“Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground”

Ethnic Express international Folk Dancing (ages 8+)

Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Cost: $4 per person per week at the door.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Have an evening of fun learning international dance styles, including Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Greek, Israeli, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian and Turkish folk dances. No need to bring a partner. For more information, call (702) 732-4871 or go online to www.ethnicexpresslasvegas.org.

Scottish Country Dancing (ages 13+)

Fridays, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Cost: $5 per person at the door; $4 for members of Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Scottish country dancing celebrates the beautiful ballroom dance styles of Scotland. Dances can be joyfully energetic or graceful. From the first chord to the final bow or curtsey, participants will be inspired by the driving reels, jigs, strathspeys or lilting airs. Dancers should wear comfortable clothes and soft shoes. Presented by the Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers, a nonprofit volunteer organization. For more information, call (702) 656-9513 or go online to www.lasvegascountrydance.org.

Children’s Arts Festival (all ages)

Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free admission.

Centennial Hills Park and Amphitheatre, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive, at Deer Springs Way.

This family festival will abound in music, entertainment and fun arts activities for children and adults. Participants will enjoy award-winning musicians Aaron Nigel Smith, Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players, and Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band. Other performers include the Nevada School of the Arts, Broadway in the Hood, the West Las Vegas Arts Center Drum Ensemble and DJ Tony. Children will participate in make-and-take art activities and interactive demonstrations in drama, music and dance. Other activities and entertainment will include jump houses, face painting, balloon artists, circus clowns, petting zoos, chalk on the walk, and a recycling demonstration and workshop, and a marketplace. Call (702) 229-3515 or 229-6383, or visit www.artslasvegas.org for more information.

Contra Dances (ages 8+)

Saturdays, June 8 and 29. Group lesson 6:30 p.m.; dance 7 to 10 p.m.

Admission: $10 adults; $5 members, students & military; $3 children under 16 & non-dancers; pay at the door.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Dance to a live acoustic band playing joyful tunes, driving reels and a waltz or two. All dances are taught and called; newcomers and families welcome. No need to bring a partner. Wear comfortable flat-soled shoes and casual clothing. Presented by the Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers, a nonprofit volunteer organization. For more information, call (702) 656-9513 or go online to www.lasvegascountrydance.org.

Streetology Concert in the Park (all ages)

Saturday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public.

Showmobile at Bruce Trent Park, 8851 Vegas Drive, at Rampart.

Enjoy an evening of contemporary jazz by Streetology — an exciting blend of funk, rock, and jazz, with meticulous musical execution and staging. Each member of the group has enjoyed success in recording and concert performance venues, backing up some of the finest stars in the pop, rock, and jazz world. Members include Rocky Gordon (alto and soprano saxophone), Jon Jacquemoud (guitar), Jon Matteson (piano and keyboards), Geoff Neuman (acoustic and electric basses) and Randy Fisher (drums and percussion).

Rainbow Company Youth Theatre Summer Drama Conservatory (ages 8-16)

Monday-Friday, June 17-29; 8 a.m.-noon ages 8-11; 1-5 p.m. ages 12-16.

Cost:  $225 per youth.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Two-week actor training by guest artists and award-winning Rainbow Company staff for youth of all theater experience levels. Space is limited. Registration is open until full. There will be a morning performance on the main stage of Charleston Heights Arts Center on the last day. For more information about the Rainbow Company or to register for the conservatory, call (702) 229-6553 or go online to www.artslasvegas.org.

Poets Corner (adults)

Hosted by Keith Brantley

Friday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.

Free admission.

A monthly forum for established poets and open-mic participants, hosted by Keith Brantley and featuring the best local poetry talent.

DjangoVegas! Gypsy Jazz Concert

Saturday, June 22; 5 p.m. cocktails and pre-concert entertainment, 6 p.m. concert.

Tickets: $10 in advance and $15 event day; food and beverages available for purchase not included.

Historic Fifth Street School courtyard and auditorium, 401 S. Fourth St., (702) 229-3515.

DjangoVegas! returns to downtown Las Vegas to celebrate the music of Django Reinhardt and other gypsy jazz musicians past and present. The John Jorgenson Quintet, Stephane Wrembel and his band, and Hot Club of Las Vegas will perform. Pre-concert cocktails and entertainment by the Icy Hot Club will begin at 5 p.m. in the courtyard. Beverages and food will be available for purchase. For tickets and information, go online to www.artslasvegas.org or call (702) 229-3515. For more information on the performers, visit johnjorgenson.com, www.stephanewrembel.com, www.hotclublv.com and www.icyhotclub.com.

Exhibitions

“Equinox”

Through June 8, by appointment only.

Admission is free.

Historic Fifth Street School, Mayor’s Gallery, 401 S. Fourth St.

The work in this exhibit is related to the Vernal/Spring Equinox. An Equinox happens twice a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the lengths of day and night are approximately equal. The artists could also explore a related topic having to do with the equal balance of black and white or light and dark, instead of the literal interpretation of equinox. Artists in the exhibit are Linda Alterwitz, Tom Bisesti, Elizabeth Blau, Mary Lou Evans, Kim Johnson, K.D. Matheson, and Heather Protz.

For more information, call 229-1012 or go online to www.artslasvegas.org.

Alex Krasky Art Exhibition (all ages)

Through June 8, Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free admission and open to the public.

Ukrainian Artist Alex Krasky began drawing in pencil at age 5, but did not pursue his artistic ability seriously until 2009. Leaving Ukraine in 1997, Alex arrived in the United States three years later – a memorable journey that took him three years through seven countries. At the urging of his wife, Alex took oil painting classes after he was laid off from his job in 2009. It was the first time Alex held brushes in his hand. After four classes, his instructor urged him to just go home and paint; she had nothing else to teach him. He has not stopped painting since. He and his art have been featured on television news shows, magazine and newspaper articles and acknowledged by the President of the United States and other elected officials. For more on the artist, visit his website, www.kraskyart.com.

“Celebrating Life! 2013” Exhibition (ages 50+)

Through July 13, Wednesday-Friday, 12:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Each year the city of Las Vegas Arts Commission and the city of Las Vegas sponsor the “Celebrating Life!” fine arts competition to recognize the talents of area artists. Southern Nevada residents age 50 or better entered their original works in this 13^th annual juried event. This year’s jurors are K.D. Matheson, Linda Alterwitz and Lynda Whitehair. Artists whose works are not selected for the Celebrating Life! 2013 exhibition have the option to display their submissions in the Salon des Refusés exhibit in the Charleston Heights Arts Center Gallery. This exhibit will remain on display through June 22. Award-winning pieces from the Celebrating Life! 2013 exhibit will travel to the City Hall Chamber Gallery for display July 25-Sept. 5. For more details, call (702) 229-1012.

Through July 18, Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed holidays.

Free admission and open to the public.

Las Vegas City Hall Chamber Gallery, 495 S. Main St., Second floor, (702) 229-1012.

This collaborative exhibition features a representative work from artists with studios and galleries inside of Emergency Arts who also will be participating in the “Our Las Vegas” spring exhibition at Emergency Arts. “Our Las Vegas” is a project of the Las Vegas Arts Commission. The exhibition project is supported, in part, by a donation from the Downtown Project.

“Earth Science”

Artist Shari Bray

June 6-Aug. 22, Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed holidays.

Free admission and open to the public.

Las Vegas City Hall Grand Gallery, 495 S. Main St., First floor, (702) 229-1012.

Shari Bray is a ceramicist that has spent the last decade experimenting with different primitive firing processes. First she chose raku, a process borrowed from the Japanese that creates a distinctive surface. Generally considered to be a process that can’t be controlled, she made raku her own by using it as a drawing/painting medium, exploring a variety of subjects, including figurative, natural, and contemporary subject matter. She has explored another primitive firing process with the pieces in this show called “Saggar Firing.” The end results are completely random, defying any control or intervention from the artist.

“Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground”

June 13-Sept. 8, by appointment only.

Admission is free.

Historic Fifth Street School, Mayor’s Gallery, 401 S. Fourth St.

This is one of several exhibits that are part of the Nevada Arts Council-Nevada Touring Initiative/Touring Exhibit Program. “Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground” features 16 printmakers invited to join in a series of collaborations to explore the geographical and cultural differences in Nevada.