Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 14, 1992 TAG: 9202130214
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
RU PLANS APPALACHIA CELEBRATION
Up in the mountains there's singing.Up in the mountains there's whirling and twirling and dancing.
Up in the mountains there's an unwritten book full of "people stories" - tales passed on by those who lived and died a little closer to heaven up in the mountains.
From the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec to central Alabama, the Appalachian Mountains stretch down eastern North America like the broad shoulders of Antaeus, the giant wrestler who, according to myth, was invincible as long as he touched his mother - the Earth.
The music, dances and stories of the Appalachian Mountains are part of Radford University's annual Appalachian Awareness Day celebration. The event gets under way at 10 a.m. today and continues through this evening.
Local storyteller Les Dotson will spin yarns at 10 a.m., Celtic musicians will perform at 11 a.m. and the Virginia Beach Highland Dancers will kick up their heels at noon.
From 1 to 3 p.m., Radford University students will give presentations celebrating the cultural influences of Appalachia. The Foddrells, a father-and-son blues duo from Patrick County, will play at 3 p.m., and the Pulaski County High School Appalkids will take the stage at 4 p.m.
The performances will be held in Heth Ballroom on the Radford University campus and admission is free.
Topping off the day's activities is a production of "Ivy Rowe," a play adapted from Virginia native Lee Smith's novel, "Fair and Tender Ladies." Curtain time is 8 p.m. in Heth Ballroom.
General admission to the play is $2. Those with RU identification will be admitted free.
Radford University's Appalachian Events Committee is sponsoring the celebration.
\ GET SMART! "Put Your Heart Into Education" is the message from Montgomery County Schools. Tonight, from 8 to 11 p.m. at Blacksburg High School, students from the county schools will participate in a celebration of education.
The youths are eager to show you what they're learning.
Some of the activities include skits, art displays, musical entertainment and information sessions.
You can have a small appliance repaired, get a haircut, play volleyball or have your ears pierced. Bring a T-shirt and graphic arts students will stencil a design on it. Bring the oil and filter so automotive students can change the oil in your car.
While you're there, make sure you talk to teachers, students and school board members about our local educational system.
You could learn something new, too.
\ THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK: Recording artist Mark Spangler of Peterstown, W. Va., will perform in concert Saturday at Straight Street Teen Center. He will sing songs from his album "Shelter From the Storm," starting at 8:30 p.m.
The 27-year-old musician has gained attention from Christian radio stations all over the country for his singles, "Faith Has Made You Whole," "Break the Bond" and "Shelter From the Storm," the title cut from his album.
Spangler, who says that "music exists to bring honor and glory to the Lord," developed his soft folk-rock musical style from his Appalachian heritage.
"Music styles and preferences are as different as each person's personality," he points out. "The message of Jesus is always the same as it has been for 2,000 years. It's my hope to write songs that will appeal to someone's musical preference and that they may hear the gospel."
Saturday's concert is open to the public. Admission is free but donations will be accepted at the door. Straight Street Teen Center is at 300 North Franklin St. in Christiansburg.
\ LET THE BIDDING BEGIN: The Radford-Montgomery County unit of the American Cancer Society is putting on its fifth annual "Bid for Bachelors" Saturday at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn.
Twenty bachelors are participating in this year's event. These guys have racked their brains (not to mention their bank accounts) to come up with some exciting and romantic date packages.
The bidding begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but the evening starts with a social at 6:30. Free hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.
Tickets at the door are $10. Advance discount tickets ($7) are on sale today at the Holiday Inn.
Proceeds from ticket sales and bids will help the American Cancer Society's work with research, education and service to cancer patients.
\ SWING YOUR SWEETIE: If you've never been to one of the traditional mountain square dances hosted by the Blacksburg Old-Time Music and Dance Group, you don't know what you're missing.
Here's what you're missing: good music, good exercise and good friends.
The dancers will get together Saturday evening at 8 at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School in Blacksburg. John Luna will be calling the dances and The McKenzies, a popular local duo, will play old-time string music.
You don't have to know how to dance at these shindigs, but you do have to wear shoes that won't mark the floor.
Admission to Saturday's dance is $4 per person.
\ CHOPIN SHOWMAN: Pianist David Phillips, a music professor at Radford University, will perform the complete "Etudes" by Frederic Chopin in a solo recital Monday at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium.
Chopin, a child prodigy who gave his first public performance when he was 8 years old, is best known for more than 200 compositions he wrote for solo piano.
Phillips' performance of Chopin's works will include "Revolutionary Etudes," "The Harp," "Butterfly Etudes" and "Cello Etude." Admission to the recital is $3 for adults and $1 for children.
\ DINNER FOR TWO? Make reservations today for Tuesday's dinner and concert at the historic Valley Pike Inn in Newbern. Idlewilde - that popular local acoustic quartet - will perform original ballads, novelty songs and love songs, following a home-style dinner.
The Appalachian Awareness Committee at New River Community College and the Appalkids of Pulaski County High School are sponsoring the event. It starts at 6:30 Tuesday evening.
The cost is $15 per person and includes the entertainment, dinner and tips. To make reservations, mail checks payable to New River Community College to the Office of Continuing Education, P.O. Drawer 1127, Dublin, Va. 24084. Include your phone number and the names of people in your party.
Monday at noon is the deadline to reserve spaces, and seats are limited. Call 674-3607.
Donna Alvis-Banks is an editorial assistant in the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.