News Roundup, Oct. 12, 2023
It looks like everyone is super excited about the annular solar eclipse coming our way Saturday. And we will tell you about a few places where to watch it. But first – arts news!
Professional dance is not very strong in San Antonio but, thanks to sheer coincidence, there are several strong shows to choose from this weekend. Ballet San Antonio is presenting its fall production of “Beauty and the Beast” choreographed by Bruce Wells, the choreographer who created the ballet version of the classic tale a couple of decades ago. In a recent interview, Wells noted that he always tweaks the choreography to best fit the talents of the dancers performing it. Children will relate to the story and eagerly expect the Beast’s transformation. (Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are on sale at www.tobincenter.org, by phone 210-223-8624, or in person at the Tobin’s box office.; to learn more see our article from Oct. 9 on this site)
A new dance production, ‘Nuestras Voces: Retelling Our Stories” will be presented by the Guadalupe Dance Company Friday night. According to the press release, the show “sets out to take back the narrative and unveil the hidden stories of our Mexican American leaders, including: Jovita Idar, Emma Tenayuca, Lydia Mendoza, Willie Velasquez and Americo Paredes. “Nuetras Voces” takes audiences on a journey of enlightenment and empowerment through original choreography, collectively created by members of the Gudalupe Dance Company. It will be performed with Mariachi Azteca de America, also a resident company at the Guadalupe Center. (Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.; Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St. 78207; tickets are $15-$30, and tables for four are $150; to buy visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151.)
Also on Oct. 13, The Latino Bookstore nearby, will host the Texas Author Series, featuring writers John Olivares Espinoza and Norma Cantu. Espinoza is the author of “The Date Fruit Elegies” and Cantu’s new book is “Chicana Portraits: Critical Biographies of Twelve Chicana Writers.” A book signing and reception will take place, and books will be available for purchase. The evening will be hosted by Tony Diaz – El Librotraficante – the literary curator of the bookstore. (Oct. 13 at 6 p.m., 1300 Guadalupe St., free and open to the public.)
Back to dance!
Ballet Nepantla, a New York-based company, founded by Texan Andrea Guajardo and fellow dancer Martin Rodriguez, is making another visit to San Antonio. This time, the company will perform its ballet “Mistica” at the UTSA Recital Hall. “Offering a unique experience that honors Mexican cultural roots and provides a fresh take on Hispanic tradition, they will perform as part of the UTSA School of Music’s Arts En Vivo Guest Artist Series.
The company’s style and choreography are a fusion of contemporary dance and folkloric Mexican dance. According to the press release, there are African dance influences as well, given that African dance has influenced Mexican dance culture.
The name, Neplanta, is an indigenous term from the Nahuatl dialect, that roughly translates to “in-between space” or in-between-ness. It fits what the company is trying to explore – the cultural and historical borders between nations and cultural communities. The performers wear costumes that reflect Dia de Los Muertos traditions, wearing very colorful attire and making themselves look like skeletons.
“It’s like no other Dia de Los Mortes show you’ve ever seen,” said Guajardo for the press release.
( Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m., UTSA Recital Hall; free and open to the public.)
And there’s more dance, this time real folkloric dances not performed by professional dancers.
The fifth Hispanic Trails Cultural Festival will turn Wonderland of the Americas Amphitheatre into a feisty place resonating with music and dances from fourteen Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Republica Dominicana, Venezuela – and Spain, the country that has so deeply influenced the entire continent. (Oct. 15, 1-8 p.m., Wonderland of the Americas, I-10 and Loop 410, on Fredericksburg Rd.; free.)
On the music front there are always choices.
The San Antonio Philharmonic will present its Classic 2 concert, featuring internationally acclaimed Norwegian trumpet soloist, Tine Thing Helseth. She will play Armenian composer, Alexander Arutiunian’s virtuosic trumpet concerto that premiered in the Soviet Union in 1950. According to his Wikipedia bio, his music was influenced by melodic and rhythmic characteristics of Armenian folk music. We assume, this will be the San Antonio premiere of this work. The concerts will be conducted by Vinay Parameswaran.
Other works on the program include Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5, Gabriela Smith’s “Field Guide” and Reena Esmail’s “Avartan.” The last two are living composers working in the U.S. (Oct. 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m.; First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough, 78215; tickets are $35-$75 at sales@saphil.org; for more call 210-201-6006.)
The South Texas Symphonic Orchestra is also having a concert that will introduce a brand-new piece of music, “A Traveler’s Fantasy,” by Texas-based composer Wesley S. Uchiyama Penix.
“Through this piece, I wanted to convey the hope I held onto during the pandemic, the struggles that I held within, and the perseverance that kept me going,” said the composer, adding “I hope others are willing to take the step toward their dream, even in times of uncertainty.”
Works by Brahms, Borodin and Aaron Copland are also included. (Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.; UTSA Main Campus, Fine Arts Building Retama Auditorium Recital Hall, 1 UTSA Circle, room 2.02.02, 78249; free.)
The SOLI Chamber Ensemble which specializes in contemporary music, is opening its season with a concert titled “Nebula,” The press release explains that Nebula are clouds of gas and heat occupying space between stars and acting as a nursery for new stars. The quartet will play new works by Ethan Wickman, Robert Xavier Rodriguez, Alexandra Gardner and Steve Mackey. All four were commissioned by the ensemble. (Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, 78209; Tickets: $25 for patio seating; $15 Lawn Seating. To buy: https://solichamberensemble.com)
And there’s more music on other fronts.
Musicals are hybrids of theater and music and there’s one opening at the Majestic Theater this week and running through Oct. 22. It’s “SiX” which has an unusual and potentially very entertaining topic. According to the description, the six of the title are the six wives of Henry VIII who “take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power! Apparently, the musical has become “a global sensation.” It has won 23 awards in the 2021/22 Broadway season, including the Tony Award. (Oct. 10-Oct. 22, starting time changes depending on the day, so check the Majestic/Empire site.; tickets are $55 – $165, www.majesticempire.com/events/six/)
Hip Hop fans are going to like “Masters of the Mic: Hip Hop 50” tour featuring Big Daddy Kane, Dough E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Roxanne Shante and DJ Spinderella. You’ll see the “iconic emcees perform genre-defining songs from hip-hop golden age. (Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6); $25 -$99.50 at www.theespee/events/hip-hop-anniversary/tickets
R&B artist, SZA, returns to San Antonioin support of her album “SOS” which features the hit “Kill Bill.”
(Oct. 15, Frost Bank Center, formerly known as the AT&T Center.; 1 AT&T parkway,78219; tickets are $130-$229+ at Ticketmaster.
The Magik Theatre is launching its season “by celebrating big dreams.” The opening show, “Carmela Full of Wishes” is opening Oct. 14. “This heartfelt comedic production highlights the power of hope and the inspiring magic of wishes,” says the press release. The theatrical version is based on the book by the same title by Matt de la Pena and illustrator Chistian Robinson. The Magik has also announced a new collaboration with Hemisphere to include a new series of events and special performances for young audiences. On opening day there will be a party in the park from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. (Oct. 14-22; Magik Theatre; 420 S. Alamo St., 210-227-2751; www.magiktheatre.org
Speaking of outdoor things, Artpace’s main community event, Chalk It Up is scheduled for this Saturday downtown in Legacy Park and on Houston Street. Amateur artists can collaborate on large-scale And now, let’s look at some of the many Annular Eclipse events, most of which have an entertainment component. The eclipse will take place this Saturday, Oct. 14. The eclipse will be visible as it crosses the sky from Oregon to Texas. The name “annular” refers to a ring of sunlight – annulus – that is visible around the moon during the eclipse. The Earth will not completely obscure the sun. The next eclipse of this kind will happen in 2041. Where to view: from everywhere, really, but here are some special places we selected: The Witte Museum where you’ll get free eclipse glasses and take part in a full day of space-related art and learning. (Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $10-$15; 3801 Broadway). The Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrville. This weekend the The Kerrville Folk Festival hosts its “Welcome Home Fest,” where visitors can view the eclipse and enjoy more than 20 musical acts. Among them are Sir Woman, Kinky Freedman, Kimya Dawson, Anna Tivel, Staci Foster, Corook, McMercy Family Band, and others. That sounds like fun but you probably have to bring your own protective glasses.
(Quiet Valley Ranch is located 9 miles south of the Guadalupe River on TX HWY 16, 3876 Medina Hwy, Kerrville TX 78028. For more info call 830-257-3600 or email info@kerrvillefolkfestival.otg)
chalk murals, learn a few things and meet local professional artists. This year’s theme is Dream Big! Some of the pros who will be there to help are Barbara Minaro, Anthony Dean-Harris, Sarah Fox, Xavier Gilmore and others. (Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; for more info call 210-212-4900 or email info@artpace.org)
Are you familiar with the Second Saturday Artwalk in the so-called Lone Star Art District? One gallery that’s located in the area is Dock Space Gallery owned by artist Bill FitzGibbons. It is currently showing the work of Jennifer Agricola Mojica in a show called “Distance.” Her work conveys shifting perspectives and figures, layers that conceal and reveal, repetition punctured by shapes and suggestions of a fragmented time and space. The gallery also has an annex that currently features abstract art by Zan Lee DuRoy and Stan Unser. (Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.; otherwise, open by appointment. Call 210-723-3048.