UMSL turns the Touhill into a dance haven
What do Baden, Ontario, and Memphis, Tenn., have in common? This weekend, both cities will have homegrown dance companies sharing a stage — along with some of St. Louis' own.

The Spring to Dance Festival will host 30 dance companies — from contemporary duos to world-class ballets — from across the country and Canada. In its fifth year, the festival will offer dance fans a smorgasboard of troupes and companies over three nights. With performances on stage and in the Touhill Performing Arts Center lobbies, enthusiasts can sample to world of dance at a thrifty rate of $10 a night.
As the release explains, "Each evening is three shows in one! Informal interactive demonstrations in the Terrace Lobby by local arts organizations from 5:30 to 7:15. A performance with first-come first-served seating in the intimate Lee Theater from 6 to 7 . A reserved seat performance in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall from 7:30 to 9:30."
To get into the Lee Theater performances, people will need to get afree Lee Theatre pass. They will be handed out starting at 4:40 p.m., and when they are all handed out that hall is filled.
Also coming up, the St. Louis Public Library screens a selection of African films, the Black Rep opens the AIDS drama "Insidious" and the Tivoli Theatre ties its midnight film series together with the late '90s buddy-slacker-mystery cult hit "The Big Lebowski."
Spring to Dance Festival 2012
Where: Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri - St. Louis
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, May 25 - 26 (tickets available at 4:40 p.m. prior to each show)
How much: $10 a night
Link: www.touhill.org
African Arts Film Festival
Where: St. Louis Public Library - Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis
When: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 26
How much: Free
Link: www.slpl.org

Insidious
Where: Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., St. Louis
When: 7 p.m. W/Th, 8 p.m. Fr, 3 and 8 p.m. Sat, May 23 - 26
How much: $20-47, $10 students
Link: www.theblackrep.org
'The Big Lebowski' midnight screening
Where: The Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd., University City
When: Midnight Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26
How much: $8
Link: www.landmarktheatres.com/market/st.louis/tivolitheatre.htm
