Calling all musicians: The Fifth Annual Search Party talent contest, sponsored by the ASUCD Entertainment Council, The California Aggie and KDVS 90.3 FM, is officially underway.

Solo musicians and bands are invited to submit recordings of their music at the KDVS office in 14 Lower Freeborn. The deadline for submission is Apr. 23.

All recordings will be reviewed by members of the Entertainment Council, The Aggie and KDVS. A panel, led by members of KDVS’ core staff, will select three winners. Each winner will be invited to perform in a show on campus in May, and will receive both air time on KDVS and a feature article in MUSE.

Contest rules:

At least one band member must be a UC Davis student or staff member. The contest is not open to paid staff members of the Entertainment Council, The Aggie or KDVS. Submission must be a full-length or EP recording that demonstrates the group’s ability to play a live set in concert. Participants should indicate which track they would like the judges to listen to first, or that best represents the band. Include a brief paragraph about why your group should be considered and describe your music’s genre, band members, history and any other relevant information.

Contacts:

Thongxy Phansopha, EC President: tphansopha@ucdavis.edu

Justin Ho, Aggie Arts Editor: arts@theaggie.org

Kevin Corrigan, KDVS General Manager: gm@kdvs.org

ROBIN MIGDOL can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

The Documentary Cluster at UC Davis, in conjunction with the Technocultural Studies and Film Studies departments, will present a free showing of the documentary Orgasm Inc. in the Technocultural Studies building Friday at noon. An 11:30 a.m. reception with refreshments and will precede the showing.

Award-winning director Liz Canner, who also produced, edited and filmed the documentary, will attend the showing to meet with students and answer questions.

In addition to being named one of the top 10 independent filmmakers to watch in 2009 by The Independent Magazine, Canner has also been honored with a Visionary Award from Dartmouth College for the movie. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, she has received more than 45 awards, honors and grants for her work on documentaries that emphasize human rights issues.

Described as “engaging,” “enlightening” and “provocative,” Orgasm Inc. is a film in which Canner chronicles a pharmaceutical company’s practices in manufacturing the first Viagra drug for women that will treat what the company claims is a newly discovered sexual disorder: Female Sexual Dysfunction Disorder.

Starting off as an editor of erotic videos for the drug trials, Canner got permission to film the practices of the drug company for what she thought would be a documentary that chronicled the intersections of science with pleasure.

“I had been doing documentary films for a decade and was starting to get depressed about the state of humanity from watching some of the footage,” Canner said. “When you make documentaries, you watch the same footage repeatedly. Since my old material was depressing me so much, I decided I wanted to go into the study of pleasure. Naturally, I turned to the topic of sex.”

While Canner originally sought to record women’s positive reactions to this purported cure, as the filming progressed, a sub-plot unveiled: For the sake of profit, companies were publicizing a solution to a fictitious disease. Once this discovery was made, the movie took a new direction.

“It’s important for students to see how big pharmaceutical companies make profits by inventing new disorders,” said Jesse Drew, director of the Technocultural Studies department. “I think a lot of young people grow up ‘pill-popping’ or over-medicating themselves; this generates big profits for the drug companies but drawbacks for the individuals, as it may complicate pre-existing physical and mental problems by creating an over-dependence on pharmaceuticals.”

Drew said that for these reasons, the film is especially relevant to college students who seemingly medicate themselves for even the mildest of ailments.

“So many of us know people that are on pills,” Canner said. “We’ve all been diagnosed with something; we’re always being told, ‘This is what’s wrong with you, take this drug.’ The reality is that pills are being using to do away with everyday problems. Students are very much affected by this, which is why the market for this film was aimed toward that age group.”

Glenda Drew, associate professor of design, agreed that the documentary highlights a relevant contemporary issue. She also said that Orgasm Inc. is a good example of excellent contemporary film-making.

“It’s fun to watch, it’s visually engaging, it covers an important topic and the style contains some Michael Moore-esque elements,” Drew said. “The film has a nice combination of visual style, incorporating animation, text and live action documentary style footage. The approachable humor is also one of the film’s highlights.”

Canner noted that the film’s humor serves not only to entertain, but also to alleviate some of the discomfort surrounding the issue of sexuality.

“It’s necessary for the film to be humorous to take the heat off what may be an awkward topic for many,” Canner said.

Some of the film’s more serious elements address help in finding alternatives to drugs. Particularly for Female Sexual Dysfunction Disorder, identification of causes may be more beneficial than medication.

Canner said that these possible causes for lack of sexual arousal may include stress due to work, relationship problems or sexual abuse.

In addition to Davis, Orgasm Inc. will be presented at film festivals from Santa Cruz to Massachusetts to Belgium.

More information and a press kit can be found at orgasminc.org.

ELENI STEPHANIDES can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

After months of planning and solidification, the Mondavi Center is finally ready to put on another great season of iconic and talented performances.

Students returning next fall quarter are encouraged to purchase advanced tickets though the series subscriptions. Prices for these subscriptions start at $25 and provide priority seating.

The following highlights selected performances from the 2010-2011 season.

Concert: Itzhak Perlman, violin

An esteemed violinist, Perlman received the honor of taking part in President Obama’s inauguration in 2009. He was also awarded a “Medal of Liberty” by former President Reagan and the “National Medal of Arts” by President Clinton.

Other notable performances include Joshua Bell and Yefim Bronfman.

Crossings: The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma, Christopher O’Riley, piano

The Silk Road Project has become known for merging together music from many cultures.

“Yo-Yo Ma enjoyed his last experience here so much that we are one of a handful of presenters to host the Silk Road Project this year,” said Don Roth, executive director of the Mondavi Center.

The Studio Classics theme will feature classical musician Christopher O’Riley.

“He plays modern rock songs from bands like Radiohead, Elliot Smith, Tears for Fears and The Smiths – but with a classic technique,” Roth said.

Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony

Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will lead the symphony through performances from Ravel, Debussy and Berlioz. There will be soloist appearances from pianist Jean Frédéric Neuburger and clarinetist Carey Bell.

Other orchestra performances include the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dresden Staatskapelle.

Jazz: Ornette Coleman, Vijay Iyer

Ornette Coleman, the infamous and polarizing inventor of “free jazz,” is scheduled to perform in November.

“It’s rare to be in the same room with a musician that has single-handedly altered the direction of music – rarer still to hear one who is sill as inventive and powerful as Coleman,” said Rob Tocalino, marketing director of the Mondavi Center.

Well-known for his percussive style, Vijay Iyer will be taking part in the Capital Public Radio Studio Jazz Series.

“During our studio jazz weeks in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, it looks and feels like a top notch jazz club – complete with bar service and art on the walls,” said Jeremy Ganter, programming director of the Mondavi Center.

Speakers: Madeleine Albright, David Sedaris

Sedaris’s readings have become legendary for their depth and poignancy. He is scheduled to speak in April 2011. Other compelling and distinguished speakers include Madeleine Albright, Jonah Lehrer, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Daniel Handler.

“In the case of Albright, this will be a chance to hear firsthand someone who has had a significant role in many of the defining moments of both U.S. and global history over the past few decades,” Ganter said.

American Heritage: Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

“Longtime fans of Steve Martin know that he’s been a serious banjo player for many years,” Roth said. If you don’t believe it, check out his YouTube Videos – or better yet, listen to his album, The Crow, which won the 2009 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

Los Lobos and Mark O’Connor will also mark their appearances next season.

Madness and Music: Alarm Will Sound, UC Davis Symphony Orchestra with conductor Christian Baldini

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of composer Robert Schumann’s birth, the UC Davis Department of Music will be co-presenting the Madness and Music Festival.

“It will explore the connections between Schumann’s music, his mental illness, and how that relates to the contemporary works today,” said Phil Daley, events manager for the Music Department.

“Alarm Will Sound will be playing some of their celebrated arrangements of the Warp Record’s Aphex Twin, and an arrangement of John Dowand by John Orfe,” said Sam Nichols, a composer and music lecturer. Other performances include pianist Eric Zivian and the Empyrean Ensemble with works by Lee Hyla.

The four-day-long festival will also be inviting eight aspiring or emerging composers to have their music performed. For more information, visit music.ucdavis.edu/madnessandmusic.

Marvels: MOMIX: Botanica

“Botanica takes on a number of important and related themes – including the changing seasons and global warming – but the grand theme is planetary evolution,” Ganter said. “What it shares with all MOMIX work and other Marvel presentations, is a combination of astounding physicality, stunning visual imagery and beautiful music.”

The Marvel series will also include Cirque Éloize’s ID.

World Stage: Buika, Tango Fire

Buika will be taking the stage for the World Stage: Music series.

“She is among the best examples of how artists are addressing the globalization of traditional forms, while simultaneously developing and evolving their own individual sense of sound and style,” Ganter said.

Dance performances will include a night of Argentinean sensuality from Tango Fire.

Other notable performances under the Director’s Choice include the Kronos Quartet, who will be playing the music of Sigur Rós. The Tony Award-winning show Stew and the Negro Problem will collaborate with Heidi Rodewald.

For a complete listing of the 2010-2011 Season Mondavi Performances, visit mondaviarts.org.

VANNA LE can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

After a long season of extensive rehearsals and dance practices, graduate and undergraduate students Karl Frost, Karen Angel, Tasha Cooke, Kristi Kilpatrick, Kelly LeVasseur, Devin Montoya and Christina Noble are ready to debut their original choreographed dance pieces on the main stage.

This year’s Main Stage Dance and Theatre Festival, presented by the theater department, features seven choreographies which encompass a wide range of dance styles, technique and cultural influences. Each dancer and choreographer takes their own twist of various dance styles and movements based on what inspires them individually.

Karen Angel’s piece, La Muerte Azul, interprets both the history of her cultural heritage of El Salvador and her interest in modern dance. Angel utilizes her specialty of the traditional Mexican dance technique ballet folklórico to create a historical dialogue, addressing the hierarchy and suffering of rural workers during the Civil War.

Creating a more theatrical and suspenseful dimension, Tasha Cooke stirs up a dramatic atmosphere on stage with her piece, entitled They Lie but Cannot Stand Up. Cooke was inspired by the vulnerability and thriller aspects of bathroom scenes in horror movies, such as Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho.

“I wanted something that was very stark and had that jarring feeling that horror films give you,” Cooke said. “I want the audience to be unsettled in their seats”.

Karl Frost, a Masters of Fine Arts candidate, also takes his own interpretation of societal interactions in his piece Who Are You? However, Frost focuses on exploring physical interactions that are beyond verbal. Influenced by a dance technique called contact improvisations, Frost’s choreography investigates the physical sphere of communications at a “dinner party without words” setting in Who Are You?

“We are exploring touch and physical interactions using metaphors of conversations,” Frost said. “So how does a physical interaction potentially become like a verbal conversation?”

Like many of the previous choreographers, Kristi Kilpatrick aspires to combine her own interests in life through dance. In Kilpatrick’s case, the idea and concept for her piece Salt came from a lower division biology class. Kilpatrick will be exploring the life and biological processes of a cell.

“I really love learning about the inner workings of the human body or a cell and in a way I think they dance just as much as a ballerina on a stage,” Kilpatrick said. “We just aren’t normally aware of it. But for me, there is no dichotomy between art and science.”

In Christina Noble’s pieces entitled Reflux, the concept of façade on interpersonal, societal and institutional levels will be explored utilizing modern and hip-hop dance influences. Noble’s pieces focuses on Project MK-Ultra, a government brainwashing program developed during the 1950s.

“In a literal and metaphorical sense, dancers experience catalysts that change, form and mold their personalities and movements,” Noble said. “They eventually create an “output character” that represents the epitome of façade and falsity.”

Other dance pieces featured will include Devin Montoya’s Frustration which analyzes the interactions of humans and exploring these frustrations through dance and Kelly LaVasseur’s Child’s Play which explores the undertones and semi-sinister nature of children within their development during childhood.

For more information regarding these pieces, visit theatredance.ucdavis.edu.

UYEN CAO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

It’s a Saturday night in Davis and the Dead 12 Year Olds are in the house. Literally.

The DJ team of Nick Lopez, a junior communication major, and Braden Bugay, a junior sociology major, spin electronica roughly every weekend to crowds of sweaty, dancing partiers in houses around Davis – and that’s how they like it.

“Everyone’s getting down and everyone’s having a good time,” Lopez said. “There’s nothing worse than playing to a room of standing people.”

Those unresponsive days are over though, as the Dead 12 Year Olds fan base has steadily grown since their humble beginnings in the winter of 2008. What began as a joke – messing around on Apple Garageband and other music mixing program demos – turned into full-fledged and well-equipped DJing.

“We made a fake Myspace and these awful Garageband songs,” Bugay said. “Then we really got into DJing and the name just stuck.”

The name was chosen in the midst of the joke, where they tried to come up with the most offensive and shocking name possible, Bugay said.

“The Dead 12 Year Olds was just ironic and morbid enough to stick,” he said.

Lopez and Bugay were hesitant at first in calling themselves DJs, resisting the connotations sometimes associated with the word.

“It’s not the same kind of music as being a bar mitzvah or a bar DJ,” Bugay said.

What the Dead 12 Year Olds do is very different than just playing songs.

“We’re watching keys and making a play list with its respective highs and lows,” Lopez said. “We’re responding to the audience and we’re creating our own music piece with other songs.”

The duo prides itself on playing genres that normally don’t get played in Davis. Bugay said he knows many who wouldn’t have any interest in electro music if it hadn’t been for their DJ sets.

“We’ve introduced them to a whole other element, and that’s the goal,” Lopez said.

Kaley Garrison, a sophomore bioscience major, sees the Dead 12 Year Olds perform about twice a month. She loves how Lopez and Bugay play music atypical of most house parties and have sets that vary stylistically. Sets most commonly incorporate genres like trance, dubstep, big beat and drum and bass.

Their quirkiness adds to the entire electronica experience, Garrison said.

“They always dress up in some kind of outfit and have really quirky dance moves,” she said. “They just get really into it, so they’re really fun to watch and to dance to.”

The Dead 12 Year Olds played a live in-studio set on KDVS 90.3 FM last Thursday, which is available to stream online. Their other recordings can be accessed on their website (facebook.com/d12yo), where links are provided for downloadable music.

A lot of their uploaded recordings were done early in the group’s formation. The Dead 12 Year Olds might invest in some more professional recordings, Lopez said. In the mean time, they are working on putting their mixes up online.

For more information and booking, visit their Facebook page.

JANELLE BITKER can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court overturned a 2008 FCC ruling that made it illegal for Comcast to block or inhibit certain types of Internet traffic through its network. The ruling was enacted as a response to a 2007 finding that Comcast blocked uploads via file sharing services such as BitTorrent, regardless of whether or not the shared content was legal.

It’s often upsetting when Ayn Randian anti-regulators get their way, especially after Justice Antonin Scalia and company ruled in January that corporations are essentially people when it comes to campaign finance – not to mention the web of lending de-regulation that led to the current financial crisis in the first place. As Internet service providers like Comcast Corp. and anti-regulatory Republicans rejoice, this court decision frightens both web owners and consumers alike – and consumers are right to be worried.

If Internet service providers can potentially tie their Internet tubes in the future, consumers will likely be forced to pay for various online services that require more data flow. The catch is that even though Comcast claims to have no plans to restrict Internet usage again, it could if it wanted to.

ISP monopolies are already troublesome for those whose Internet choices are more or less limited to a Comcast subscription, school WiFi or a life at Starbucks. This, however, will potentially affect anyone using the BitTorrent service to share large-scale projects, watch HD video or use any other intensive service. Moreover, ISPs could potentially sell faster Internet speeds to paying websites like YouTube, essentially granting traffic control to the higher bidder.

Comcast’s vice president of government communications Sena Fitzmaurice told the LA Times on Tuesday that “Comcast remains committed to the FCC’s existing open Internet principles, and … will continue to work constructively with this FCC as it determines how best to increase broadband adoption and preserve an open and vibrant Internet.”

This is, of course, totally believable-if it doesn’t apply to Comcast. The fact remains that Comcast blocked its customers from uploading via BitTorrent without notifying its subscribers and deliberately avoided direct admittance to the practice to the FCC.

The FCC simply needs more power to regulate ISP limitations on net neutrality. It doesn’t help that the court’s decision fell on a mere technicality – whether the FCC itself could make regulatory decisions. The original FCC rules, for that matter, read a little bit like a professor desperately trying to find the “start slideshow” function in Microsoft PowerPoint. It’s no wonder Congress still uses foam core board presentations on the Senate floor.

The decision ultimately rests with Congress itself, which will add the issue to its already large list of potential reforms. It’s unfortunate, then, that Congress still houses so much of the anti-regulatory, series-of-tubes crowd. Just last year, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the “Internet Freedom Act” that would essentially do exactly the opposite of what its name implied – freedom for ISPs to manage the Internet as they see fit without government regulation.

After all, as Fitzmaurice stated, Comcast’s “primary goal was always to clear [their] name and reputation.” They got just that on Tuesday – just as long as they don’t think they did anything wrong.

JUSTIN T. HO wonders why Comcast, despite being the largest cable provider in the U.S., also has one of the ugliest websites in the industry. E-mail arts@theaggie.org if your Comcast subscription isn’t temporarily down.

Artist: Patrick Park

Album: Come What Will

Label: Badman Records

Rating: 4

The first time I heard “Something Pretty,” I fell in love with Patrick Park’s voice – infused as it is with soul, folk and lullaby. His soft vocals and gentle guitar riffs are probably the strongest aspects of his music, although the simplicity of the lyrics also adds to its appeal. Park sings with such calm passion and emotion that it’s hard to resist feeling serene and carefree when you’re done listening. His music doesn’t sound like a reflection of his fumbling attempts at self-discovery, nor does it sound like Park is forcing a message or genre on anyone; he’s just Patrick Park with a guitar and beautiful songs.

This new album delivers similar tracks to what I found in his prior ones; tracks about waiting, contentment and starry nights. The album ends with soothing lullaby track, “The Long Night” that may just help put you to sleep.

Give these tracks a listen: “The Long Night,” “You’re Enough”

For Fans of: Wilco, Richard Buckner

– Eleni Stephanides

Artist: The Family Crest

Album: Songs from the Valley Below

Label: The Family Crest

Rating: 4

Disregarding the somber album title or the strikingly odd band name, San Francisco-based orchestral-indie group The Family Crest offers tracks that aren’t at all hard on the ears. With a full string section and pump organ featured on multiple tracks, many of the songs channel a melancholy sound while leaving a beautiful impression on the listener. The female harmony on “I’ve got nothing to say to you” is especially fitting.

Songs from the Valley Below is mood music – and whether or not it hits you at the right time, it’s worth a listen. Though the SF band is relatively unknown, The Family Crest has great potential. Check them out on Myspace or visit their website thefamilycrestfamily.com for more depth and background on the band.

Give these tracks a listen: “I’ve got nothing to say to you,” “Got Soul”

For Fans Of: Conor Oberst, Fleet Foxes

– Uyen Cao

Artist: Meth, Ghost & Rae

Album: Wu-Massacre

Label: Def Jam

Rating: 4

If you want beef then bring the ruckus, Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothin’ ta fuck with. Wu-Massacre, a collaborative album by Wu-Tang members Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon serves as evidence that these emcees have not forgotten how to deliver rhymes as imaginative, visual and violent as they did 17 years ago when the Wu first hit the scene.

Wu-Massacre is not a true Wu-Tang release, so the rest of the Clan is vastly underrepresented. The upside, however, is that some of the younger or lesser known Wu affiliates have a chance to shine, like DJ Mathematics and Sun God, who is Ghostface’s biological son.

Wu-Massacre is only 30 minutes long, but it’s more than enough to sate the appetites of fans of the Wu-Tang Clan. All the tracks bang, and Method Man’s laid-back bravado makes a perfect addition to Ghostface and Raekwon’s menacing, razor-sharp flows. Essentially, it’s classic Wu told by the old villains who’re one step closer to perfecting their styles.

Give these tracks a listen: “Criminology 2.5,” “Dangerous,” “Mef vs. Chef 2”

For Fans Of: Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Notorious B.I.G.

– Will Long

Artist: Kitsuné Maison

Album: Kitsuné Maison 9

Label: Kitsuné Music

Rating: 3

After listening to Kitsuné Maison’s ninth compilation of music mixes, it’s safe to say that nobody has a handle on electro-pop like the French do.

The French indie music label Kitsuné, known for their eclectically poppy and danceable mixes, has had past releases with catchy tunes from Cut Copy, La Roux and Klaxons. “Cooler Couleur,” by Cookers (featuring Yelle), is a sassy track providing an ’80s synthetic pop taste. That’s not to generalize with rest of the album, though, which is a largely indefinable mix of soft and laidback electro-beats. Penguin Prison’s “Animal Animal,” for example, demonstrates lo-fi with a genuinely relaxing effect – it’s hazy and chintzy, like a slow-motion beach party.

Nothing can quite match the positive vibes and lyrics that come from this album; it’s funky, fun and loaded with clever little touches and samples. This is feel-good music without the saccharine aftertaste.

Give these tracks a listen: “Say My Name” and “Dreamin'”

For fans of: Yelle, Two Door Cinema Club, La Roux

– Vanna Le

MUSIC

Sam Nichols

Today, 7 p.m., free

John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St.

Composer and UC Davis music department faculty member Sam Nichols will perform his electronics music at the Natsoulas Gallery. For a sample of his work, visit samnichols.net.

Shelley Short, Eliza Rickman, Nick Jaina

Today, 9:30 p.m., $5

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen

Sophia’s kicks off its live music season with folk/indie musicians Nick Jaina, Eliza Rickman and Shelley Short. Go to sophiasthaikitchen.com for samples of their music – it’s sure to get Sophia’s concert season off to a toe-tapping start.

Laser Funk Dance Party

Friday, 8:30 p.m., $3

Delta of Venus Café, 122 B St.

Go dressed in your funkiest attire for this boogie/disco dance party at Delta of Venus, with tunes from pop/rock cover band Dogtones, Megatron Man and Beat Electric’s LeBaron. Who says the ’80s are dead?

The Spokes and Out of the Blue

Saturday, 7 p.m., free

Delta of Venus Café, 122 B St.

All-female a cappella group The Spokes will perform on the Delta of Venus patio in a joint concert with the all-male a cappella group Out of the Blue from Oxford University. If you missed HellaCappella, here’s a second chance to enjoy a night of great a cappella singing.

Passion Pit with Mayer Hawthorne and The Country

Wednesday, 7 p.m., $15

Freeborn Hall

At long last, the much-anticipated show by Massachusetts-based electronic band Passion Pit hits our own Freeborn Hall. The band released its first full-length studio album, Manners, last year and its songs have since been featured in commercials and television shows. Passion Pit will be joined by multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Mayer Hawthorne and his band, The Country, at the show.

THEATER/MONDAVI

Main Stage Dance Theatre Festival

Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., $10

Main Theater, Wright Hall

This annual festival presents seven new works by UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students, who use dance to convey the difficult themes of childhood, frustration and even cell biology. Go see the artistry and talent of your fellow students in this intriguing show.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

Friday, 8 p.m., $12.50

Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall

The 12-member ballet company will perform Twyla Tharp’s “Sue’s Leg,” a tribute to the music of Fats Waller. A performance like this is guaranteed to make you wish you’d stuck with those ballet lessons your mom signed you up for when you were little.

Alexander String Quartet with Robert Greenberg

Sunday, 2 p.m., $20

Mondavi Center, Vanderhoef Studio Theater

The all-Beethoven program includes “String Quartet in E-flat Major,  Op. 74 (“Harp”)” and “String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 (“Serioso”).” Composer and author Robert Greenberg will also provide commentary throughout the concert.

Alexander String Quartet

Sunday, 7 p.m., $20

Mondavi Center, Vanderhoef Studio Theater

The Alexander String Quartet’s second performance of the day forgoes the intermission, and instead continues after the music for a discussion and audience Q&A with the performers. If you’ve ever wondered how string quartets put together their amazing performances, now’s your chance to find out.

Diavolo

Sunday, 3 p.m., $12.50

Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall

The dance troupe led by one of the choreographers of Cirque de Soleil gives a sure-to-be thrilling performance. Combining dance, athleticism, and awe-inspiring stunts, this is dance to the extreme.

ART/GALLERY

Dennis Neu, “Exploring Nature with Line and Color”

Friday, 9 a.m to 4 p.m., free

International House, 10 College Park

UC Davis grad and retired art teacher Dennis Neu uses acrylics to explore natural forms of line and color in this exhibit at the International House.

Artists’ Reception and Music by David Bender

Friday, 6 to 9 p.m., free

Pence Gallery, 212 D St.

Browse Pence Gallery’s diverse exhibits while enjoying refreshments and the music of Davis guitarist David Bender. Art includes ceramic teapots, ink drawings, and bronze sculptures. Sounds like a good option if you’re hoping to squeeze both music and art into your Friday night.

Artery Friends

Friday, 7 to 9 p.m., free

The Artery, 207 G St.

View some new artwork in a wide range of mediums, such as jewelry, oil paintings, woven Alpaca and collage, at the artist-co-op The Artery.

ROBIN MIGDOL can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.