Dance, music performances enhance conference weekend

Contrary to popular belief, entertainment activities will be happening downtown during conference weekend. In fact, there will be a few things happening throughout the valley that may be of interest to visitors when General Conference isn't in session.

• The Jubilate (pronounced YU-bi-LAH-tay) Choir Invitational, to be held Saturday night in Abravanel Hall, 123 West Temple, will feature the Jubilate Choir — a professional Salt Lake-based ensemble — as it hosts school choirs. Former Utah Governor Olene Walker will speak and former KUER radio personality Gene Pack will emcee the event.

One of the works to be performed was written by a Mississippi woman named Elva Avara, said director Harry Heightman. "I found her on a composers Web site. She was named Mississippi Poetry Society's poet of the year last year, and her son Matthew is the mayor of Pascagoula, Miss., which was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

"There are so many talented people out there whose works need to be heard. And this invitational is one of those ways to hear them."

The invitational will begin at 7 p.m.; tickets are $10 at www.arttix.org or by calling 355-2787.

• Children's Dance Theatre, the performing company of the world-renowned Virginia Tanner Creative Dance program at the University of Utah, will present a full-length production of "The Dream Stealer," based on the children's book written by Stephen Cosgrove. The story tells of a young girl who sets off with her town librarian to capture the Dream Stealer from replacing children's good dreams with nightmares.

"The Dream Stealer" will open Friday in the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, at 7 p.m., with an additional performance Saturday at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $12.50-$22.50 , available at www.arttix.org or by calling 355-2787.

Those two productions are within walking distance of Temple Square, but there are other performances in the University of Utah's Kingsbury Hall and in Provo at Brigham Young University's Harris Fine Arts Center.

• Odyssey Dance Theatre's annual "Shut Up & Dance" production in Kingsbury Hall on the U. campus, gives audiences three different productions from which to choose. Friday's performance is "Sledgehammer," capped by jazz, ballet and modern dance done to the music of Peter Gabriel. Saturday will feature two productions, the first being a matinee performance of the company's take on the popular film "Moulin Rouge," and the evening performance is the company's tribute to songs of the Beatles, "Let It Be."

Tickets for "Shut Up & Dance" performances range from $15-$55 at www.kingsburyhall.com or by calling 581-7100.

• The Libby Gardner Concert Hall, just west of Kingsbury Hall at the U., will feature an International Harp Concert performance on Friday. The flute and harp duo of Maria Luisa Rayan-Forero and Thomas Robertello will present works by Astor Piazolla, and other Latin music. Show time is 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $15 at www.kingsburyhall.com or by calling 581-7100.

• If visitors are heading to BYU for reunions or other activities, there are plenty of activities in the Harris Fine Arts Center on Friday.

Two voice recitals will be held in the arts center's Madsen Recital Hall. At 4:30 p.m. Jessica Gillespie will perform, and at 9:30 p.m. Brooke Robbins will sing. Both recitals are free.

The BYU Jazz Ensemble will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall.

In the center's Nelke Theatre, students in the BFA program will present a "New York Showcase," highlighted by music, dance and theater. The program begins at 7 p.m.; admission is $9. Phone 801-422-7664 for ticket information.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com