Taylor dance students offer free shows

Free dance performances are scheduled today and next Friday (Aug. 7 and 14), as part of UC Davis Extension's Paul Taylor West Coast Dance Intensive, a professional training course in modern dance.

The student performances are scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m. in Main Theatre, Wright Hall. Showgoers are advised to arrive by 3:45 p.m. to hear background information on each performance.

Taylor dancers are teaching the residential course, which began Aug. 3 and is set to conclude Aug. 14.

Among the instructors is David Grenke, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and former department chair. He is a former principal dancer in the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and he continues his affiliation with the company as a faculty member.

The Paul Taylor dance intensive is part of UC Davis Extension's Arts and Humanities program. The course description states: "After 53 years of making extraordinary dances, Paul Taylor remains one of history's most highly regarded creative artists.

"Taylor choreography is now in the repertoire of many of the world's leading ballet and modern dance companies. As a serious student you will find it essential to learn the Taylor style, and for maximum benefit, to learn it from Taylor dancers."

Bus trip to the di Rosa Preserve

The Nelson ARTfriends announced a bus trip to the di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature, where collector Rene di Rosa celebrates the art and artists of Northern California in an extraordinary landscape in the Napa Valley.

The outing is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Reservations are due by Sept. 1. Note: As of midweek, only five spaces remained out of 25; so, if you are interested in going, you should act fast!

The cost is $50 for ARTfriends members, $75 for nonmembers and $25 for students. The price includes charter bus ride, lunch from Pluto’s and guided tour.

To arrange reservations, or for more information, contact Katrina Wong, (530) 752-8500 or kliwong@ucdavis.edu.