Monthly Archives: August 2012

Ballet Arkansas Master Class

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Internationally known dancer/teacher/choreographer Tong Wang will teach an open master class for intermediate and advanced dancers this Thursday. The class begins at 6 pm and will conclude at 8 pm. This will be the first class in a series of Master Classes to be taught by Ballet Arkansas’ guest choreographers and guest dancers throughout the 2012-2013 Season. Mr. Wang is choreographing a new work for Ballet Arkansas’ fall concert, American Images</em, which premieres at Wildwood Park for the Arts October 12-14.

Where: Ballet Arkansas Studio at Shuffles & Ballet II
1521 Merrill Drive, Little Rock

When: This Thursday, August 30th
6:00-8:00, please arrive early to register

Class Fee – $25
Observer Fee – $15

Both participants and observer numbers are limited, so advance reservations are required. Female dancers should bring pointe shoes.

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Tong Wang is assistant professor at the University of California at Irvine Department of Dance. For the last twenty years, he has enjoyed a successful international dance career as a principal dancer. After graduating from Beijing Dance Academy in 1986, he danced with Shanghai Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and most recently, Ballet West in Salt Lake City. He has performed almost every leading male role in the classical ballet repertoire and also danced a full range of ballets created by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley, Birgit Culberg, Choo-san Goh, William Forsythe, Ben Stevenson, and Hans Van Manen. While dancing professionally, he completed his B.F.A and M.F.A degrees with the University of Utah Ballet Department and also worked as a guest faculty member.

In addition, he has enjoyed a choreographic relationship with Ballet West, the University of Utah Ballet Department, Wright State University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, DanceOhio, and Ballet West Conservatory. Mr. Wang has served as Assistant Professor of Dance at Wright State University and at Butler University in Indianapolis.

Museum of Discovery Science After Dark

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20120829-112219.jpgMuseum’s Science after Dark Takes Things to the Extreme

The Museum of Discovery’s monthly program series designed for people ages 21 and older, titled “Science after Dark,” will be Wednesday, August 29, 2012 6-8 pm. This month’s theme, “Taking It to the Extreme,” will take people into the world of adrenaline-laced activities like extreme sports, eating and more. Guests will learn about science in a unique, social setting. Admission will be five dollars, and a cash bar will be available.

There is a psychology behind the need for speed, and the rush some people get from stepping out of his or her comfort zone and seeking the ‘thrill.’ And, physics allows our bodies to adapt to motion, force and speed.

Science after Dark will feature a mountain climbing slack rope where attendees can try their luck. Also, there will be a climbing demonstration complete with gear, and people will learn the technology behind the sport.

For those interested in skateboarding, museum staff will discuss this wildly popular sport and the physics of how tricks are performed. Guests will have the opportunity to decorate mini-skateboards and try them out on the museum’s tiny skateboard park. While there, attendees can see the museum’s latest traveling exhibit, Design Zone, which includes interactive stations including a skateboard design area. Design Zone is a behind the scenes look at how math is used to create music tracks, design roller coasters, make video games and more.

What about water? It holds a mystique all its own, at the surface and certainly below. Enjoy diving presentations, and see first-hand how sophisticated equipment is used. Also, learn about whitewater kayaking and see the equipment needed and the technology used in this fast-paced sport.

Not into sports? What about eating? Join us as we explore the physiological impact of competitive eating on the human body, and we’ll host a competitive eating contest.

Science after Dark occurs the last Wednesday of each month. Museum educators pick a science-related topic, and develop an event around it. The event is for ages 21 and older. General admission is $5 per person. Museum members get in free.

For more information on Science after Dark or the Museum of Discovery, visit http://www.museumofdiscovery.org, follow us on http://www.facebook.com/scienceafterdark or call (501) 396-7050.

DESIGN ZONE, new Museum of Discovery exhibit

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The Museum of Discovery’s Latest Traveling Exhibit: Getting Behind the Scenes with DESIGN ZONE

What does it take to create an interactive and fun videogame? How many beats per second does a DJ need to get bodies moving on the dance floor? What goes behind creating a roller coaster or a skate park that produces the most fun and biggest thrills? Discover the secrets behind how videogame developers, music producers, roller coaster designers, and other creative problem solvers use math to do what they do in the Museum of Discovery’s new exhibition.

Design Zone is presented at the Museum of Discovery through the Arkansas Discovery Network, a statewide museum consortium funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and will be on exhibit through December 2, 2012.

Design Zone is a highly interactive, hands-on exhibition where visitors can explore a variety of creative concepts to learn the processes and tools needed to create a successful design. Design Zone is organized into three thematic zones, all highlighting the importance of science and mathematical thinking in areas critical to building creativity and innovation: art, music, and engineering.

Design Zone’s themed areas include:

ART:
Balancing Art – Discover the math behind mobiles as you create your own balancing art from colorful pieces.
Build a Tower – Choose your challenge and test your abilities to continue a pattern in three dimensions.
Marble Maze – Video game designers use algebra to create games with the right feel and level of challenge. Now it’s your turn. Start with a simple marble maze game controlled by a giant tilt table. Adjust variables and design a high-scoring game.

MUSIC:
Drum Machine – When mixing a new song, DJs have to think about the number of beats in each music track and how they line up with each other. Use the drum machine to pick the sounds and the number of repeats for different tracks.
Light Show DJ – You’re in the control booth at a virtual concert. Your challenge is to put together laser light patterns to match the music and get your friends dancing.
Whack-a-phone – You can make music by whacking tubes of different lengths. The length of the tube determines the pitch. Play the mystery songs, and see if you can name that tune.

ENGINEERING:
Roller Coaster Hills – All roller coasters start with a hill, and the first step in roller coaster design is to understand the relationship between hill height and distance traveled. Start a ball rolling down this exhibit’s ramp, and see how far it can travel – just like a roller coaster.
Fast Tracks – Roller coaster designers try to create tracks so that the coaster travels at different speeds during different points in the ride. This giant magnet wall lets you crate and test your own roller coaster design course.
Design a Skate Park – Skate parks can be modeled as a series of mathematical lines and curves. In this computer simulation, you can manipulate slope to create essential skate park features. Test your design with a virtual skater and ride the course.

The creation of Design Zone was made possible by the generous support of the National Science Foundation. The exhibition was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

The Donald W. Reynolds Science Center at the Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Gio and Friends Recital

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Tonight at 6:30pm classical pianist Gio Antipolo will present an evening of music. He is joined by Geoffrey Robson, violin; David Gerstein, cello; and Joe Joyner, viola.

Casual Attire. Kids welcome. And its free. The recital will take place at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

Selections include:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto no. 5 “Emperor” – I
CHOPIN Piano Concerto no. 1 “Romance” – II
CHOPIN Etude
BACH Italian Concerto
PROKOFIEV Sonata no. 6 – I
RAVEL Une Barque sur l’ocean
LISZT La Campanella

BEETHOVEN “Spring” Sonata (Violin Sonata)
SCHUMANN Piano Quartet II, III

Tales from the South: “A Helping Hand”

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We have times when we cannot do things by ourselves.  Tomorrow night (8/14) at Tales from the South, the program is “A Helping Hand” featuring Renie Rule, Warren Kuhn and Nancy Louise Baxter .  Music is by The Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson

Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $5, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Tales from the South airs on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.

Sculpture Vulture: Kerrick Hartman’s PLACES OF THE HEART

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While the Sculpture Vulture usually features permanent public art installations, this week’s feature is one of the temporary installations at the Bernice Garden. One of the winners in the 2011 Sculpture Competition. Kerrick Hartman’s sculpture Places of the Heart is located at the west entrance to the Bernice Garden. The sculpture stands approximately four feet tall and is made of marble, steel and wood.

Here is his artist’s statement:

“I like to draw inspiration from the natural beauty of Arkansas with a focus on the small places tucked away that are sought out for a moment of quiet contemplation and introspection. It seems that with our stressed out and busy lives such places are harder to find and appreciate. These places of solitude are where we can let the interplay of ideas, emotions, and spirituality; shape our lives, our landscape, and our future.

20120812-152715.jpgThese are the places of the heart and the outwardly spiraling form suggests hope from spiritual and intellectual growth, and transitions into an undulating shape on the reverse side signifying and inward path of introspection and self-reflection. Where one seeks solitude is often as individualistic and unique as the people of Arkansas; and in a sense reflects the very nature of the Bernice Garden.

Hartman currently lives in Stuttgart and attends UALR working on a B.A. in Studio Art. Hh has previously worked as a scientist focusing in plant pathology with a PhD From North Carolina State University in 1996. It is his current desire and passion to create art on a full time basis and to share his creative skill through gallery exhibitions, workshops and community art experiences.