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BEST BETS: July 8 to 14, 2011

Nazareth College Arts Center Dance Festival
After a successful inaugural year in 2010, the Nazareth College Arts Center presents its second annual dance festival Friday to July 16 with expanded programming. Garth Fagan Dance performs Friday, and Rochester City Ballet with special guest FuturPointe Dance takes the stage Saturday. Bill T. Jones and the Arnie Zane Dance Company perform July 15 and 16 in two different programs. In addition to the four main-stage ticketed performances in the Arts Center's Callahan Theater, the festival will include many free events, including Dance Walk in the Neighborhood of the Arts and then a master class and performance by the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company on the Memorial Art Gallery grounds; a strolling parade with FuturPointe Dance on the Erie Canal at Schoen Place; three evenings of Dancing on the Grass performances on an outdoor stage at Nazareth; and a discussion featuring dance luminaries Garth Fagan and Bill T. Jones, moderated by Deborah Ronnen. For a full slate of events and tickets, visit artscenter.naz.edu/dancefest.

Corn Hill Arts Festival
The 2011 Corn Hill Arts Festival marks the 43rd anniversary for this celebrated event in Rochester's historic Corn Hill neighborhood. This year's festival is Saturday and Sunday and features more than 400 artists, the Emerging Artists Expo, four stages of continuous live music, the Labatt Blue Beer Garden and "Sipping the Lakes" Wine Garden. Headlining the musical talent at the festival will be Cabo Frio, Left on Red, the Dady Brothers and Liz Longley. Consistently ranked as one of the top art shows in the United States, the show features activities for children, a wide variety of music and entertainment, local and national sponsors and more than 40 food vendors. Admission is free. Visit cornhillartsfestival.com.

Jazz on the Pond
Philip Bailey, lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire, will headline the fifth annual Jazz on the Pond at 8 p.m. Saturday. The event raises money for students of the Eastman School of Music jazz studies program. Bailey also sang with Phil Collins on the 1985 hit single "Easy Lover." Along with Bailey, legendary saxophonist Everette Harp and Eastman Jazz musicians will perform. The event is an intimate affair held at a private residence on Cranberry Pond. Visit jazzonthepond.org to make reservations.
 

Take a trip back in time
The Sterling Renaissance Festival opens this weekend. Located on sprawling grounds in Sterling, the annual event features hundreds of professional actors offering 140 stage and street performances, authentic jousting, parades, games, music and outdoor entertainment. The festival is set in Warwickshire, England, circa 1585. Join the merriment at the pub sing, wench auction and trial and dunke. The festival runs Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 21. It's open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit sterlingfestival.com.
 

RPO does music of John Williams
The RPO's Jeff Tyzik will trade in his baton for a wizard's wand and lead the orchestra in music by John Williams from all your favorite movies, including the "Star Wars," "Harry Potter" and "Indiana Jones" series. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua. Bring the family; children 12 and under are free on the lawn. Visit rpo.org or ticketmaster.com.

Second City returns to Geva
Chicago's famed Second City Comedy Troupe returned to Rochester this week for a three-week run at Geva Theatre Center. The new show includes Chicago-style improv and classic takes on everything from the Oval Office to the bedroom. As members of Second City, Chris Farley, John Belushi, Mike Myers, Steve Carell and a host of other big names honed their skills. The troupe was in town in January for a Rochester-centered show, "I’ll Be Geneseein’ You." "Second City Summer Spectacular" runs through July 31. Visit gevatheatre.org.

On the big screen
"Horrible Bosses" stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as three friends who conspire to murder the awful bosses who are standing in the way of their happiness. Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell are the bosses. Jamie Foxx plays their "murder consultant." "Zookeeper" is about a group of zoo animals that decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper, played by Kevin James, find love. Find movie times.

Sports at the beach
The Sports and Music Festival is this weekend at Ontario Beach Park. The event's highlight is the 2011 U.S. Beach National Wrestling Championships, World Team Trials and High School Beach Duals. New this year at the festival is the Titan Worldwide Beach Bench Press Contest on Saturday. Also featured are beach volleyball, a pickleball tournament and pole vaulting. For all the details and opportunities to participate, visit monroecountysports.org.

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