City Week

Showing Off Steps

BreakOut Studios' Annual Dance Showcase

7 p.m., Saturday, June 2

Flowing Wells High School

3725 N. Flowing Wells Road

670-1301

BreakOut Studios' second annual showcase will give its dancers a chance to show off what they've learned in the past year, in styles ranging from hip hop and ballet to jazz and musical theater.

Todd Wilson, the owner of BreakOut Studios, said that he's happy that his dancers get the chance to have all of their hard work from the past year culminate in a performance.

"Their emotion is great," Wilson said of the dancers. "I'm excited to see how it all comes together."

Groups performing include a Tucson Dance Company (which is affiliated with BreakOut Studios), a pre-professional group of dancers ranging in age from 5 to 18. Regular class attendees, called "movers," and faculty members will get a chance to shine in the spotlight.

Wilson, who went through the UA's dance program and had a professional career in Los Angeles, said that "some pretty serious dancers" are involved, and could have bright futures in the dance world.

He said his Fourth Avenue studio may have one of the most-interesting mixes of dancers in town.

"We have people ranging all the way from 5 to 50," Wilson said. "I think what I'm most excited for the public to see is the wide range of performers we have."

College students and adults make up a significant part of BreakOut's dancers, which isn't typical of most dance studios, Wilson said.

"We don't just have 18 and under," he said of the dancers. "We have anyone and everyone, and they are amazing."

Tickets are $5 advance, or $6 at the door. —H.M.


Oodles of Doodles for Google

Arizona Doodle 4 Google finalists' exhibition

On display Friday, June 1, through Friday, Aug. 31

Tucson Museum of Art

140 N. Main Ave.

624-2333

Children, computer nerds and art enthusiasts alike will have a reason to visit the Tucson Museum of Art this summer: The museum is exhibiting the works of the Arizona Doodle 4 Google finalists.

Doodle 4 Google is a contest in which students from across the U.S. were invited to get in touch with their artistic side by redesigning Google's logo. The national winner received a $30,000 college scholarship, a trip to New York and other prizes—including the winning doodle taking its place on the Google homepage.

The Tucson Museum of Art is displaying the top submissions in the state from each age group. The theme for the contest was, "If I could travel in time, I'd visit ... ." The top doodles were selected by a panel of Google employees and guest judges.

"We had some really fun judges this year," said Kristi Kline, director of public relations and marketing at the museum. Katy Perry and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks were among them.

The Arizona winner was 7-year-old Arushi Sharma of Phoenix. Arushi was part of the kindergarten-through-third-grade group. Her doodle, titled "The Wonders of Egypt," features an impressive integration of ancient pharaohs and pyramids with the Google logo.

There were four other finalists from Arizona, and their doodles will be displayed in Creative Space for Kids, a section of the museum reserved for young artistic talent.

"I love the contest, and it's a great way to get young people interested in the creative arena," Kline said.

Museum admission is $8 general; $6 for seniors and veterans; and $3 for students. Museum members, children younger than 12 and active military with ID get in free, and admission is free for everyone the first Sunday of the month. —H.M.


Ch-Check It Out!

So What'cha Want? A Beastie Boys Sing-Along Party!

9 p.m., Saturday, June 2

Loft Cinema

3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

795-0844

Touched by Adam Yauch's recent death from cancer, and wanting to honor his musical contributions with the Beastie Boys, the staff at the Loft Cinema was inspired to hold an event that features the band. The result is a Beastie Boys sing-along on Saturday night.

"When Adam Yauch passed away ... we were all thinking about them, and we wanted to do the event as a benefit for a local cancer organization to help support the cause, and celebrate the Beastie Boys and their career," said Jeff Yanc, program director at the Loft Cinema.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Arizona Oncology's Resource Services, which offers several alternative-wellness services similar to the ones Yauch used after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2009.

In addition to music videos, the sing-along includes an assortment of "caught-on-film" Beastie hijinks, including clips from the band on the Oprah show, their first appearance on American Bandstand, and footage from the MTV Music Awards.

Audience members are encouraged to wear Beastie Boys attire and are invited to sing along, rap, dance or otherwise express their love for the Beastie Boys.

"I'm hoping people will come out with a lot of crazy costumes," Yanc said.

The Beastie Boys "make really great music videos, and ... they were very creative, artistic and funny. I ultimately love their music, (but) even if someone may not like their music, their videos are very visually interesting," Yanc said.

Tickets are $8 general, or $6 for Loft members. —R.K.


All Aboard!

Gadsden-Pacific Summer Toy Train Show

2 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 1; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 2

Tucson Expo Center

3750 E. Irvington Road

Toy collectors and train fanatics from across Southern Arizona are set to gather Friday and Saturday for the Summer Toy Train Show, presented by Tucson's Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum.

The train show has been held for more than 10 years and has grown each year. This year, for the first time, it will be held for two days. It's also moving to a larger location, the Tucson Expo Center.

"I would say it is becoming more popular. It's for collectors, their kids and their grandkids," said Bob Benzinger, a spokesman for Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum.

The show includes a mix of modern and antique train layouts, with train sizes ranging from a couple of inches long to several feet long.

"There will be some really interesting antique trains," Benzinger said. "One of our members is an expert on pre-World War II trains. There will be trains that are over 80 years old, and they will be operating, which is really cool."

Collectors will have a chance to purchase a variety of items with train themes, including toy cars, railroad books, and even place mats and cushions.

In addition to the vendors who make their living selling train items, some members of the Gadsden museum will sell items from their personal collections, Benzinger said.

The show is unique in that "people have the opportunity to buy stuff they're not going to find on a store shelf," Benzinger said. "I hope lots of people will come and enjoy themselves."

Admission is $6; children younger than 13 are admitted for free with an adult. —R.K.