artist-in-resident. Presented by UCLA Live.

“The End of the Moon,” Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Plaza, Westwood. 8 p.m. Friday. $28 to $50. (310) 825-2101.

* Also 8 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY

A Modest set of tunes

Ever wonder what you might find in the record collections of Modest Mouse? You can get a good sampling of the Seattle band’s taste at All Tomorrow’s Parties Pacific, the third annual Southern California staging of the British-born festival of the eclectic. Modest Mouse is this year’s curator, and the band has filled two days with alt-rock fountainheads (Lou Reed, J Mascis, the Cramps), bubbling-undergrounders (Sufjan Stevens, Willy Mason) and some of the current leaders of the scene (the Shins, Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse itself).

All Tomorrow’s Parties Pacific, Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Pier J, Long Beach, 1 p.m. Saturday. $55; two-day pass, $90. Information: www.atpfestival.com. (213) 480-3232.

* Also 1 p.m. Sunday.

An ace of bass

Christian McBride is one of jazz’s most acclaimed acoustic and electric bassists -- and he’s only about six months shy of his 33rd birthday. In addition to his solo recordings, the Philadelphia native has been featured on more than 200 albums with a wide variety of artists. He’ll be in Cerritos this weekend; guitarist John Scofield, with drummer Jack DeJohnette and keyboardist Larry Goldings, will open the show by paying tribute to percussionist Tony Williams.

Christian McBride Band, John Scofield Trio, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. 8 p.m. Saturday. $25 to $45. (800) 300-4345.

SUNDAY

A county at work

Orange County’s burgeoning arts community comes to the fore in “The OsCene: Contemporary Art and Culture in OC” at the Laguna Art Museum. Artists, designers, musicians, filmmakers and even tattoo artists collaborate for installations, lectures, screenings and live performances as part of the Orange County Museum of Art’s 2004 Biennial.

“The OsCene: Contemporary Art and Culture in OC,” Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Opens Sunday. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Adults $9, students and seniors $7, children 12 and younger free. (949) 494-8971.

* Ends Feb. 27.