Dance
SaturdayBallroom dancing. Because of a recent spate of dance shows on television, ballroom dancing has once again become a sensation. The Vail International Dance Festival will conclude with a showcase of the popular style, featuring world-champion performers, including Hanna Karttunen. The performance will take place in Vail’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $17-$75. 888-920-2787 or . Kyle MacMillan
Film
Wednesday.Shorts. Ten area high school students strut the figurative red carpet when they premiere shorts they made for the Cinemocracy online film competition (sponsored by the Denver Film Society, Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee). “Downfall” and “Clique” address “What Is Democracy?” wrestling with images of homelessness and notions of media responsibility. Participants in PlatteForum’s ArtLab program, the newbie auteurs have no shortage of ideas about issues their not-quite-of-voting-age generation faces. A good thing, then, that a Q&A session and reception with the filmmakers follows the screening. Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, Ninth Street and Auraria Parkway. 6:30 p.m. Free. 303-893-0791. Lisa Kennedy
Sunday.Even more shorts. Last weekend, 37 teams fanned out over town to write, shoot and edit 4- to 7-minute flicks in 48 hours. Yes, it’s time for an annual filmmaking rite worthy of MacGyver: the 48-Hour Film Project. On Sunday, see the short of their labors at a gala premiere and help decide the audience-award winners. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway. Group A screening (1:30-3:45 p.m.); Group B (4-6:15), Group C (6:30-8:45). Individual screenings $9; pass for all three, $18-$22; available at gothic . Lisa Kennedy
Visual Arts
Saturday and Sunday.Sculpture. The Loveland High Plains Arts Council touts it as the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in the United States. More than 2,000 works by 196 artists will be on view in the 25th-anniversary edition of Sculpture in the Park. The show and sale will take place 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Loveland’s Benson Sculpture Garden. $5, free for children younger than 14. 970-663-2940 or . Kyle MacMillan
Classical Music
Saturday.Orchestral music. The Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs will conclude the classical portion of its summer season with an all-Beethoven finale at 8 p.m. Saturday. The concert will feature conductor Andres Cardenes and a 46-piece orchestra that should pack the compact stage of the festival’s new Strings Music Pavilion and nicely showcase its acoustics. The program will include such stalwarts as the composer’s “Emperor” Concerto and “Triple” Concerto. $50. 970-879-5056, ext. 105, or strings . Kyle MacMillan
Sunday. Orchestral music. Soprano Jane Eaglen, above, ranks among the country’s most sensitive vocal interpreters. She will join conductor Ingo Metzmacher and the Aspen Festival Orchestra for a performance of Richard Strauss’ final masterpiece, “Four Last Songs.” Also on the program will be Debussy’s “La Mer” and works by Messiaen and Brahms. The event, part of the Aspen Music Festival, will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Benedict Music Tent. $72. 970-925-9042 or aspen . Kyle MacMillan
Pop Music
Tonight. Soulful indie. There’s an outrageous psychedelic majesty to the music of Brightblack Morning Light, which takes on the Larimer Lounge tonight for a rare show. The soulful indie band is known for its out-there, organ-rooted live shows. The last time they played in Denver was for the opening gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art. More: larimerlounge . Ricardo Baca
Saturday. Fest. We love music festivals of all kinds, and how can you not want to go to one called the Be Kind and Grind Fest? Talk about your heavy bill: Cephalic Carnage, Laughing Dog, Ascaris, Deadspeak, Harvest the Murder, Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire, Identity Pusher, Havok, Antagony, Crow, Skinned, Iamtheshotgun and — our personal favorite name of the bunch — Zombie Hate Brigade. It all goes down Saturday at the Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. Ricardo Baca
Monday.Shhhh. If you dig those super-quiet indie singer-songwriters — think Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens and Laura Gibson — then do yourself a favor: Check out Horse Feathers at . right now. The thoughtful band, playing Monday at South Broadway’s Hi- Dive with Gregory Alan Isakov and Dan Craig Band, has written some truly gorgeous (albeit incredibly quiet) songs. Ricardo Baca
Tuesday. Classic rock. Can you believe it’s been 40 years since Jethro Tull first played its first tune? Seriously. The band plays Tuesday at Red Rocks. Ricardo Baca.
