SPOTLIGHT

AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATRE

When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620, they were not setting

foot on uninhabited land. There were more than 200 Native American

tribes across what is now the United States. The tribes had different

names -- Hopi, Massachuset, Kiowa, Tuscarora, Cree, etc. -- languages,

customs and culture, including dances.

Some of those dances live on to this day and will be brought to Orange

County this weekend by the American Indian Dance Theatre. The 13-year-old

troupe features 18 dances, musicians and singers from 11 tribes

throughout the country.

Dances to performed include grass dances, war dances and some hoop

dances.

While we are busy honoring our country’s forefathers for making the

United States what it is today, let’s not forget the people who called

this country home far before Christopher Columbus ever discovered it.

FYI

Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive

When: 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $26-$32, discounts available

Contact: (949) 854-4607

War on drugs is subject of symposium

‘AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY: THE WAR ON DRUGS’

A day-long symposium on United States government’s war on drugs will

take place Monday at the Irvine Hilton, part of UC Irvine’s Howard A.

Schneiderman Memorial Bioethics Lecture series. Titled “An American

Tragedy: The War on Drugs,” the event will include a keynote address by

Orange County Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, along with speakers

such as UC San Diego researcher George Koob and Patrick J. Harnett,

former director of the New York Police Department’s narcotics division.

Where: Irvine Hilton, 18800 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday

Cost: $30, includes all meals and parking. Reservations required

Contact: (949) 824-2442

PLANNING AHEAD

SOUTH COAST TREE LIGHTINGSouth Coast Plaza will light their 90-foot

Christmas tree, covered with more than 15,000 twinkling lights.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Balboa Island’s fifth annual Holiday Home Tour, sponsored by the

Balboa Island Improvement Association, will take people through some

beautiful bayfront homes.

Sunday, Dec. 9

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

5: Number of days left, including today, until Thanksgiving Day, when

much of America will sit down for a traditional turkey dinner.