Images from the Austin Ballet's annual Fete*ish party at the W Hotel. Photos courtesy Brandon Beasley. more ›

The Long Center for the Performing Arts has surpassed its fundraising goal for the fiscal year. The goal was just under $1.6 million and that number had increased about 3% from the previous fiscal year's contributed income. 64% of their operating budget comes from ticket sales and rental revenue. They also announced that Sheila Berry will be stepping into the role of Annual Members Liaison, working closely with Director of Development Jennifer Houlihan. The Long Center hosts symphony, opera and ballet companies as well as numerous local small and emerging arts organizations. more ›

• Those thunderstorms that rolled in early Wednesday morning did a lot more than scare a bunch of nervous house pets! There was plenty of damage in Comal and Guadalupe counties, and a body was even found in the Guadalupe River in Gruene.
• This Houston love triangle/alleged murder is way difficult to unravel; according to the story, “Palmer-Pollard apparently was having romantic relationships with both father and son at the same time…”
• Shocker! Those UT Shuttle Buses aren’t exactly new, or in tip-top shape.

As usual, December’s events calendar is overflowing with festive possibility, so the time has come to pick and choose your diversions carefully. Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, taking place at The Long Center for the second year in a row, clearly ranks as one of the more classic and sure-to-please options available; we caught the show last weekend and found it a fun beginning to the next few weeks of holiday shenanigans. more ›

Ballet Austin’s production of Hamlet is silent, but it is not Shakespeare without words. It’s Shakespeare embodied, Shakespeare in motion, Shakespeare, in a powerful way, set free. Directed by Stephen Mills, this ambitious endeavor could’ve crumbled in less capable hands. Instead, it takes flight. Set to the appropriately unpredictable rhythms of Phillip Glass, Shakespeare’s grace jumps off the page and into the bodies of the dancers, who in turn radiate it out to the stage more ›

To those who shun holiday traditions and know no other form of dancing than grinding on your friends at Creekside Lounge, we invite you to consider an intriguingly classy alternative. You may not realize it, but Austin has a hard-working, ambitious and innovative ballet company in its midst, and they have bestowed upon us one of the greatest gifts of all—a fresh, energetic rendering of a classic Christmas show. more ›

Tomorrow night, Ballet Austin will kick off it's season with Tharp's ballet, an eclectic mix of traditional ballroom dancing and the soothing sounds of Sinatra's collection. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will provide accompanying instrumentation. more ›