Photograph by Daniel Ramirez, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Thursday, May 24
Spring to Dance Festival 2012
Dance St. Louis brings in 30 superlative Midwest dance troupes for this Memorial Day weekend dance fest. Each night, 10 different troupes perform, and local dance companies put on demos in the lobby before the show. $10 each night; runs through May 26. Time: 7:30 p.m. Demos: 5:30–7:15 p.m.
Black Dance USA
This annual multiday festival includes dance workshops, lectures, and African percussion and song workshops. The festival concludes on May 26 with a concert at Edison Theatre. Call or go online for prices and schedule. Black Dance USA, 5535 Delmar, Ste. 2100, 314-367-3440, blackdanceusa.com.
Acoustic Stories from the Road: An Evening with Javier Mendoza and Friends
A group of up-and-coming artists, including Lee Coulter and Josh Bonas, joins Javier Mendoza in storytelling and singing. $20–$25, $100 VIP tickets. Time: 7 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington, 314-533-9900, sheldonconcerthall.org.
Friday, May 25
Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series
Concerts are held in the zoo each Friday night (except June 15) through September 2. Check the website or call for more information. Free. Time: 5–8 p.m. 1 Government, Forest Park, 314-781-0900, stlzoo.org.
St. Louis Bluesweek
Includes performances by artists from Chicago to Clarksdale to St. Louis, including Bobby Rush, Kelley Hunt, Shemekia Copeland, Cedric Burnside, Michael Burks, and Jeremiah Johnson. New to the festival is an arts and crafts festival with 50 attending artists. Free. Times: 4:30–11 p.m. Fri, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sat & Sun. Soldiers Memorial Park, 1315 Chestnut, stlbluesweekartists.com.
Saturday, May 26
Sweeney Todd
When evil Judge Turpin tried to seduce Benjamin Barker’s wife and she refused, the judge sent Barker to Australia. When Barker returns under the name Sweeney Todd, he’s thirsting for revenge. May 26 & May 30. $25–$120. Time: 8 p.m. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar, 314-961-0644, opera-stl.org.
Art by Day, Magic by Night: Chinese Lantern Festival at MoBot
To use the word “lantern” here is somewhat misleading—these are more giant metal-and-silk soft sculptures. These illuminated sculptures are rarely been seen outside of Asia, especially on this scale, and so this show has been anticipated for months. The festival, which runs through August 19, also includes related arts and entertainment programming. $5–$22. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw, 314-577-9400, mobot.org.
Sunday, May 27
Concert VI: A Leader’s Lament
A Scottish king, President Abraham Lincoln, and President John F. Kennedy are remembered in song in compositions by Granville Bantock, Ulysses Simpson Kay, Jr., and Herbert Howells, respectively. $26–$28, $10 students. Time: 3 p.m.The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 5020 Rhodes, 636-458-4343, chamberchorus.org.
St. Louis African Arts Festival
This festival celebrates African culture including art, music, food and clothing. There are children’s activities, a movie night at the Muny and an African marketplace. Activities will be throughout Forest Park and at the Public Library Schlafly Branch but is concentrated at the park pavilion. Opens May 16 and runs through May 28. Free. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sat, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sun, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon. World’s Fair Pavilion, Forest Park, 314-935-9676, stlafricanartsfest.org.
Monday, May 28
Gypsy Caravan
The largest antique, craft, and flea market in the Midwest is back and even bigger. Vendors from across the country will be offering deals on unique items for your home or office, as well as clothing, jewelry, lawn art, and other ephemera. $5 entry fee, $20 early birds (7–9 a.m.) Time: 7 a.m.–5 p.m. UM–St. Louis, Parking Lots C and E and Millennium Student Center Garage South, 1 University, 314-533-2500, stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan.
