0 The Michigan Daily Weekend Maga: 14B - The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazine-- Thursday, December 3, 1998 A weekly guide to who's Thursday, Dec. 3 where, what's happening and through why you need to e there ... Wednesday, Dec. 9 FROM JAMBOREE TO 'JIGGY WIT IT Like to dance? Ann Arbor's got a lot Films opening Psycho Gus Van Sant's shot-for-shot remake of the Hitchcock horror exemplar may be a risky endeavor. At Showcase: 10:50, 11:20, 1:15, 1:45, 3:35, 4:05, 7:05, 7:35, 9:20, 9:50, 11:45, 12:15 Courtesy of Disney/Pixar A group of bugs chat upon their arrival on Ant island in the latest animated insect masterpiece, "A Bug's Life," now playing in theaters. Films holding ***** A Classic **** Excellent *** Good ** Fair * Not Worth Your Time, or Your Money A Bug's Life**** Kevin Spacey and Dennis Leary, along with a myriad of other stars, lend their voices to this computer-animated insect epic. Whoa, dej6 vu. At Briarwood: 12, 2:20, 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 At Showcase: 10:40, 11:10, 11:50, 12:50, 1:20, 2:10, 3, 3:30, 4:30, 5;10, 5:40, 6:50, 7:20, 9, 9:30, 11, 11:30 American History X Edward Norton Mtars in this chilling portrayal of hatred and violence. At Showcase: 10:20, 12:35 Babe: A Pig In The City The little pork- er is back. At Briarwood: 10:45, 11:15, 12:55, 1:25, 3:10, 3:40, 5:15, 5:45, 7:15, 8:05, 9:35, 11:40 Celebrity Kenneth Branaugh finally gets laid in Woody Allen's new film about blow jobs and bananas. At Showcase: 10:25, 12:30 Enemy Of The State Will Smith gets jiggy with Gene Hackman in this con- spiracy thriller. No euphemism implied, I hope. At Briarwood: 1:10, 4, 7, 9:50 At Showcase: 10:45, 12:30, 1:30, 3:15, 4:15, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 9:15, 9:45, . -1 0:15, 12, 12:30 Home For Christmas Ever tried trick-or -treating on the 24th? You'll get some weird looks. At Showcase: 10:30, 12:10 Home Fries** No hamburgers in this film. Nope, none of them. Just fries. Lots and lots of fries. Fries until the sun don't shine no more. Fries like your mama never told you about. Fries until heckfire freezes over. Fries, fries fries. At Ann Arbor 1&2: 1:20, 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 At Showcase: 10:55, 1, 3:05, 5:20, 7:25, 9:40, 11:50 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer *, Wow, ya still know. Last summer. That's a long time ago. A bunch of teenagers get slashed again. That's impressive. At Briarwood: 1, 3:10, 5:20, 7:40, 10:10 At Showcase: 12:35, 2:45, 5:05, 8, 10:10, 12:25 Meet Joe Black **- Death takes Brad Pitt's body and has sex with Claire Forlani. Well, I guess there have to be some fringe benefits when you're an eternal harbinger of doom. At Briarwood: 12:40, 4:20, 8 At Showcase: 12:45, 4:20, 8:10, 9:25, 11:35 Pleasantville ***A Two '90s teens bring new life and new perspective to a fictional '50s TV land. At Briarwood: 1:20, 3:50, 7:30, 10 Ringmaster (No Stars) Hard to believe that the denizens of Cinci would actu- ally elect him their mayor, isn't it? At Showcase: 1:50, 3:45, 5:50, 7:55, 10, 11:55 Rugrats: The Movie ** Nickelodeon looks for critical acclaim with this ani- mated masterpiece. At Briarwood: 12:30, 2:30, 4:40, 6:45, 9 At Showcase: 10:30, 11, 11:30, 12:40, 1:10, 1:40, 2:50, 3:20, 3:50, 5, 5:30, 6:40, 7:10, 7:40, 9:10, 11:15 The Siege *, Hey, isn't that the name of some ABL hoops team? At Showcase: 8:15, 10:30, 12:35 Very Bad Things *** Cameron Diaz and Christian Slater star in this "dark" comedy - dark denoting the humor's morbid tone, not the underdone light- ing. At Showcase: 12:20, 2:40, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05, 12:20 The Waterboy ** Adam Sandler plays a naive hero with few friends up against humorous antagonists in a film with a sports subplot. Originality of storyline makes quality films. At Ann Arbor 1&2: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 At Showcase: 12:05, 2:15, 3:25, 4:35, 5:35, 6:45, 7:50, 9:05, 9:55, 11:10, 12:10 The Wizard Of Oz ***** Judy Garland stars in the re-release of the classic. At Showcase: 11:05, 1:05 Thursday CAMPUS CINEMA Life Is Beautiful (1997) The power of imagination is explored next to the harsh reality of World War II. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 7 & 9:30 p.m. MUSIC Aro Guthrie Long-favorite folk singer brings his show to Ann Arbor. The Ark, 316 1/2 South Main St., 761-1451. 8 p.m. $17.50 in advance. Aaron Siegel's Block Ann Arbor jazz quar- tet. Siegel's the one on the drums. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., 769-2999.8 p.m. $5. Derek Trucks Band HORDE blues-jazz band touring in support of its new C. Blind Pig, 208 S. First St., 996-8555 or 763-TKTS. 9 p.m. $8 at door. THEATER Boom Town Jeff Daniels ("Dumb and Dumber") wrote and directed this intense drama that examines three characters who become entangled amidst their pas- sion, power and small town politics. Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea. (313) 475-7902. 8 p.m. $20. A Christmas Carol If you don't know this story, you're in trouble. Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester. (248) 377-3300. 8 p.m. $25-$36. The Harem Nutcracker This jazzed-up ver- sion of the holiday season's ballet classic is guaranteed to keep you on your toes. Detroit Opera House. 8 p.m. 764-2538. $12-$45. Innocent Thoughts The story of a Jewish anthropologist and Black lawyer who work together in political correctness and power struggles. Performance Network, 408 W. Washington St., 663-0681. 8 p.m. $12. Patience A satirical romp abouth milk- maids and poets, presented by the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University Ave., (734)-764-2538. 8 p.m. $7-14. Volpone This satiric comedy about cheats and dupes written by Shakespearean con- temporary Ben Jonson will make you laugh until your sides hurt. Power Center, 121 Fletcher St. 763-3333. 8 p.m. $14- $18. ALTERNATIVES 3 Dimensions, 2 Scales, 1 Designer M.F.A Student Staci Kerman's interna- tionally recognized works of progressive jewelry, product design and home furnish- ings will be exhibited in a Master of Fine Arts Exhibition. Jean Paul Slusser Gallery, Art and Architecture Bldg. Gallery Hours 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Neil Baldwin Author and executive direc- tor of the National Book Foundation, reads from his book "Legends of the Plumed Serpent: Biography of a Mexican God." Shaman Drum, 315 S. State St., 662-7407. 8 p.m. Gallery Talk: "Thinking on Paper" Thomas Willette, RC Art History prof., will focus his talk on the drawing as a place for creation and exploration of ideas. University Museum of Art, West Gallery, 525 S. State Street. 7:30 p.m. By Daniel Wolfman Daily Arts Writer Though swing dancing seems to be sweep- ing popular culture in Ann Arbor, alternatives to that particular dance form remain viable options for the interested booty-shaker. A rival to swing - in number of followers and campus popularity - is classic ballroom dancing, the nostalgic aura of which reminds some of past times they never experienced themselves. Also, some of the University community have been attracted to square dancing or Latin salsas. Geoffrey Blank, an LSA junior and an avid Latin dancer, laments a relative lack of local opportunities to salsa. Blank even joked that upon graduation, he wants to open his own Thanh Tran, an Engineering senior, Latin dance club. Luckily for fans like Blank, described the allure of ballroom dancing: "I the Michigan Union-based U Club offers think the appeal of so-called structured danc- lessons in Latin dance from time to time. Still, ing is that you really feel more connected with Blank says he can understand a dearth of your partner and studying." The idea that dancing is a wonderful stress reliever is a resounding theme among stu- dents. "I have a sense of unconsciousness when I dance, a sense of forgetting about myself," said LSA senior student Jasmin Rae Ziegler. The Ballroom Dance Club offers lessons every Sunday at the Michigan Union. For more information and a host of links to other places offering lessons, check out the club's Website at www.umich.edu/-umnbdL. The U Club occasionally offers ballroom lessons (in addition to swing lessons on Wednesday nights), and the CCRB also has lessons avail- able. Courtesy of Epitaph The band Offspring, seen here in a photo from their time as early-'90s alt-rockers, will be appearing in a sold-out show at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit Friday night. Dan Piraro Author reads from his newly released novel, "Bizarro Among the Savages: A Relatively Famous Guy's Experiences on the Road and in the Homes of Strangers." Signing to Follow. Borders, 612 E. Liberty St., 668-7652. 7 p.m. Derek Walcott Recipient of the 1992 Nobel Prize for literature lectures in the year-long University Visiting Writers series. Rackham Amphitheatre, 915 E. Washington St., 764-6296. 5 p.m. Friday CAMPUS CINEMA Ghost In The Shell (1995) A fascinating example of Japanese anime, "Ghost" is an action-packed cyber-thriller. Lorch. 7 p.m. Free. The, Trial (1962) Directed by Orson Welles, Anthony Perkins stars in this adaptation of the Kafka novel. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. Spring Festival (1989) This tragicomedy depicts the events and emotions sur- rounding the rise of consumerism in China. Chinese with English subtitles. Angell Hall, Aud. A. 8 p.m. Free. Life Is Beautiful (1997) See Thursday. Mich. 9:30 p.m. MUSIC Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Former John Lee Hooker guitarist fronts his own Detroit based group. Cavern Club, 210 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 332-9900. 10 p.m. $5 at the door. Michael Cooney Veteran folk singer plays from experience. The Ark, 316 1/2 S. Main St., 761-1451. 8 p.m. $12.50. Maschina Do they ever play anywhere outside of Ann Arbor? Bling Pig, 208 South First St., 996-8555 or 763-TKTS. They're baaaaack! This time the venue is St. Andrew's. Does anyone out there remember the Cobo Arena show? This bad boy is sold out. St. Andrew's Hall, 431 Congress St., Detroit. (313) 961-MELT. University Opera Workshop Students from the University Opera Theatre Program will present scenes from various operas, including arias by Puccini and Verdi. McIntosh Theatre, School of Music. 7 p.m. THEATER Boomtown See Thursday. 8 p.m. $25. A Christmas Carol See Thursday. 8 p.m Ghost of the River House Eastern Michigan University Theatre presents this play from award-winning Michigan play- wright Max Bush. Appropriate for ages 7 and up. Quirk Theatre, EMU campus, Ypsilanti. (734) 487-1221. 2:30 p.m. $5- 12. The Harlem Nutcracker See Thursday. 8 p.m. $15-$50 the music," he said. "You go to Scorekeeper's and everyone's pretty much doing their own thing, but with ballroom or swing, there has to be a certain level of understanding between the partners. It's interactive." LSA junior Sara Helman agreed. "Ballroom has all these classic moves that one can incorporate, and you really work closely with your partner." Moreover, fans find something attractive about the stylistic time travel involved with ballroom dance. It is like revisiting a "bygone era," Helman said. "There's a fascination with living that sort of thing out ... artificial nos- talgia, almost." An aspect of dance that both Helman and Tran seemed compelled by is the social inter- action between dancers, the relationship that one establishes with another person through the act of mutual movement. "It's going out and doing something, as opposed to watching a movie or something," Tran said. "It's a great way to meet people." In fact, the social appeal of dance is cited by many as a compelling reason to dance. Barn dances, commonly held by fraternities and sororities, give students an opportunity to square dance. David Gracey, an LSA senior, said of these barn dances that in effect, they are "date parties in disguise." Of course there are multitudes of students who vastly prefer modern dance to ballroom - believing ballroom too regimented, restric- tive, and difficult. For these, people tend to head to places like The Dance Gallery. Located on Third Street, the dance gallery has become a mecca for many School of Art stu- dents and offers classes in modern dance and ballet, are the places to be. "No other dance form allows a person to express his or herself in this way," Maureen Suter, an LSA junior, said of the kind of modern dance moves taught at places like The Dance Gallery. "It's a great, beauti- ful way to express yourself." Beautiful as these dances may be, many students never try to learn to salsa or Jitterbug, fearing the styles may be too difficult. To a novice, the idea of throwing oneself into a new form of dance may appear to be a daunting proposi- tion, rife with possibilities for embarrassing missteps. Many experienced dancers find this to be an unfortunate misconception. Suter made it clear that learning these dances is something anybody can do. "There are benefits of (dance) to people of different levels of abili- ty," she said. "There are a lot of moves, but beginner's would appreciate them." Ball God Uni 1 tici (da long sai on dan eve ser th way innocent Thoughts p.m. See Thursday. 8 Patience See Thursday. 8 p.m. Volpone See Thursday. 8 p.m. ALTERNATIVES 3 Dimensions, 2 Scales, 1Designer See Thursday. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Reception 6:30-9:30 p.m. Mitch Albom Author reads and signs his novel "Tuesdays with Morrie." Borders, 612 E. Liberty St., 668-7652. 7 p.m. Gabriele Boccaccini Author cele- brates the publication of "Beyond the Essence Hypotest: The Paring of the Ways between Qumran and Enochic Judaism." Her novel offers an original view of the Qumran sect, an ancient community closely related to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Shaman Drum, 315 S. State St., 662-7407. 4 p.m. Jessica Eaton V Writers: Alexandra Arch, Amy Barber, Matthew Barrett, Cortney Dueweke, Debby Wolfman Photo Editor: Adriana Yugovich Photographers: Jessica Johnson, Dana Linnane, Andi Maio, David Rochind Cover: Ballroom dancing instructors Bob Printer and Lisa Godo dance the night awa Phone Numbers: Ann Arbor 1 & 2: 761-9700; Briarwood: 480-4555; Fox Village; 994- 8080; Michigan Theater: 668-8397; Showcase: 9738380; State: 761-8667. Showtimes are effective Friday through Thursday. Late shows at Ann Arbor 1 & 2 and State are for Friday and Saturday only. Noon and mid-day matinees at Ann Arbor 1 & 2 are for Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday only; matinees at State are for Saturday and Sunday only. The Offspring Wel , well, well.