CrossCurrents

EVOLVE-ING. Sarah Parker’s EVOLVE Productions was hard at work at Bodiography in Squirrel Hill, preparing for Pittsburgh’s Arts Alive. So I took a few shots with my new camera…look out!

WILDE AT THE MOVIES. It was great to go to The Oaks Theater — so cool on its own (Art Deco decor, healthier popcorn, great snacks) — and spend a Sunday afternoon watching the Bolshoi Ballet’s production of “Esmeralda.” But it was better because former Pittsburgh Ballet artistic director Patricia Wilde was there (she’s such a class act on her own). Hopefully we’ll keep this series around, but more dance fans will have to take advantage of this opportunity (the audiences have been sparse) to see some of the world’s greatest companies and some of the world’s greatest dancers. The Bolshoi has a terrific “Sleeping Beauty” (Svetlana Zakharova and American superstar David Hallberg) during November and England’s Royal Ballet “Nut” comes in for the holidays, with more treats to follow. Just check Listings because the films appear at Carmike theaters (Bethel Park, Greensburg and Altoona) as well.

TURKEY DANCE. Pittsburgh’s November dance calendar is up and running. See Listings.

PDC GOES DUTCH. The Pittsburgh Dance Council indulged in a Distinctively Dutch Conversation and Cocktails at Seviche, featuring Arthur Kibbelaar, Consul for Press & Cultural Affairs from the Dutch Consul-General’s office in New York City. We know that PDC has two highly-anticipated Dutch companies in the spring, Dance Works Rotterdam/Andre Gingras and the Jiri Kylian/Michael Schumacher collaboration. But there will be a complete arts festival, yet to be announced. Among those tipping a glass were Cultural Trust vice-president and PDC executive director Paul Organisak, sound engineer Herman Soy Sos Pearl and Peter Cooke, head of Carnegie Mellon’s drama department.