M Page 4-E-Thursday, September 9, 1982-The Michigan .Dily U U 7W The Michigan Daily-Thursd6y, Sept( Local bands play rhythm and blues and,. . . (Continued from Page 3) O.K., enough rhythm and blues. There are bands in Ann Arbor that delve into other genres, though many aren't nearly as popular as the R&B groups. The Flexibles, who have created a unique disco-funk synthesis (stress on the funk), with tinges of jazz tossed in for good measure, have the most poten- tial to achieve success beyond the friendly confines of Ann Arbor. I seem to catch them every four or five months, and they sound better and tighter each time. Their first and only single, "Intuition/Birth Effect," a disconcerting dance single, garnered critical raves in Ann Arbor and on the East Coast. Once they get a set line up-which they may now have-and a good vocalist, they could make it big. On the other hand, in a matter of mon- ths nobody may ever hear anything of them again. Peter "Madcat" Ruth, perhaps the most gifted and renowned artist currently residing in Ann Arbor, has assembled his best band, the Mad- cat/Brubeck Band, since the days of his old group, Sky King. never fails to get audiences dancing. Ruth, one of the greatest harmonica virtuosos of all time, performs with un- paralleled power, igniting both the audience and the band. And for those disposed toward coun- try-tinged blues, Steve Newhouse and the White Line Fever fit the bill. The problem is that they usually play the dance-floorless Mr. Flood's Party, making boogeying difficult. Hearing Newhouse go solo at the same locale, which he often does, is much more en- joyable. By no means are these the only good bands that can be heard in Ann Arbor, but they happen to be the better established and will normally offer a solid show. The best place to catch any one of them is either at Rick's American Cafe or Joe's Star Lounge, mostly on the weekends. If R&B bands aren't your style, then word of mouth and personal initiative are the only means left to discover bands that suit your tastes. Office of Major Even ts The Ma bination o Sub Mi adcat/Brubeck band's com- (Continued from Page 3) Davies couldn't say what's up for this f blues, rock, jazz, and funk Davies said that Major Events brought year. Performers are booked only a in groups such as Ry Cooder last season couple of months in advance, he said. that were financially less profitable . Are there personal rewards in a s cribe to The because they were groups that had a lot business where hard work goes un- of appeal to only area concertgoers. noticed while stars are pelted with ch igan Daily Similarly, the office scheduled enter- flowers? Karen Young wears the cloak tainment with greater money-making of anonymity proudly. "If the audience 764-0558 potential such as The Police in order to doesn't know that we exist," she said, try to balance the hoks .lavies si. "we've done a good iob." Sti for hoi everyon Aikido d acts to a available pleasure One m not to let you fron Sometirn swallowe acts in to V COI - Hands on Experience Great American Music = DANCERS WILLIE FEUER and Susan Matheke perform "The Crane's Waltz" for an Ann Arbor audience. Variety, quality mark local dance By Ellen Rieser Although Ann Arbor is not one of the nation's major dance centers, newcomers often are pleasantly sur- prised at the variety and quality of dan- ce concerts that are regularly presen- ted in the city. Along with the rest of the country, Ann Arbor has been caught up in the dance boom, and local- and university-sponsored performance schedules reflect this demand. The most visible dance schedule in town is the University Musical Society's Choice Series. -The Choice Series offers subscribers and individual ticket holders an amalgam of perfor- mances by nationally noted ballet com- panies, modern dance companies, and ethnic dance and music troupes. The Choice Series features an annual performance of The Nutcracker by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. This year, the Choice Series will be presenting 11 concerts, including performances by "Pirin" (Bulgarian Folk Ensemble), the Zagreb Grande Ballet, Pilobolus, Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico, and Joffrey II. Local dance concerts, however, are not limited to performances presented by visiting dance companies. Ann Ar- bor has several dance companies that maintain seasonal performance schedules and various small dance groups that perform at less regular in- tervals. For balletomanes, Ann Arbor has not one, but two ballet companies to enjoy. Ann Arbor Civic Ballet focuses on the classics and serves as a training ground for young dance students interested in a performing career. Founded more than 25 years ago by local ballet teacher Sylvia Hamer, Ann Arbor Civic Ballet was the first char= tered company in Michigan and the six- th in the United States. The company usually performs twice a year, presen- ting mixed programs of classics and occasional contemporary works created by both local and guest choreographers. A promising newcomer to the Ann Arbor dance scene is Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre. Founded in the spring of 1980 by artistic director Carol Scharp, Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre focuses on , original works performed with live music. In its first two seasons, Ann Ar- bor Ballet Theatre has staged original versions of Cinderella, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Nightingale as well as premieres of new works such as a ballet version of Carnival of the Animals. Unusual for local-level companies, Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre has a strong male contingent and hence is able to in- clude much exciting partner work in its productions. Despite its young age, the company has already developed a loyal local following. Indeed, during its 1981- 82 season, Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre was asked to represent both the Michigan Theatre and C. S. Mott Children's Hospital for benefit perfor- mances. Dance Theatre 2, a "third company that performs regularly, is a focal point for modern dance in Ann Arbor. Established by local dance teachers Kathleen Smith and Christopher Wat- son, Dance Theatre 2 is a professional modern dance company in residence at Dance Theatre Studio. Competing for attention with these companies is Troupe Ta'Amullat (Reflections), a nationally noted Danse Orientale company. Along with com- panies located in New York City and San Francisco, Troupe Ta'Amullat is one of the nation's only regularly per- forming Danse Orientale troupes. Troupe Ta'Amullat presents centuries- old folk dances as well as original choreography using Near Eastern dan- * cestyles. Although it does not constitute a dan- ce company, the University's dance department also sponsors frequent modern dance concerts by its faculty and students. Dance department faculty members give performances every academic year-generally one concert a semester by individual faculty members. In addition, every semester there is one concert at Power Center that showcases the choreography of all dance department faculty members. Dance department students give regular performances as well. During the 1982-83 academic year, they will present a variety of senior concerts, young choreographers concerts, and thesis concerts as well as one choreographic production and design concert. In addition to the dance department's productions, the University also spon- sors Impact Dance, a jazz dance com- pany under the auspices of the Univer- sity Activities Center. Founded in 1980 as an outlet for non-dance majors who are seriously interested in dance, Im- pact Dance presents original choreography by its members. The company now has 23 members who dance in its concerts and participate in weekly workshops at the Michigan Union. 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