Engelbert Humperdinck

Smooth operator: That’s the term that comes to mind when one thinks about Engelbert Humperdinck. Michael Jackson may have dubbed himself the King of Pop, but Humperdinck’s the self-described King of Romance. Which would you rather be?

A British Army brat born in Madras, India, with a much less showbiz-friendly name, Humperdinck has been crooning love ballads for decades: “Release Me,” “There Goes My Everything,” “Winter World of Love,” and many more. Wait, we better not call him a crooner; he once told the Hollywood Reporter, “No crooner has the range I have. I can hit notes a bank could not cash.” Oh, snap!

Engelbert Humperdinck will perform tomorrow night (Friday, May 7) at 8 PM on the mainstage at Proctors (432 State St., Schenectady). Tickets are $20-$48. For more info, call the box office at 346-6204.

 

Nacre Dance

Recently founded by former director of the National Museum of Dance, Beth Hartle Fecteau, Albany-based Nacre Dance is committed to revitalizing historic choreography, offering a forum for emerging artists, and providing top-notch dance training.

Their debut performance one year ago was deemed by the Daily Gazette as “a dance historian’s dream.” Now, with another year of experience under their belt and an established partnership with the American Dance Legacy Institute, they are presenting their 2010 program.

The performance showcases a sweeping array of work, including May O’Donnell’s Pursuit of Happiness, Doris Humphrey’s Soaring, Isadora Duncan’s Ode to Apollo, the Ecce Etude from Danny Grossman’s Ecce Homo, and Limon Etude, exploring choreography of Jose Limon. There will also be new work by guest choreographer Rebecca Rabideau, whose choreography has been described as “movement with integrity, nuanced and detailed, with a clear intent behind every action.”

Nacre Dance will perform at the Egg (Empire State Plaza, Albany) on Saturday (May 8) at 8 PM. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and children. For more info, call 473-1845.

 

Tulip Festival

Spring has finally sprung once again, hundreds of thousands of tulips are abloom in Washington Park, and Albany is gearing up to celebrate—with the 62nd Annual Albany Tulip Festival.

The eagerly-awaited Spring tradition finds the city at its finest, brimming with blossoms, heritage, culture and fun. As always, Washington Park will be abuzz with craft and food vendors, activities for the kiddos, this year’s Royal Tulip Court, and multiple stages featuring local musicians and national acts.

Headlining this year’s festival: OK Go (pictured). Their music videos have become an Internet sensation (you’ve seen ’em—with their treadmill dancing, their marching band, their Rube Goldberg-esque kenetic craziness) and set a YouTube record with eight million hits in two weeks; in the last month alone they’ve had TV appearances on the respective shows of Carson Daley, David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmies Kimmel and Fallon. We’re pretty sure that can officially be considered “sweeping the nation.”

Other performers will include tribute celebration Return to the Woodstock Era, rouge violinist Deni Bonet, Figgs founder Mike Gent, reggae rocker Trevor Hall, self-proclaimed psychedelic/ghettotech supergroup the Constellations and kid-centric indie rockers Josh Carlin & Kids Music Underground.

It’s Mother’s Day weekend (you remembered, right?), so take mom, take the kids, and enjoy some fried dough and fine music as you tiptoe through the tulips.

The Tulip Festival kicks off tomorrow (Friday, May 7) at 11:30 AM with a Carillion concert at City Hall, followed by the traditional street scrubbing at State and Lodge streets. The free festivities continue Saturday and Sunday (May 8 and 9) in Washington Park and beyond. For a complete schedule of events visit albanyevents.org.