MUSIC

Woven Hand, Swans at the Oriental

Saturday. There's something special happening this weekend at the Oriental Theater in north Denver. Local musician David Eugene Edwards and his internationally acclaimed band, Woven Hand, will headline a show there on Saturday — and some very important friends of Edwards' will also be in the mix: namely Michael Gira, whose band Swans has been an underground rock staple for nearly two decades. Woven Hand is Edwards' moody folk follow-up to 16 Horsepower, and we're not kidding when we say they're big in Europe. As for Swans, Gira is a legend in many of the same

Kevin Spencer of the Spencer's Theatre of Illusion (|)
circles — and his Young God Records is a tastemaking entity that first introduced us to Akron/Family's freak-pop and more. Ricardo Baca

DANCE

New look for a familiar favorite

Tonight-Sunday. The debut of the Dawson/Wallace Dance Project is among the most highly anticipated contemporary dance events of the season. The company is the roundabout reincarnation of a local favorite, the David Taylor Dance Theatre, and is headed up by a pair of artistic directors — Taylor veteran James Wallace and newcomer Gregory Dawson, from Alonzo King's Lines Ballet in San Francisco. This weekend's program, "Nascent," showcases a new work from each. Considering DTDT's long history here — the company started in 1979 — it will be interesting to see what DWDP comes up with. 7:30 tonight and tomorrow, Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $18-22. Info: dawsonwallace.org  Ray Mark Rinaldi

MAGIC

Watch closely - very, very

Lizards & Snakes: See more than 60 live snakes and lizards from five continents as you explore the evolution, movement, and feeding habits of this ancient group of animals. (Denver Museum of Nature and Science)
closely

Saturday. Kevin, above, and Cindy Spencer may be the busiest magicians out there. They're certainly the hardest working, taking their popular Spencer's Theatre of Illusion on the road for dozens of dates each year. The husband-and-wife team updates some of the classic tricks of their art — yes, they've been known to saw people in half, levitate, read a few minds — and throw in a contemporary edge that includes music, lights and audience participation. They're serious about it — though not too serious — and they're a good reason to check out the new Lone Tree Arts Center. They perform there at 8 p.m. Saturday. The address is 10075 Commons St. Tickets, $35-$45, are available at 720-509-1000 or lonetreeartscenter.org. Ray Mark Rinaldi

MUSEUMS

A "Spring Break" for reptile fans

Through April 1. Get slimy and slippery at "Slithering Spring Break," which starts Saturday at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Featuring the museum's "Lizards and Snakes"exhibit, the spring-break celebration includes hands-on activities and demonstrations, plus extended opening hours. Animal handlers will offer up-close looks at live animals, and "Lizards and Snakes" will be crawling with its menagerie of more than 60 animal

3rd Law Dance (|)
species from around the world. All activities are included with museum admission. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday and March 30; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and March 31; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.; 303-370-6000. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors age 65 and older, $6 for juniors and students. dmns.org  Kathleen St. John

DANCE

So much dance this weekend

Today-Sunday. There's more dance along the Front Range this weekend than a single person could attend, so chances are there's something to fit your style. 3rd Law Dance/Theater will continue its run of "Authentic Re-Production," which (as the name implies) takes on paradoxical themes with its live choreography and digital projections. A collaboration between Katie Elliott and Jim LaVita with electronic-media artist Darwin Grosse, it runs today and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Byron Theater in the Newman Center on the DU campus. 2344 E. Iliff Ave. $12-$23. 303-871-7720 or 3rdlaw.org. There's also the kid-friendly "Cinderella," courtesy of Ballet Ariel, running at the shiny new PACE Center in Parker. 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $16-$22. 20000 Pikes Peak Ave. 303-805-6800 or balletariel.org.  John Wenzel