Dance Ensemble

Gospel fundraiser to be held Saturday The Howard County Office on Aging and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will sponsor the fourth Gospel Extravaganza, a fundraiser to assist Howard County senior citizens with emergency needs and provide scholarships to local minority students. The annual concert will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road in Columbia. Performing will be the St. John's Baptist Choir, Handel and Victoria Smith of Celebration Church, the Guilford Baptist Men's Choir, the Morgan State University Dance Ensemble, Gospel Revelations and the Tage Steel Drum Band.

The Kennedy Center's five-year retrospective of the art of contemporary American dance was successfully launched last weekend with the performance of the Florida-based Isadora Duncan Dance Ensemble.Isadora Duncan, who was notorious for her dances and her wild lifestyle at the turn of the century, is one of the main roots of the modern dance family tree. Her dances, carefully reconstructed by company artistic director Andrea Mantell-Seidel under the supervision of Duncan dancer Julia Levien, provide a port of entry for the Kennedy Center series' initial focus on choreographers, including Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman.

"Glorious the song when God's the theme," said 18th-century poet Christopher Smart in his "Song to David." The committee overseeing the Performing Arts Ministry of St. Philips Episcopal Church in Annapolis couldn't agree more, which is why they are dedicated to providing the public with entertaining concerts and shows that have an uplifting and redeeming quality. In keeping with that theme, St. Philips shifts its congregational focus to Key Auditorium on the St. John's College campus Sunday, when its Performing Arts Ministry will present "Dance for Life," a recital by choreographer, dancer and teacher Anton Wilson and a troupe of his talented colleagues.

'Backyard Bash'Think you could anchor the evening news? Read from a TelePrompTer? Operate a news camera? Try your best at the Maryland Public Television Backyard Bash Sunday. Bring the family and learn firsthand how television is created. Meet MPT celebrities, including "MotorWeek" host John Davis and "HealthWeek" on-air talent. Watch live stage shows featuring Bob the Vid Tech, costume characters from "Sesame Street" and the "Puzzle Place." Sit in on financial workshops on the set of "Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser."

Baltimore is getting on its feet. And according to Cheryl Goodman, founder and director of Dance Baltimore, and Iantha Tucker, director of Morgan State University's Modern Dance Ensemble, it's about time. "We're inundating the area with dance this week," says Tucker, referring to the collaboration between the Dorothy P. Stanley Dance Scholarship Festival, celebrating its 30th year at Morgan State, and Dance Baltimore, now in its fourth year. The two events offer a week of dance performances and workshops targeting students, professionals and the general public, including appearances by dance troupes from across the region and popular workshops in classical ballet, hip-hop and East Indian and African dance.

For the second year, the Anne Arundel Community Concert Association and the South County Concert Association are offering subscribers 10 concerts for $30, less in some cases, this season.The associations have agreed to allow subscribers to one series to attend concerts put on by the other. Subscription prices for both are $30 for adults and $10 for students. The South County association has family plans for $70 and $40, depending on the number of adults.The Anne Arundel association starts its 47th season at 8 p.m. Sept.

The Performing Arts Association of Linthicum, a cultural beacon in North County, will conclude its 17th season at 3 p.m. Sunday with jazz saxophonist Rene Netto and the Sounds of New Orleans, a traditional jazz group that has appeared at jazz festivals across the country. The first notes of the concert haven't sounded at North County High School, and already PAAL has announced its lineup for next season. The season will open Sept. 25 with "A Salute to Duke Ellington" performed by a 13-piece band led by drummer Brooks Tegler and saxophonist Scott Silbert in honor of the 100th birthday this month of the great composer.

Kwanzaa at BMA Don't miss the Kwanzaa Family Day Celebration Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Take a look around the museum's renowned African art collection between the day's events. Have your face painted like an African mask, and create an African-inspired artwork at the make-and-take workshop for kids. Watch a theatrical introduction to the holiday's principles with Maria Broom and Jali D. and learn the art of quilting through demonstrations by the African-American Quilters of Baltimore.

Common Ground on the Hill will present its ninth annual Music & Arts Festival on Saturday and July 9 at the Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster. Headline acts include Woodstock star Richie Havens on Saturday and folk musician and Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin, along with blues artist and W.C. Handy Award winner Guy Davis on July 9. The event is a "roots" music, dance and arts festival for all ages, celebrating the common ground found in traditional arts. The two-day festival is held in conjunction with the 12th annual Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Workshops & Concerts at McDaniel College.