Performing Arts / Books: August 1-7

Items for calendar consideration may be submitted via mail, fax, e-mail (culture@sfreporter.com) or online and must be received two weeks before publication.>>>> Designates items highlighted in this week's issue.


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HIDDEN JUDAISM

Seth Kunin lectures on a murky aspect of Southwest history in a talk titled "Crypto-Jewish Identity in New Mexico." Secret adherence to Judaism was a necessity during the Spanish Inquisition, when many Jewish people fled to Mexico and eventually to the New Mexico area.

6 pm Thursday, Aug. 2. Free. Palace of the Governors, 105 W. Palace Ave., 476-5100

GLOWING PROSE

Dorothy Doyle reads from

Half-Lives & Half-Truths: Confronting the Radioactive Legacies of the Cold War

on her "Reading Sampler" program. The book is published by the School for Advanced Research and edited by Barbara Rose Johnston.

6:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 2. KSFR 90.7 FM

EISENHOWER WAS RIGHT

Veterans for Peace offers a wide range of documentary film footage on the history of nuclear weaponry, the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and the current state of the war machine in New Mexico.

1-4 pm Sunday, Aug. 5. Free.

Santa Fe Public Library Main Branch, 145 Washington Ave., 473-4036

CONVERSIONS

Mark Lycett of the University of Chicago presents a talk courtesy of Southwest Seminars titled "From Paa-ko to San Pedro: Making Missions in 17th century New Mexico."

6:30 pm Monday, Aug. 6. $10.

Hotel Santa Fe, 1500 Paseo de Peralta, 466-2775


DAZZLING MOVES

The world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company presents an evening of unusual, humorous and surprising contemporary dance, including Taylor's crowning achievement,

Esplanade

. Hosted by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Taylor's troupe and choreography offers snappy young talent framed by Taylor's five decades of experience.

8 pm Wednesday, Aug. 1. $18-$52.

Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234

FLAMENCO NIGHTS

Flamenco legend and local and national treasure Marì­a Benitez returns with part two of a production she launched last year. "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" is a multimedia flamenco presentation that offers a live performance by Benitez and her acclaimed company, Teatro Flamenco, and a video retrospective of her career. Also offered is "Flamenco's Next Generation," Benitez' company of young dancers who perform with

Teatro Flamenco.

Teatro Flamenco: 8:30 pm Wednesday-Sunday, Aug. 1-5. $20-$50. Flamenco's Next Generation: 8:30 pm Monday, Aug. 6. $15-$30. The Lodge at Santa Fe, 750 St. Francis Drive, 955-8562

AZLAN ON THE MOVE

Azlan White hosts a freeform dance party every Friday called "Dance Tribe." Find your tribe and gyrate accordingly.

8-10 pm Friday, Aug. 3. $8-$12. Body, 333 Cordova Road, 986-0362

TEEN HOOFERS

The Broadway Theater Dance Workshop-"a summer intensive for dance students from across the country that includes workshops with Tony Award-winners Ann Reinking and Tommy Tune-"culminates in an evening of Broadway dance. Fifty-six performers ages 14 to 20 tackle the moves that make musical theater so surreal.

4 pm and 7 pm Saturday, Aug. 4. $10-$15.

NDI Dance Barns, 1140 Alto St., 983-7661

TWO WOMEN AND A CELLO

Two Women Dancing, a local dance pair composed of Julie Brette Adams and Kate Eberle, join forces with cellist Timothee Marcel to present selected Bach Cello Suites and original choreography. Marcel participated in the 2005 Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival's Distinguished Young Artist program.

8 pm Saturday, Aug. 4 and 2 pm Sunday, Aug. 5. $15-$20.

Body, 333 Cordova Road, 986-0362


INSANITY'S DAY OFF

Scott Scrimshaw and his daughter were hospitalized; their two horses were killed. Of course, they were hit by a drunk driver. Turning tragedy into a sort of celebratory plea, the Scrimshaw family is hosting an event called "Day Without Destruction." The celebration features local music from Raine Vivian, Brian Botkiller, Remie Martinez, Brian Griffing, Constant Recourse, Free for All and, fittingly, Hit By A Bus. There's also a wide range of wacky activities and free spots for local vendors. The event is alcohol free, natch.

10 am-10 pm Wednesday, Aug. 1. $5.

Oscar Huber Memorial Ballpark, State Highway 14 in Madrid, 310-2144

STAY LITERATE

The Santa Fe Public Library sponsors a series of events connected to its summer reading program for kids. This week, Joy Ginther presents "Pink Elephant Theater," a blend of stories, songs and puppetry.

10:30 am Thursday, Aug. 2. Free.

La Farge Branch, 1730 Llano St.,

955-4863. 2 pm Thursday, Aug. 2. Free. Main Branch, 145 Washington Ave., 955-6783. 10:30 am Friday, Aug. 3. Free. Southside Branch,

6599 Jaguar Drive, 955-2828

FREE TEA FOR PEACE

Chado New Mexico hosts Sensei Ulrich Haas in a tea ceremony called "The Spirit of Tea," which commemorates the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

2:15-3:45 pm Saturday, Aug. 4. Free. The State Capitol Rotunda, Old Santa Fe Trail, 982-9385

MORE TEA FOR PEACE

Sensei Soshitsu, 15th grand master in the Uresenke tea tradition, leads a tea ceremony for peace in observance of the anniversary of the US nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.

5-6:30 pm Sunday, Aug. 5. $30.

Sunrise Springs, 242 Los Pinos Road, 428-3615


BEETHOVEN WEEK

The world-renowned Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 35th year with the usual widely varying programs performed by top flight musicians. This week features the opportunity to hear the highly capable Orion String Quartet perform nine Beethoven string quartets. There's also Gregorian Chants from the Monastic Choir of Christ in the Desert and a solo piano recital by Alan Feinberg featuring "new music" (the most recent piece being Javanshir Kuliyev's 1984

Seven Pieces with Interludes in Mugham Modes

). Feinberg also tackles the thorny and massive piano music of American genius iconoclast Conlon Nancarrow.

Beethoven String Quartets: 6 pm Thursday, Aug. 2, 6 pm Sunday, Aug. 5 and 6 pm Monday, Aug. 6.

New Music solo piano: 6 pm Friday, Aug. 3.

Gregorian Chants: 5 pm Saturday, Aug. 4. $24-$57.

St. Francis Auditorium, 107 W. Palace Ave., 982-1890

OPERA MADNESS

The 2007 season of The Santa Fe Opera goes into overdrive this week, with six performances in seven nights, ranging from Rameau to Tan Dun's acclaimed

Tea: A Mirror of Soul

. The Mozart this year is

Così Fan Tutti

, the Italian in the house is Puccini, with his tale of star-crossed lovers,

La bohème

(a better bet than

Rent

in a heart beat), the Teutonic installment is Richard Strauss'

Daphne

and the silliness is supplied by Rameau's

Plat

è

e

, the tale of an ugly frog who intends to marry Jupiter. The cheap seats for the entire season are sold out, but standing room is still available; there's no bad sightline in the miraculous opera theater. The parking lot opens at 5:30 prior to performances to provide plenty of picnic and sunset time.

Platèe:

8:30 pm Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Daphne:

8:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 2.

Tea: A Mirror of Soul:

8:30 pm Friday, Aug. 3.

La bohème:

8:30 pm Saturday, Aug. 5 and 8:30 pm Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Così

Fan Tutte:

8:30 pm Monday, Aug. 6. $53-$170.

The Santa Fe Opera, Opera Drive in Tesuque, 986-5900

GIVING VOICE

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale continues its 25th anniversary season with three varied programs this week, plus a special event called the 25th Anniversary Silver Gala Concert, titled "Deep in my Heart: Operetta Then and Now." The event features choral members acting scenes, in costumes provided by The Santa Fe Opera, with the music of Offenbach, Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bernstein and Sondheim. "Endless Wonder" features great cathedral music in the perfect setting of St. Francis Cathedral. "Brothers, Sing On!" features the male members of the chorale and offers a program of folk music from around the world as well as a new work by Judith Cloud,

Words from an Artist's Palette

. Equal opportunity for women is on offer with "There is Sweet Music," featuring compositions by Hildegaard of Bingen, Stravinsky and Holst, as well as Celtic mouth music (basically, a vocal imitation of traditional Celtic instruments such as pipes and fiddles).

Endless Wonder: 8 pm Thursday, Aug. 2.

St. Francis Cathedral, 213 Cathedral Place.

25th Anniversary Silver Gala: 5 pm Sunday, Aug. 5. $25-$55.

Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St.

There is Sweet Music: noon Monday, Aug. 6. Free.

First Presbyterian Church, Grant Ave.

Brothers, Sing On!: 8 pm Monday, Aug. 6. $20-$50.

Loretto Chapel, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail. Tickets and more info: 988-2282

GONG BANG

Richard Rudis uses gongs to heal. He offers a "Sound Healing Gong Bath," which promises stress reduction, chakra balancing and energy synchronization.

8 pm Friday, Aug. 3. $20. Body, 333 Cordova Road, 986-0362

TIBETAN IDOL

Twelve-year-old Tenzin Kunsel has performed at Madison Square Garden for the Dalai Lama, is beloved by Richard Gere and Uma Thurman, has had a documentary filmed on her life and has won awards for her singing, dancing and Tibetan lute playing. She intends to charm audiences here in a fund-raiser for the Tibetan Community Center of Santa Fe.

6 pm Saturday, Aug. 4. $20.

James A Little Theater, 1060 Cerrillos Road, 989-7356

CHRONIC CABARET SYNDROME

Susan Abod specializes in classic cabaret, including originals and standards, in her wide ranging repertoire. After launching a successful career in Boston 25 years ago, Abod began wrestling with chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. She's on the mend here in Santa Fe and returns to the stage, performing a solo evening of song in the cabaret tradition.

8:30 pm Saturday, Aug. 4. $15.

RainbowVision Santa Fe, 500 Rodeo Road, 428-7781

APPRENTICE ROAST

The up-and-coming opera stars in The Santa Fe Opera's apprentice program present an evening of light opera and musical comedy, accompanied by a whole mess o' ribs. The flesh of beasts, wet naps galore and the swanky environs of Bishop's Lodge could combine with dulcet tones to create a uniquely Santa Fe experience that is yet reminiscent of Homer's Iliad.

6 pm Sunday, Aug. 5. $5-$35.

Bishop's Lodge, Bishop's Lodge Road in Tesuque, 819-4006


WE LOVES YA, GEORGIE

>>>>

That huge slab of Americana known as George and Ira Gershwin's

Porgy and Bess

kicks off the 24th season of the Santa Fe Symphony, with Angela Brown as Bess and Lester Lynch as Porgy. The piece features an amazing musical score that has inspired interpretations by artists as diverse as Miles Davis and Kenny Chesney (see

).

8 pm Thursday-Friday, Aug. 2-3. $28-$85.

Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234

MADRID MINES MELODRAMA

It's back. The Madrid Melodrama, this year a fun-filled sing-along with the wacky title,

Bloodlines

,

or Hanged in Their Own Family Tree

, continues a unique local tradition.

3 pm Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 4-5. Through Sept. 3. $5-$12.

Engine House Theater, State Highway 14, Madrid, 438-3780

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