World premiere at The Alex interprets works and loves of artist

Rodin

48 HOURS

How our life experiences and fate ultimately lead us to commitment

is the theme of choreographer Lucas Crandall’s “Atelier,” receiving

its world premiere tonight at The Alex Theatre.

It is one of the works to be performed by Hubbard Street Dance

Chicago, led by Artistic Director Jim Vincent. “Atelier” is the first

piece Artistic Associate Crandall has done for the company.

To create the piece, Crandall said his inspiration was the story

of the love triangle between French sculptor Auguste Rodin

(1840-1917) and his two mistresses, Camille Claudel and Rose Beuret.

He ultimately chose Beuret to be his wife.

The piece starts after the breakup of Auguste and Camille,

Crandall said, but the balance of the dance is more related to

Crandall’s life experiences.

“It is based on life, love and fate,” he said. “That, at the end,

we do commit to something in our life. If it works, great. If it

doesn’t, we change our commitment, but we still must commit to

something.”

Through the dancers’ movements, Crandall also tries to interpret

Rodin’s artistic technique.

“I used an idea from his sculptures. The figures are ample and

round,” he said. “The dancers stay softer in their limbs. They are

not straight or stiff.”

“Atelier” was commissioned by the S. Mark Taper Foundation and The

Alex Theatre. Having groups and corporations give money to support

the art of dance is very encouraging to choreographers, he said,

because funding is more often given to other art forms.

Alex Executive Director Barry McComb is looking forward to Hubbard

Street’s return to the theater.

“People are literally still talking about their last performance

in March,” he said. “That we are premiering a work commissioned by

The Alex makes the event that much more special.”

Atelier means artist workshop or studio, so Crandall said he took

the idea of Rodin working in his studio with the two women and

juxtaposed it with how choreographers, dancers, costumers and

technical staff work in their studios and finally come together in

one studio for a production.

“Atelier” is one of two works created for the Hubbard’s 25th

anniversary season. The other is “Cor Perdut (Lost Heart),” a work in

preview, by Compana Nacional de Danza Artistic Director Nacho Duato.

Those dances are on tonight’s program along with “SUPER STRAIGHT is

Coming Down” by Daniel Ezralow and “Minus 16” by Ohad Naharin.

Tickets range from $25 to $43 and can be reserved by calling

243-2539. Showtime is 8 p.m. The Alex is at 216 N. Brand Blvd.,

Glendale.

SPECIAL EVENTS

ROAD’ERS HAVE CAR OF THE YEAR SHOW

Previous winners of the monthly car shows sponsored by the

Road’ers Car Club will be vying for 2002 Car of the Year from 6 to 9

tonight at Bob’s Big Boy, 1407 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale.

All previous winners must bring and display their trophy to be

eligible. There will be music, raffle prizes and a 50/50 opportunity

drawing. Eight other trophies will be awarded.

The December show was rained out for the first time in four years,

but the club was still able to collect a truck full of toys and $500

for the Glendale Police Toy Closet. Club members delivered the toys

to the Glendale Police Department on Christmas Eve and will present

the $500 check soon.

For more information, call Rick Fox at 240-9461.

PASADENA SYMPHONY PRESENTS ‘FOLK ECHOES’

Grammy Award-nominated violinist Philip Quint will be featured in

the Pasadena Symphony’s “Folk Echoes” during the concert at 8 tonight

at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Conducting will be Music Director

Jorge Mester of Montrose.

Quint, who is making his second appearance with the orchestra,

will perform Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2. Also on the program are

Shchedrin’s Naughty Limericks, a virtuoso piece for orchestra, and

Dvorak’s sweeping Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

Residents performing are Terry Cravens, Betty Sirri and Lois

Johnson, all of La Canada Flintridge; Douglas Davis of La Crescenta;

and Barbara Don, Louise Ditullio, Sharon Harman, Deborah Calkins,

Philip Yao and Christian Kollgard, all of Glendale.

Tickets range from $14 to $66, $5 for children 5 to 17. The

Pasadena Civic Auditorium is at 300 E. Green St. in Pasadena. For

tickets, call (626) 584-8833.

TRACY AND HIS CREW AT HIGHLAND GROUNDS

Tracy & the Hindenburg Ground Crew, a Burbank-based roots- and

punk-influenced alternative-pop combo will be playing beginning at 9

tonight at Highland Grounds, 742 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood.

Admission is $5.

ART EXHIBITS

FRIENDS OF VIVA DISPLAY AT ARTS CENTER

A juried group show, Friends of VIVA, which is an acronym for

Valley Institute of Visual Arts, has opened at the Burbank Creative

Arts Center Gallery.

Artists in the show are members of the five groups that make up

the institute, said Betty Beam, president of the institute’s board of

directors. They are Women Painters West, the Valley Watercolor

Society, Collage Artists of America, Valley Artists Guild and the San

Fernando Valley Art Club.

There are 92 pieces in the show in the mediums of ink, collage,

watercolor, pencil drawings, mixed media and sculpture. Judging was

performed by Cathey Cadieux, an oil and pastel painter, who attended

the Academy of Art in Chicago.

Receiving top honors are Brenda Bagg of Los Angeles, first place;

Frank Fujita of Burbank, second place; and Betty Beam of Woodland

Hills, third place.

Fujita was flattered to have won, he said, knowing the competition

he was up against.

“It’s very thrilling because it’s something to be honored among so

many good artists. Everything I see -- I love everybody’s work,” he

said.

Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9

a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The show ends

Friday. The arts center is at 1100 W. Clark Ave., Burbank. For more

information, call 238-5397.

THREE SHOWING AT BODDY HOUSE GALLERY

Three artists, Carole Buss, Tenny Lim and Gerane Mooney, are

showing their works at Descanso Gardens’ Boddy House Gallery through

Feb. 6.

Buss, who teaches painting at Descanso, is known for floral and

nature themes painted in luminescent, jewel-like tones.

Lim brings imaginative pottery created with a variety of

techniques, including Raku, earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. For

this exhibit, she will also introduce a new technique that includes

fused glass. Mooney, whose oils depict a wide range of topics,

focuses on florals and landscapes for the Descanso exhibit.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Entrance is free

with gardens admission. Des- canso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive,

La Canada Flintridge. The gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Parking is free. Admission is $5, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for

children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 5 and younger.

For information, call 949-4200.

RETIRED DISNEY ARTIST JOINS PLEIN-AIR GROUP SHOW

Retired Disney artist Doug Ball of Burbank is one of eight artists

exhibiting in a group show of plein-air painters at Whites Gallery in

Montrose.

“In his work, ‘Descanso Koi Pond,’ his treatment of light on the

water shows his ability to execute the medium of oil painting,”

gallery owner Linda Strack said.

Other artists showing works are Gegam of North Hollywood, Bruce

Trentham of Burbank, Ron Chesley of La Canada Flintridge, Wie Zhao,

Linda Du Pas and Catherine Hills, all of Glendale, and Michael Situ

of Irvine.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through

Saturday. This exhibit ends Jan. 30. The gallery is at 2414 Hon-

olulu Ave. in Montrose. For more information, call 957-4071.

ON STAGE

KOOL BLEND OF SHAKESPEARE AND FUNK AT FALCON

The Troubadour Theater Company combines Shakespearean prose with

the funky music of Kool and the Gang in “All’s Kool That Ends Kool”

at The Falcon Theatre in Burbank. This piece is directed by Matt

Walker. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through

Jan. 26. Tickets are $20. The Falcon is at 4252 Riverside Drive in

Burbank. For information and reservations call 955-8101.

‘SNOW QUEEN’ IS EVENT FOR WHOLE FAMILY

The Falcon Theatre is presenting the “Snow Queen,” a winter-themed

production for the whole family, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and

1 p.m. Sundays. Magic hangs in the air when the Snow Queen comes to

town and transforms balmy Los Angeles into a snowy winter wonderland.

Now she has only a short time to take Emma, Alexander, and the whole

audience on a musical adventure through L.A. to show them that,

though winter comes and goes, “Love Lasts Forever.”

The play continues through Feb. 2. Tickets are $10. The theater is

at 4252 Riverside Drive, in Burbank. For reservations, call 955-8101.

A NOISE WITHIN PRESENTS ‘MACBETH’

A Noise Within officials have extended the run of William

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Remaining performances are at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Jan. 25. Tickets range from $28 to $38. For

reservations, call 240-0910. The theater is at 234 S. Brand Blvd.,

Glendale.

‘SEE HOW THEY RUN’ AT GLENDALE CENTRE THEATRE

Glendale Centre Theatre kicks off its new season of wholesome,

family entertainment with the British farce “See How They Run.” It

was written in the 1940s by Philip King. Burbank resident George

Strattan is directing.

The play is about an English vicarage gone nuts. With the arrival

of the Bishop, one expects the shenanigans to cease, however, the

confusion showballs. Tickets range from $14 to $17. The play

continues through Feb. 15. For reservations, call 244-8481. Glendale

Centre Theatre is at 324 N. Orange St., Glendale.

KARAOKE

SWING DANCING, KARAOKE COMBINE AT THE MIX

The Mix, at 2612 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose, offers Top 40 music

played by a disc jockey Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday,

there is swing-dancing instruction from 8 to 9 p.m. followed by swing

dancing from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Karaoke is offered at 9:30 p.m.

Thursday. There are also 12 pool tables and a pool league, dart

boards and a darts league, and the occasional live music band. Cover

is $3 on the week- end, $2 on Tuesdays and $5 on Wednesdays. Call

248-3040.

A LITTLE JAZZ WITH DINNER

JAX OFFERS SUPPER, JAZZ EVERY NIGHT

Jax Bar and Grill is a supper club offering live jazz every night

of the week. Showtimes are 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday;

9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Sunday. Happy Hour Jazz is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through

Saturday.

Tonight, the spotlight shines on the Mat Marucci Quartet,

featuring Doug Webb, Donald Vega and Chris Conner. Sunday, it’s

Burbank resident Karen Hernandez performing. The schedule for the

week is the Hoover High School Downbeat Combo on Monday, Danny

Weinstein & Viva on Tuesday, Zane Musa Quartet on Wednesday, Jack

Sheldon on Thursday and Jason Goldman Sextet on Friday. Jax is at 339

N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. For more information, call 500-1604.

RESTAURANT OFFERS MUSIC FROM ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s

The Oceanview Bar and Grill offers live entertainment six nights a

week for diners.

Entertainers perform a combination of piano and jazz guitar

pieces, and some accompany with vocals. Musical selections include a

mix of music from the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s to opera to Celine Dion.

Some entertainers also perform their original pieces and invite

diners to sing along with them.

Jennifer Russell and Michael Gayle sing jazz while playing piano

and guitar from 7 to 10 tonight. The Oceanview Bar and Grill is at

3826 Ocean View Blvd. For more information, call 248-2722.

RUSTY PELICAN COOKS WITH LIVE MUSIC

Glendale’s Rusty Pelican, 300 Harvey Drive in Glendale, serves

dinner and Sunday brunch, but really cooks with its live singing and

music.

2AZZ1 and The Body & Soul Band, featuring Burbank residents Craig

and Mary Durst, performs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays. There is no cover and

no minimum. There’s karaoke from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, live

jazz from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and live blues from 8:30 to 11:30

p.m. Saturdays. For information or to make reservations, call

242-9191.

DANCING

GO TO GIGGLES FOR SALSA, LATIN HOUSE

Giggles night club, 215 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, is offering a

mixture of dancing and salsa lessons Fridays.

Salsa and merengue dancing are offered on the lower level Friday

and Saturday. On the main floor, Spanish rock and pop are played

Friday, while Latin house, trance and Top 40 are offered Saturday.

There is a strict dress code. The club is open 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12 both nights. Call 500-7800.

ATTRACTIONS

SKATING IS COOL FUN AT PICKWICK ARENA

Pickwick Ice Skating Arena, 1001 Riverside Drive in Burbank, has

public skating, figure skating and ice-hockey lessons. It is also

available for private parties. Public sessions are from 2:30 to 4:30

p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 8 to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 8:15 to 9:45 p.m. Wednesdays.

Admission is $6, $5 for 17 and younger, and $3 extra for skate

rentals. Call 846-0035.

EQUESTRIAN CENTER GREAT FOR HORSING AROUND

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank,

has horse events throughout the year but also rents out the animals

from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Horse rentals are $20 for one hour, $30

for 1 1/2 hours, and $35 for two hours, all with a $15 deposit, cash only.

Private hourlong lessons are $35. To horse around, call 840-8401,

or for general information about the center, call 840-9063.

* If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please

call JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or

fax them to 241-1975.