The Mondavi Center at UC Davis will host renowned performer and choreographer Lucinda Childs’ 2009 revival of her 1979 production of “DANCE,” the widely known and controversial score she created with composer Philip Glass and filmmaker Sol LeWitt. It will be shown on Tuesday in Jackson Hall at 8 p.m.. The original premiere of “DANCE” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in ‘79, and its revival in 2009 are two memorable experiences. According to Childs, that’s for two very different reasons, both having to do with audience reception. “The reaction to the revival of the tour has been quite different than that of the premiere,” said Ruth Rosenberg, artist engagement coordinator of the Mondavi C

Saturday marked UC Davis' annual Picnic Day, a free, family-friendly community event, celebrating the achievements UC Davis has in areas of research, teaching, service and campus life. This year’s Picnic Day was themed " Rewind" in hopes of reviving the spirit of the first Picnic Day in 1909. All day crowds of students celebrate their Aggie pride with groups of alumni, family, faculty and staff, children and pets. Events begin at 7:30 a.m. with the pancake breakfast and parade. Festivities last throughout the day and into the night, ending after the last marching band performs at the Battle of the Bands event at Spafford Lake in the Arboretum. Picnic Day is one of the largest student-run

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester performed at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis last Wednesday night. Raabe is the German singer and band leader of the Palast Orchester, a 12-piece ensemble that performs German dance and film music of the 1920s and 1930s, theatrical songs and big band jazz. Raabe also recreates modern pop songs from the likes of Britney Spears into a 1920s and ‘30s band style. Their instrumentation consists of violins, clarinet, bass, piano, trumpet, saxophone, flutes and drums. The band was chosen to perform at the reception of popular rock musician Marilyn Manson and burlesque star Dita Von Teese's wedding. All 13 band members were dressed to perfection, with the 12 men in fi

In the past several years, social media has played an ever growing role in calling for, organizing, and executing social uprisings and upheaval around the globe. Increasingly, these uprisings are bringing about significant social change in not only their country of origin but amongst those involved via social media channels.  In contrast, some countries are dealing with unrest and the threat of uprisings by locking down Internet access and jailing citizens for sharing certain information online. The Social Media Club of Sacramento (SMCSac) makes a monthly habit of examining the various ways social media is impacting our everyday interactions, culture, and society at large. The club has pa

The sixth annual Davis Feminist Film Festival will be featuring international films by lesser known filmmakers at the Veterans' Memorial Center Theater in Davis on April 14 and 15. This is a grassroots festival sponsored by the UC Davis Consortium for Women and Research. The festival will include documentary, narrative and experimental films that explore issues of gender, race, class, sexuality and other aspects of social inequality. “One of the things we really hope to accomplish is to bring people from the Davis community together for these two days of screening,” Andrew Ventimiglia, associate director of the Davis Feminist Film Festival, said. “And the second thing is to get a space f

Spring break is usually associated with traveling and having fun. Well, a group of college students took that concept to a whole another level. Twenty-five students from the Energy Service Corps spent their time off to help weatherize different facilities throughout the state of California. The latest was a stop at The Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter in downtown Sacramento on March 25. “We decided to come here because they (Salvation Army) have done so much for the community,” said Abbygail Williams, Energy Service Corps member and UC Davis student. “The students just wanted to give them back something in return.” This weatherization event was part of the Energy Alternative Sprin

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Through Sunday, March 20th: 9 to 5 The Musical at The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street in Sacramento. Shows at 8PM, 2PM, and 7:30PM depending on date. Tickets are $18.00 - $70.00. A Grand Night For Singing at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Friday, March 18th - Saturday, March 19th: Sacramento Ballet In-Studio Celtic Experience at 1631

The UC Davis Symphony Orchestra played a great rendition of “Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra in A minor, op 102” composed by Johannes Brahms, and “Symphony No. 7 in C Major, op. 105 composed by Jean Sibelius” this pass Sunday. It’s easy to see why they were invited to tour the great symphony halls in Spain next year after such a great performance. The first half had a more classical feel, while the second half was more “organic.” The concert also featured two talented soloists, Andrea Segar and David Russell. The “Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra in A minor” features three movements: Allegro, Adante and Vivace non troppo conducted by D. Kern Holoman. The opening move

Plans were announced at the Mayor's press conference Tuesday to construct a running track and community garden at Will C. Woods Middle School where U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke to mark the one year anniversary of the “Let's Move” campaign. Initiated by First Lady Michelle Obama on Feb. 8, 2010, “Let’s Move” is a healthy lifestyle campaign to address childhood obesity. Sacramento City Unified School District was chosen as one of the 14 community sites in California, to receive a grant from the California Endowment with help through local partners The Sacramento Kings and UC Davis Health Services. California Endowment spokeswoman Marley Klaus said SC

What was supposed to be one of the biggest (non-election day) Tuesdays in history just got a bit smaller with the cancellation of Social Distortion's show with Chuck Ragan and Lucero at UC Davis' Freeborn Hall. According to Social D's website, the shows were cancelled "due to an outbreak of the flu," and tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. That officially means "cancelled," not "postponed," so we'll have to wait for the next tour. Bummer - but there's still plenty to do tonight. Check out the sunny sweet Dawes over at Odd Fellows Hall in Davis with Jonny Corndawg, or Clutch over at Harlow's in Midtown. Details on both shows are available here. Reportedly, in the wake of t

Drifters, turn back! We’re keeping it good and local (kinda) this week as we celebrate our last weekend of theoretical playtime before Christmas all but consumes our ability to gobble up live music. We’re flanked by two gigs over the course of five days from one of the darlings of our local music family that have since relocated, but are spending a little time at home for the Holidays. I’ll be taking next week off to dunk my head in a giant bowl of eggnog, but keep your eyes peeled the week after for a special New Year’s edition of the Rundown once we’re done singing “O, Tannenbaum” – because Lord knows we need something to counter all the usual NYE nonsense of paying $50 for a cover band

Just when the Kronos Quartet seemed like it couldn’t push the boundaries of contemporary string ensemble any further, this renowned group from San Francisco surprised its audiences with new sophisticated, eclectic string interpretations, guiding them through daring cross-genre explorations. Through its unique string arrangements, the Kronos Quartet has given homage for more than 30 years to a variety of composers – ranging from classical minimalists to modern, experimental rockers. In keeping with this fearless spirit, the Kronos Quartet—David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)—astounded more than 500 listeners Thursday night with a live perf

Young poets from all over the world gathered in Los Angeles this year to compete at the Brave New Voices event. Among them were members of the arts-based literacy program SAYS (Sacramento Area Youth Speaks), who placed fifth in the youth poetry event – an international spoken-word contest televised on HBO. After observing both the peril and potential of the educational system, former Bay Area high school teacher Vajra Watson founded SAYS in partnership with the UC Davis School of Education, and the Twin Rivers, Sacramento City and Elk Grove UnifiedSchool districts, the Sacramento Office of Youth Development and the Sierra Health Foundation in January 2009. SAYS and Watson now advocate fo

Saturday’s AgNewMedia Conference at the University of California, Davis, taught farmers the importance of social media and how to use it to further their goals. The conference was a product of academics like Anne King, Patricia Bailey, and Melissa Jordan along with a non-stop team realizing there was a disconnect in communication in the agricultural industry. Social Media Revolution - You Tube Video As a well versed social media maven, and a 3rd generation citrus farmer, I believe there's a separation I'm finding with farmers abilities to communicate what their seeing to their consumers, they have so much information but not the tools to deliver it. This conference began bridging the ga

The costume design of Liz Galindo can be seen in recent blockbuster hits such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “There Will Be Blood.” Now they can also be seen at UC Davis, for a limited time, while the play “Gallathea” runs through Nov. 20. “Gallathea” director Peter Lichtenfels said the comedic play is nothing short of delightful, with comic themes and exquisite headdresses. “I think people should see it because it’s a comedy and the subject matter is extraordinary,” Lichtenfels said. “It’s two women finding each other as men, but they’re women and falling in love and being able to marry, and that’s like 425 years ago.” The play was written about 10 or

"The last drink and last love are never the last..." Concha Buika’s sultry voice reverberates softly through the golden walls of the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. Her hair is swept in a shiny, black scarf as her eyes gaze shyly at the room of roughly 1,000 audience members who are eagerly awaiting her next words of wisdom. “I think this is important information,” she adds, chuckling a little into her microphone. The audience, taking in her words, cheers thoughtfully, as if she has just answered to their collective curiosities, thoughts they had no means to express. Buika (“BWEE-kah”), born on the island of Mallorca to immigrants from Equatorial Guinea, has become an emerging Spanish vocal

University of California, Davis, officials plan to kick off the public portion of a $1 billion fundraising campaign Friday – and they’re already halfway there. The Campaign for UC Davis has already raised more than $605 million in pledges during its quiet phase, which started in 2006. Last month, the UC Board of Regents agreed the effort could go public with a billion-dollar goal they hope to meet by the end of 2014. The campaign is the biggest in the 102-year-old institution's history. It’s also the university's first comprehensive fundraising effort, stretching across all schools, departments and programs. Such a bold initiative is needed to help UC Davis continue its work to improve

Playing a combination of their own songs and classic covers, Latin rockers Los Lobos had the baby boomers out of their seats and dancing at the Mondavi Center’s gorgeous 1800-seat Jackson Hall in Davis on Wednesday night. Many genres are used to describe the music of “The Wolves” – roots rock, folk, Norteño, blues – and what Los Lobos does so well is blend the different styles to create a hybrid euphony that has given them a unique identity. Essentially they started out 30 years ago in East Los Angeles with classic Mexican songs that were deceptively simple, added various styles of music and elevated the sound into music that has garnered the band three Grammy Awards. The talented group

Anyone looking for a clean kill in tonight’s gubernatorial debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman probably walked away a little disappointed. If you were hoping for another Jan Brewer moment in which a candidate seems to simply and completely lose it on camera, again, disappointment reigns. But if you were looking for a reasonably thoughtful discussion of many of the real issues facing California, there was much to appreciate in the debate staged at the Mondavi Center at University of California, Davis. Three local journalists – Amy Chance of the Sacramento Bee, Marianne Russ of Capital Public Radio and Kevin Riggs of KCRA Channel 3 – led the candidates through ten questions ranging f

Once a month, hundreds of pets and their owners break the Saturday morning quiet on Ahern Street. Dogs bark and pace, cats meow in travel cases and owners talk to one another to pass the time. Many will wait up to six hours to be seen at the Loaves and Fishes’ location for free veterinary care for the homeless by UC Davis’ Mercer Veterinary Clinic. The clinic has been coming to Loaves and Fishes for more than 15 years to help the animals of the homeless clients. They visit the second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. On Sep. 11, 148 animals were brought to Mercer to be seen. Client Lisa Lafont of Sacramento brought her three dogs, Muffin, Missy and Sam, to be vaccinated, spaye