Art Scene & Heard

+ Carreño mugs for downtown photo shoot
Those of you who watched “Dancing With the Stars” two weeks ago probably saw ballet dancer José Manuel Carreño flexing his famous muscle in a segment from “Swan Lake” during the program’s first-ever classical week.

Last weekend, Carreño, 42, was in Sarasota spending Easter weekend with pal and former Sarasota Ballet Artistic Director Robert de Warren.

The longtime American Ballet Theatre principal participated in a sweltering morning photo shoot Saturday at the Sarasota Opera House with teenage dancers from Next Generation Ballet, in Tampa, and the Diane Partington Studio, in Ellenton.

Carreño groupies can expect to see a whole lot more of the Cuban heartthrob this summer. The dancer will retire from ABT in July and then return in August to Sarasota to lead summer intensive workshops for The Carreño Dance Festival, which he co-founded last year with de Warren.

+ Red Bull jumps on board the 48-Hour GFC
Of course, Red Bull signed on as a sponsor for Sarasota’s 48-Hour Guerrilla Film Competition.

The pressure-cooker film competition was tailored made for crazy, creative energy drinkers.

Scheduled for May 13 to May 15, the 48-Hour GFC is a two-day, write-shoot-and-edit contest open to filmmakers all over the world.

Spearheaded by computer animator and graphic designer Nick Burch and director/actor/cinematographer Clint Weldon, the event, now in its sixth year, is enjoying the comforts of stability, big-name sponsorship and international recognition. 

In addition to securing Red Bull money, Weldon and Burch have teamed up with Sanborn Studios, in Lakewood Ranch, which has agreed to fly a representative from the winning team to Sarasota for a pitch session with studio execs.

According to Burch, this year’s GFC has drawn filmmaking teams from four continents and continues to draw dozens of new registrants every day.

Let the sleep deprivation begin.

+ Not all ballerinas love ‘Black Swan’
“Black Swan” may have been the breakout ballet flick of the year, but that doesn’t mean all dancers are scrambling to see it.

Heidi Scherer, the 18-year-old ballerina cast as the lead in Revelle Academy’s “Swan Lake,” admits she’s avoided the film because it looks too freaky.

“My sister told me not to see it, and I was kind of like, ‘Uh, OK. I trust you,’” says Scherer, whose sister, Evelyn Squires, is the owner and artistic director of Revelle Academy.

Instead Scherer, a Sarasota resident, says she’s prepared for the roles by nailing the subtle and dramatic differences between Odette and Odile — the white and black swans.

Revelle Academy, which is located on Cattlemen Road, has gained serious footing lately thanks to a growing roster of young dance students, quality recitals and large-scale productions.

The studio will perform “Swan Lake” at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Sarasota Opera House. For tickets, call 379-1915.

+ SSOS reveals sculptors  
Remember when Sarasota Season of Sculpture was controversial?

The junkyard cars! The giant molar! And dare I even mention Unconditional Surrender?

Oh, those were the rubbernecking days.

No longer helmed by the plucky Brenda Terris, SSOS, which is currently run by its board of directors, unveiled its sixth season announcement April 15, at Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art.

Titled “Under Azure Skies,” this season’s bayfront exhibit is a collection of sculptures by Verina S. Baxter, Chakaia Booker, John Clement, Isaac Duncan, John Henry, Terry Karpowicz, Peter Lundberg, Dennis Oppenheim, Albert Paley, Bret Price and Douglas Schatz.

No doubt a monumental lineup, (Henry’s 70-foot red “Star Pointer” was featured in SSOS’ 2009 show) the works were plucked from an exhibit that ran last year at the St. Urban Art Pavilion, in Lucerne, Switzerland.

For those of you who are fans of Henry’s work, the Tennessee-based sculptor currently has several pieces on display now through May 14, at Allyn Gallup.

HOT TICKETS
Sarasota Ballet with Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre: Sarasota Ballet’s 20th anniversary season comes to a close with a potpourri of performances and collaborations, including the world premiere of Dominic Walsh’s mixed-media smash-up, “Time Out of Line,” and works by Sarasota Ballet dancers Octavio Martin, Jamie Carter and George Birkadze. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. April 29, 2 and 8 p.m. April 30 and 2 and 7 p.m. May 1. For tickets, call 359-0099, Ext. 101 or visit www.sarasotaballet.org.