Welcome to this week's "Gish Picks", where I highlight family-oriented cultural events, products or services. Please note that I "highlight" these events, but I don't know if they are appropriate for your particular children, so choose wisely based on age, maturity and interests.

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Now, GO FIND FUN!

SOL Y LUNA PRESENTS "KAIRU".

Sol y Luna is a newly-formed dance company that will present their debut performance this weekend for one show only on Saturday, March 22, 7pm at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex, located downtown Houston at 2201 Preston at Hutchins. "Kairu" is a narrative about a warrior hero named Kairu who is tormented by Uriak, a demon passed down to him by his father. Twelve dancers tell the story, drawing upon their backgrounds in classical ballet, hip-hop, modern, ballroom, jazz, martial arts, and gymnastics. Sol Y Luna is co-directed by Reyie Delgado and Ashley Horn, who met while dancing together at FrenetiCore Dance Theater. "Kairu" is geared toward audiences of all ages, but its creepy villain Uriak has the potential to scare children under five. Tickets are $15/each and are available at the door.

For more information, log onto www.barnevelder.org or call 832.489.2572.

"DANCE SALAD FESTIVAL" HOSTS AN AFTERNOON STUDENT CONCERT PROGRAM.

Tomorrow (Thursday), March 20, from noon until 2:30pm, the "Dance Salad Festival 2008" hosts a special program for middle and high school age students. The free "Afternoon Student Concert Program" combines a short “behind the scenes” tour, educational talks and a final dress rehearsal performance in the Cullen Theater, Wortham Center.

"Dance Salad Festival 2008" is an annual celebration of dance from around the world in its 13th anniversary season in Houston. The Festival takes place on March 20, 21 and 22 in Wortham Center's Cullen Theater with performances at 7:30pm each night. This year's program introduces six new companies to the Festival with a total of nine dance companies and ten different choreographers. There will be six United States premieres and four Houston premieres.

For more information, call 877.772.5425 or log onto www.dancesalad.org.

BLAFFER GALLERY UNVEILS THE YOUNG ARTIST APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM'S EXHIBITION, "PHASES IN TIME".

Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston that just celebrated its 35th anniversary, is pleased to present "Young Artist Apprenticeship Program: Phases in Time", which is ending this Sunday, March 23. Featuring nine talented sophomore, junior and senior level high school students from Austin High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Eastwood Academy and Milby High School, the exhibition integrates students' interests and experiences with the ideas of self-identity and cultural belonging expressed in Blaffer's current exhibition "Chantal Akerman: Moving Through Time and Space".

Building on the foundation created by high school teachers Agyeman Dua, Debbie Green, Liza Littlefield, Luis Perez and Betty Waki, the Young Artist Apprenticeship Program (YAAP) participants created a collection of work that showcases their artistic talents and their ability to learn and refine the craft. The projects encompass a wide scope of media yielding an eclectic exhibition. Practicing artists Gwen Thompson and David Waddell were the students' instructors of the program for six weeks.

For more information, call 713.743.9530 or log onto www.blaffergallery.org.

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA AND KUHF 88.7-FM HOST NPR’S “FROM THE TOP” HERE IN HOUSTON.

Mark your calendar now for the live appearance of the nationally-acclaimed NPR radio show “From the Top” at the Wortham Theater Center, Brown Theater on Friday, March 28 at 7:30pm. “From the Top” will record its radio and television programs in front of a live audience.

Young classical musicians, ages 9-18, from the Houston area will perform as part of this presentation. Among the performers on March 28 will be the Houston Grand Opera Children’s Chorus, members of HGO’s High School Voice Studio and Liz Kaufman, Joan Scheirman and Laura Smolik (the Three Genii from HGO’s recent production of The Magic Flute) along with HGO Studio soprano Rebekah Camm. “From the Top” is hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Reily. Tickets to the performance start at $19.50.

For more information, call 713.228.6737 or log onto www.houstongrandopera.org.

SIGN UP FOR ASCENSION EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS.

“Camp Eagle’s Nest 2008” is for boys and girls entering Pre-K and Kindergarten and runs Mondays through Fridays from 7:30am until 6pm. Half Day, Full Day, and Extended Care Options are available. There are a variety of enrichment, athletic and "traditional" camp courses, including cooking, arts and crafts, drum lessons, golf, swimming and "splash" days in this small camp filled with quality courses and there is "Vacation Bible School" from June 2-6. Regular camp sessions run one week each from June 9-August 8 (no camp July 4).

Camps are $500/3 weeks for full day sessions; $300/3 weeks for half day sessions; $200/week for full day sessions; $175/week for half day sessions; $40/week for early bird care (7:30am-9am); and $75/week for night owls (3pm-6pm). Drop ins are $10/hour. Ascension Episcopal School is located at 2525 Seagler Road, off Westheimer and one block east of Sam Houston Tollway.

For more information, call 713.783.0260 or log onto www.ascensionepiscopalschool.org.

GET IN AND ROCK ON DURING "SPRING BREAK JAM" AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON.

The Children's Museum is your answer to the Spring Break "what-should-we-dos?" with new daily themes and rocking 2pm performances through Monday, March 24! No other place can bring down the house for the kids like the Children's Museum of Houston: there will be a live-action "Pirate Adventure" today (March 19), as pirates scavenge around the Museum performing interactive shows.

Kids can throw on their dancing shoes on Thursday, March 20, because CMH is throwing a "Dance Fever Party" to celebrate all talented “superstars” of Spring Break. Kids will get to try on actors’ costumes and join a dancing, singing, or Comedy Improv Workshop, and then enjoy some break dancing moves by Soul Street Dance & DJ.

The fun continues on March 21 and 22 with "That’s Egg-Credible", a full weekend of egg-citing fun! Learn wild and crazy facts about the eggs-traordinary egg as everyone can create Easter Bonnets and decorate their own egg card! Pizazz Dixieland Jazz performs at 2pm.

Then on Monday, March 24, Ms. Frizzle, Liz, and a school bus that changes into just about anything will slide into the Museum in an exploration about weather phenomena as these ever-popular Scholastic characters make special appearances in the Scholastic’s "The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm" exhibit! And the fun doesn’t stop after Spring Break since there’s something new to do every day. Families can visit year-round by purchasing a Museum Membership -- the membership drive ends March 31, so don’t delay!

For more information, call 713.522.1138 or log onto www.cmhouston.org/membership/.

Sarah Gish
Gish Creative
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.532.1173

email: sarah@gishcreative.com
web: www.gishcreative.com
and: www.thesummerbook.com
and: www.saveourlandmarks.org

© 2008 Sarah Gish

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