Arts Fuse critics select the best in music, film, theater, visual arts, author readings, and dance that’s coming up in the next week.

By The Arts Fuse Staff

Dance

Dancing in the Streets
Through June 27
Somerville, MA

Somerville’s Dancing in the Street program is off and running for the second year and begins this weekend with the energetic youth of Rainbow Tribe dancing in Chuckie Harris Park, and Alli Ross’ collective of adventurous performers, last seen dancing in the middle of Medford’s Middlesex Fells, exploring the relationship between human bodies and urban topography in Nathan Tufts park. Check the website for raindates.

Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil le Clercq
May 18-22
Coolidge Corner Theatre
Brookline, MA

Tanaquil “Tanny” le Clercq would have held a special place in dance history just for her effervescent performances, but add to that her marriage to George Balanchine, her special relationship to choreographer Jerome Robbins who created his “young dancer contemplating herself in the mirror” Afternoon of a Faun, for her, and her tragic fall to polio during a New York City Ballet tour of Copenhagen, and she entered into dance legend. Filmmaker Nancy Buirski appears at the Coolidge after the special May 18, 3 p.m. screening of the 2013 documentary.

Boston Ballet in Jewels
May 22 – June 1
Opera House
Boston, MA

Shopping trips rarely inspire great choreography, but after George Balanchine happened to meet jeweler Claude Arpels through violinist Nathan Milstein, he paid a visit to the Van Cleef and Arpels boutique on Fifth Avenue. The result was the evening length Jewels, with each movement named for and costumed to evoke a precious stone. Emeralds is set to Fauré; Rubies to Stravinsky; and finally Diamonds to Tchaikovsky.

Live Art at Trident
May 24
Trident Gallery
Gloucester, MA

Boston Conservatory alum Junichi Fukuda dances his solo “Eclosion” and cellist and singer Kristen Miller plays a set of her original compositions in the gallery space. Conversation follows the performance. Free but reservations are strongly recommended.

— Debra Cash

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Rock

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
May 17 and 18
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT

Springsteen? Again? Hell, why not. he Boss returns to New England for two nights and there are few things in rock (even after all these years) more exciting than that. Of course, if you miss him on this swing, he’ll most likely be back soon.

Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls
May 24 and 25
The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

Good for Frank Turner. The English punk folkie is big enough in his homeland that he was the opening act (if that’s the correct term) for the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in London, but, as with most Brits not named “Mumford,” he is far less known in the States. Despite this, his one show at the Sinclair has turned to two due to high demand so things are looking up for him. And it’s well deserved. After all, we’re talking about the guy who wrote “I Still Believe.”

Upcoming and On Sale…

Morrissey (6/7/2014, Boston Opera House); Damon Albarn (6/9/2014, Royale); Parquet Courts (6/10/2014, TT the Bear’s Place); James Blake (6/10/2014, Berklee Performance Center); Peter Murphy (6/12/2014, Paradise Rock Club); Eagulls (6/18/2014, Great Scott); Beyonce and Jay Z (7/1/2014, Gillette Stadium); The Kills (7/8/2014, Paradise Rock Club); Queens of the Stone Age (7/14/2014, Providence Performing Arts Center); Queen + Adam Lambert (7/19/2014, Mohegan Sun Arena); Queen + Adam Lambert (7/22/2014, TD Garden); Nine Inch Nails & Soundgarden (7/29/2014, Xfinity Center); Arcade Fire (8/19/2014, Comcast Center); Boston Calling Music Festival feat. The National, Lorde, the Replacements (9/5-7/2014, City Hall Plaza); Bombino (9/5/2014, The Sinclair); The Black Keys (9/21/2014, TD Garden); Kasabian (9/26/2014, Paradise Rock Club); The Orwells (10/9/2014, Brighton Music Hall); Peter Hook & the Light (11/8/2014, Royale)

— Adam Ellsworth

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Visual Arts

Teresita Fernández at Mass MOCA, opens on May 24

Mass MOCA describes Teresita Fernández’ installation, As Above So Below, as “aurelian,” us-ing an old Latin word meaning “golden.” The much-honored artist is creating a series of “immer-sive” environments in graphite and gold for the contemporary art museum. It is her largest solo exhibition to date, and it is part of a series of summer events at the museum’s North Adams campus. Visit the sprawling converted factory complex and enter what, we imagine, will truly be an aurelian world.

— Peter Walsh

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Jazz

Antonevich & Katz
May 20, 8 p.m.
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA.

I’m hesitant to recommend a duo who bill themselves as “nutty,” but Russian-born pianist Leo Loginov Katz and violinist Stanislav Antonevich won me over with an affecting arrangement of John Lewis’s “Django” that actually gave the opening, stately melody the air of a minor-keyed Russian lament. They serve that up authoritative “gypsy” violin swing, standards, and the promised comical theatrics.

Oz Noy-Oteil Burbridge-Keith Carlock Trio
May 20, 7:30 p.m.
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA.

Israel-born guitar monster Oz Noy mines grooves and roots for proggy explorations with Allman Bros. bassist Oteil Burbridge and drummer Keith Carlock.

Sun Ra 100th Birthday Celebration
May 21, 8 p.m. + 9 p.m.
Lily Pad, Cambridge, MA.

Strict adherents of the Ra Arkestral philosophy would say that the man once known as Herman “Sonny” Blount “arrived” on May 22 — since he was not “born” here but traveled the spaceways to be with us for a time on earth. Saxophonist and composer Allan Chase continues his anniversary year exploration of the master’s work, first with a septet (saxophonist Charlie Kohlase, trumpeter Daniel Rosenthal, trombonist Randy Pingrey, pianist Joe Berkovitz, bassist Dave Clark, and drummer Mike Connors), then with Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet (Chase, Cercie Miller, Joel Springer, Tom Hall). The latter will play pieces from their 1992 Plutonian Nights: The Music of Sun Ra, as well as new arrangements.

Felipe Salles
May 21, 7:30 p.m.
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA.

Sao Paulo-born saxophonist and flutist Felipe Salles has always combined wide-ranging interests as a composer — from orchestral suites to compelling small-group jazz. At the Regattabar he’ll be celebrating the release of his Ugandan Suite CD — the result of some deep musical study in that country — with saxophonist Tucker Antell, pianist Maxim Lubarsky, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa, drummer Bertram Lehmann, and percussionist Roger Boccato.

Kris Adams
May 28, 9 p.m.
Ryles Jazz Club, Cambridge, MA.

For her new CD Longing (JazzBird Records), singer Kris Adams contracted her Berklee College colleague, the esteemed trumpeter and arranger Greg Hopkins. The result is a mix of musically varied large and small-group jazz that distinguishes itself from the typical vocal “standards” album. Their show at Ryles will be a rare — maybe only — chance to hear Adams and this music with the bigger group: Hopkins, guitarist Steve Kirby (subbing for the album’s Eric Hofbauer), pianist Tim Ray, reed players Rick DiMuzio, Shannon LeClaire, and Ben Whiting, flutists Bob Patton and Fernando Brandão, bassist Paul Del Nero, percussionist Bertram Lehman, and drummer Mark Walker.

— Jon Garelick

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Film

Boston International Children’s Film Festival
May 18 – 25
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy some of these stunning animated films from around the world. You have one week left. Descriptions below culled from the MFA website.

Boy and the World on May 18: A Brazilian animation that sees the world through the eyes of a young boy. It features a unique visual style and lots of music

Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart on May 21 and 25: A French animation about a boy born on a day so cold that his heart freezes.

Patema Inverted on May 24, 24, and 25: A perspective-twisting sci-fi adventure about two kids “separated by opposite gravities.”

Shorts for Tots on May 24

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants on May 24 and 25: A humorous French animation about bug-eyed animated insects who battle for supremacy amid lush, live-action backgrounds.

Manakamana
May 18 – 22
Brattle Theater, Cambridge, MA

A film that treads the line between documentary and narrative. Influenced by directors such as Jim Jarmusch, filmmakers Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez shot the film entirely in a cable car above a jungle in Nepal. The car was filled with pilgrims making an ancient journey to worship Manakamana.

 “Many of the characters we chose were from villages where I had been making previous films,” comments one of the directors, “because we already trusted one another, and they were at ease in front of a camera. We decided at the outset that the units of the film would be uncut 10-11 minute shots lasting the length of an entire 400’ magazine of 16 mm film.” Like Leviathan and Sweetgrass, this film was developed at the Sensory Ethnography Lab at Harvard University.

Manakamana (trailer) from Cinema Guild on Vimeo.

Don Peyote
May 19 & 20 7:30 PM
Regent Theater, Arlington, MA

Calling all stoners. This area premiere sounds like one of those crazy ensemble movies of the late ’60s. Here’s the plot: An unemployed pot-smoking graphic novelist takes psychedelic drugs, becomes involved with conspiracy theorists, has a psychotic breakdown, ends up in a mental hospital, and eventually becomes a homeless prophet.

According to the Web site 366: Weird Movies: “Don Peyote features a modest parade of hip bit-players: Jay Baruchel as a pot dealer, Topher Grace in an amusing meta-movie role as headliner Dan Fogler’s two-faced agent, Wallace Shawn as a cookie-eating psychiatrist, Bad Lieutenant director Abel Ferrara driving a cab, cult philosopher “Speed” Levitch (School of Rock) delivering a gonzo monologue, and, in the biggest coup, Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway as an I.R.S. agent with full Illuminati intelligence clearance.”

New England Animation Film Festival
Sunday May 25 & Monday May 26 at 3 p.m.
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA

Only two days left to catch some of New England most remarkable animators in memorable films. Techniques include animation, collage, stop-motion, and digital technologies.

— Tim Jackson

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Classical Music

Happily Ever After
Presented by A Far Cry
May 23, 8 p.m.
Jordan Hall, Boston, MA

A Far Cry performs four wildly contrasting pieces to conclude their current season: Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring is probably the most familiar. Also on tap is music by Bernard Hermann (the Suite from Psycho), Gesualdo (an arrangement of his Moro lasso), and JPP’s Suite of Finnish dance music.

— Jonathan Blumhofer

Boston Chamber Music Ensemble
Sunday, May 18
At the Sanders Theater, Cambridge, MA

The group will perform Mozart’s Horn Quintet in E-Flat major, Mendelssohn’s Piano Sextet in D major, and Francais’s Octet for Winds and Strings

Lorelei Ensemble
Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. Memorial Church, 1 Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA.
Same program on Saturday, May 24 at 8 p.m. At Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA

The group will play “Fallen” works by Yuri Yukechev and Sofia Gubaidulina, world premieres by Travis Alford, Sungji Hong, and selections of Znamenny Chant.

Sean Chen
Saturday, May 24 at 8 p.m.
Presented by the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Boston, MA

The Crystal Award Winner at the 14th Van Cliburn International Competition will perform a terrific program: J.S. Bach’s Adagio (BWV 968) and Ricercar a 3 from Das Musikalisches Opfer, Debussy’s Suite bergamasque: Prelude, Menuet, Clair de lune, and Passepied, Copland’s Piano Variations, Scriabin’s Valse in A-flat Major, and Chopin’s 3 Impromptus and Fantasie-impromptu.

— Susan Miron

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Root and World Music

Michael Hurley
Tuesday, May 20
Johnny D’s
Somerville, MA
Saturday, May 24
Columbus Theater, Providence, Rhode Island

One of the original folk weirdos, Hurley has defined the Old Weird America sound with his off-kilter blues and ballads. In the 60’s he provided a much needed antidote to the “Mighty Wind”-style folk scare. Today at 72 he’s a revered cult figure, recording for Devendra Banhart’s label and touring the kind of indie and DIY venues that usually host artists a third his age. A sign of his legacy are that local openers for his New England dates are world-touring artists themselves: Glenn Jones in Somerville and members of the Low Anthem in Providence.

campfire. festival
Fri. May 23 – Mon. May 26
Club Passim
Cambridge, MA

This long-running biannual bash is a four-day crash course in the local folk scene with an emphasis on its future stars collaborating through “in the round” sessions.

— Noah Schaffer

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Theater

Smart People by Lydia R. Diamond. Directed by Peter DuBois.
May 23 – June 29.
Staged by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA

Diamond, the author of the amusing Stick Fly, comes on up close and personal in latest humorous treatment of intractable social quandaries, which “examines the big question of whether our beliefs and prejudices are hard-wired into us by exploring the intersecting lives of four Harvard intellectuals.”

— Bill Marx

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Author Events

Philipe Petit
Creativity: The Perfect Crime
The Brattle Theater, Cambridge MA
Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
$5 tickets on sale now

Remember the movie Man on Wire? Philipe Petit’s breathtaking escapade on a high wire above New York City has inspired quite a bit of poetic metaphor over the past few years. On Monday he comes to the Brattle Theater to read from his latest book about creativity, and goes into depth about his methods and reflections about what it takes to make one’s own leap into the creative unknown. Tickets are $5, but definitely worth it if Petit can inspire your own creative hijinks.

Colson Whitehead
The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death
Harvard Book Store
Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Free

Esteemed author Colson Whitehead comes to the Harvard Book Store to discuss his experiences covering the World Series of Poker. Whitehead came into the poker world to write it up for Grantland magazine, calling and checking with old cowboys and internet hot shots. The result is a raucously funny satire on the world of professional card play, with a witty and talented narrator.

James Fearmley
Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues
Brookline Booksmith
Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
Free

Ever wonder what it’s like to be in The Pogues? Ever wonder how anyone could drink like that and stay alive, let alone kick out the Celtic jams for decades? James Fearmley, founding member of the Celtic punk collective The Pogues, comes to Brookline Booksmith to discuss his memoir about his time with the legendary group.

Discussion of Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Celebrity Bookclub
Newtonville Books
Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
Free

Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire is one of the most original, enigmatic, exhilaratingly mind-bending novels of the 20th Century. It’s only right that a book about a critic who writes about a poem should be the basis for a lively and interesting discussion session. Newtonville Books brings Lisa Borders, author of The Fiftieth State, in to host a roundtable discussion of a book which Mary McCarthy once memorably described as a “centaur work…half poetry, half prose.”

Timothy Geithner
In Conversation with David Gergen
Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises
First Parish Church
Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
$35 tickets on sale now, including admission and a copy of the book

Love him or hate him, Tim Geithner was the seventy-fifth secretary of the US Treasury during the financial crisis. Harvard Bookstore sponsors him coming to the First Parish Church to discuss his memoir about presiding over the decision-making regarding the financial crisis. He will be discussing his role in the events that unfolded with reporter David Gergen. Geithner will share his insights on the financial situation as well as his personal memories of key players like President Obama, Larry Summers and Ben Bernanke.

— Matt Hanson