DANCE | Carnal Carmen
Carmen, star of Charleston Ballet Theatre’s season opener, is a saucy little minx. She prances around Seville, Spain, throwing roses at soldiers and bull-fighters and making them fall in love with her. But the fiery gypsy would rather die than relinquish her freedom, leading this performance to a tragic ending. The ballet is based on the opera by George Bizet, and CBT Resident Choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr interprets the tale with a hint of Picasso cubism, as Carmen so perfectly personifies the themes of sex, love, violence, tragedy, and death. Bahr also highlights the Spanish atmosphere of the story, while emphasizing that audiences should not expect an en pointe version of the opera. “I feel that dance is a very good way to get to the Spanish heart of Carmen, as it is in dance that the Spanish people have found a true form of self-expression,” Bahr says. Opening night attendees may attend a pre-show Sangria Siesta at California Closets (502 King St.) at 6 p.m. A week later (Oct. 10), CBT opens The Great Gatsby. Looks like it’s going to be a busy, eclectic season! —EJ Oct. 3-5. (843) 723-7334, www.charlestonballet.org. Black Box Theatre, 477 King St.
SPORT | Walk (or run) it out
Stretch out and strap up your freshest Nikes because the 16th Annual Isle of Palms 10K and 5K Connector Bridge Run is this Saturday at 8 a.m. Don’t snooze though, because the connector’s traffic usually closes at 7 a.m. The race begins at the foot of the bridge, at Palm Boulevard, then continues over the IOP Connector, with dramatic views of the Intracoastal Waterway, marshes, and the Cooper River Bridge way off in the distance. 5K runners will make a loop on the Connector to return back to the Isle of Palms, while 10K runners will continue onto Seaside Farms Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, then return back across the Connector. The race is one of South Carolina’s fastest growing events. Last year’s competition brought in over 1,000 runners. If exercising isn’t your style, then become a volunteer. There’s plenty of room for anyone who wants to help. Proceeds from the race will benefit local programs that educate and help prevent child abuse. — Mark Glenn Sat., Oct. 4, 8 a.m. (843) 886-8294, www.IOPConnectorRun.com
MUSIC | The sound of silence
So you’ve heard that those cool kids in New Music Collective are putting on a new show, and you’re all excited to make a night of it. We’re going to give you a little preview of what to expect: You head down to Circular Congregational Church, get your tickets, take your seats, and wait for the music to begin. The performers take their places, and you continue to wait. Someone coughs in the back row. A chair creaks. An old lady in the front row whispers, “When is this going to start?” That’s when you will smile knowingly, wise one, because it already has. NMC member Jason Brogan is the curator of this three-part series of concerts inspired by John Cage’s “4’33,” a composition of silence that blew away the music world in the 1950s. The sparse, quiet concerts are intended to spark a dialogue on the definition of music — is it just the sounds coming from the stage, or is it the entire environment of a concert setting? The compositions use silence and natural ambient events, welcoming sounds from the room to take the ego out of the concert. Performers Sam Sfirri, Nathan Koci, Ron Wiltrout, and others will perform. Koci says that concerts of this sort are often quite polarizing, and he welcomes anyone with a “WTF?” reaction to stop by and chat with him after the show. The series continues on Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. —Erica Jackson Sun. Oct. 5. Circular Congregational Church. 150 Meeting St. (843) 577-6400. www.newmusiccollective.org
NATURE | Paddle along, singin’ a song
There’s no better time to explore the Lowcountry by water than October. The bugs have chilled out with the weather, but animal and plant life is still bustling in anticipation of the cooler months. Paddlefest aims to get you out on our creeks and rivers, offering free instructional classes all day at the beautiful Old Santee Canal Park — they’ll provide the boats. In addition to plenty of door prizes, one lucky winner will leave with a raffled kayak. Everyone else can scope out the discounted selection from vendors like the Outdoor Shoppe, Sea Kayak Carolina, and Barrier Island Ecotours, among others. There will be food for sale and a jump castle for the kids, plus a butterfly walk, a fly fishing demo, and presentations from local environmental groups. Whether you’re a seasoned sportsman or a paddling gumshoe, it’s time to grab your paddle and self-propel. —Stratton Lawrence Sat., Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free, (843) 719-4146, www.berkeleyblueways.com. Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, (Moncks Corner).
ART | Art on the Ashley
Get out of the gallery and head down Ashley River Road for some art appreciation in a whole new setting. Saturday’s Art on the Ashley event at Drayton Hall includes a live and silent auction of works inspired by the historic plantation and the Carolina Lowcountry. Local and regional artists have spent time on the grounds creating their own interpretations of the site, and on Saturday they’ll have their works on display and meet with art-lovers curious about their process. Participating artists include Mary Edna Fraser, Kate Long Stevenson, Kip McCollough, and Chris Rutigliano, as well as photographers Robert Epps and Gayle Brooker, glass artist Herman Leonhardt, second-generation wood carver Thomas Williams, among many others. Besides the auction, guests can take a guided tour of Drayton Hall’s main house and enjoy the reception with food from Iverson Catering. The evening’s main event includes entertainment, artist introductions, and appearances from S.C. Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth and Helen Beacham of the Charleston Artist Guild. Professional auctioneer Linda Page will then host the live auction. —EJ Sat., Oct. 4, 4-7 p.m. (843) 769-2620. Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Road.
EVENT | Un buen tiempo
Break out the maracas and sombreros and get ready to take a swing at a piñata. The 17th Annual Festival Hispaño will combine dancing, food, music, and activities to celebrate and educate about Hispanic culture. This year’s headliners are the Orquesta Canela, a collection of 14 bonita salsa queens from Colombia — they’ve been spreading their blend of traditional and contemporary salsa all over the world since 1992. Other great musical acts include Havanason, Makeño Son, and DJ Luigi. Make sure to check out the delicioso food from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In addition, there will also be educational exhibits and carnival games for los niños. —Myles Hutto Sun., Oct. 5, 12-6 p.m. $10, free/12 and under, (843) 795-4FUN, www.ccprc.com/hispano. Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd., North Charleston
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