On Saturday, the Santa Monica College Broad Stage was illuminated by the music, dancers and dazzling colors of "An American Tango," a ballet that tells the love story and journey of one of America's greatest ballroom dance couples, Frank and Yolanda Veloz. Those attending the show were treated to a whirlwind of technicolor artwork and lighting, nostalgia for dance and...

Fear, horror, and ear-wrenching screams. If that is what you are seeking this Halloween, then Halloween Horror Nights is the place to visit. Regardless of age and height, the Universal Studios' Horror Nights in Hollywood will suck you in with scare and dread until you find your way out to escape the horror of the park. If you want to...

On Friday night, tenor saxophonist Robert Kyle and his band filled the concert hall of Santa Monica College's Edye Second Space with the hybrid sound of Brazilian music fused with American jazz. Enhancing the intimate atmosphere of The Edye, the small concert room that hosted an audience of approximately 40 people was softly lit with a few overhead lights focused...

Although Tom Shadyac owned a mansion and was flying private jets, he still felt as if something was missing. With movies like “Bruce Almighty,” “The Nutty Professor” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” the four-time award-winning director had become part of Hollywood’s culture of excess materialism where “money was God,” he said. In 2007, a bicycle accident impacted Shadyac’s health for...

Amid the sea of black leotards and ballet buns sits 73-year old professional dancer and dance historian, Gary Bates. The dance department at Santa Monica College invited Bates to speak about the history of Los Angeles Modern and Contemporary Dance on Sept. 17 and to initiate SMC's Master of Dance lecture series. Bates began his lecture by reading out the...

Poet laureate of Los Angeles, Eloise Klein Healy, was scheduled to give a reading at Santa Monica College on Thursday, but she fell ill, which resulted in an improvised poetry performance by SMC's English professors Will Doucet and Mario Padilla. The full details about what struck down Healy have not been released, SMC English professor and event organizer Hari Vishwanadha...

As the lights dim down, the surrounding voices shudder with excitement. The smell of popcorn wafts through the air as groups of eager girls whisper loudly at each other, “Zayn is my favorite!” and “I can’t wait to see Harry!” The previews are barely audible as the anticipation of the fans grows. When the main feature starts, screams and cheers...

Los Angeles Music and Art School celebrated its 16th annual Stars for the Arts benefit at the Santa Monica College Broad Stage last Saturday. LAMusArt hosted a night of music for friends and supporters of art education to benefit underserved children in East Los Angeles. The event opened with the LAMusArt Youth Choral ensemble, who sang John Lennon and Paul...

The night sky above Santa Monica College showed the stars lighting up in a blue gleaming cluster, shining in luminous stellar explosions, and dancing in a constellation that appeared like a swan with spread wings. Astronomer Jim Mahon revealed this cosmic theater to attendees of the show and lecture called, "Autumn Deep Sky Wonders," presented at Santa Monica College's John...

The atmosphere at the Emeritus College was transformed from an urban landscape to an eye-catching world of imagination on Thursday evening. The acrylic paintings by artist and Emeritus College art instructor Catherine Tirr had been created over different decades and are now exhibited in Tirr's own solo show from Sept. 5 to Oct. 4. At the art exhibition, Tirr used...