Night and Day

Wednesday-Saturday • 13-16
Planet Ant Film & Video Festival
FILM

A far cry from Hollywood's rehashed summer fare (attack of the trilogies, egad!), this fifth installment of Planet Ant's yearly film festival has quirks and originality in abundance, with more than 70 submissions from around the world — ranging from PBS documentaries to home-spliced indies clocking in at a couple minutes — screened during the four-day event at Planet Ant Theatre. At 2357 Caniff St., Hamtramck; 313-365-4948. A Wednesday launch party will kick things off at Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; 313-873-1739.

Thursday-Sunday • 14-17
Satori Circus
PERFORMANCE

Detroit native Russ Taylor has been performing in clown white as Satori Circus for almost 20 years. After working as an educator out-of-state, Taylor is back in town, and back in whiteface, with his second Detroit show in two years, Funy As Hell. He says the conceptual-performance art piece is more in-depth than his usual one-man shows, having been created in ensemble with five other performers. Borrowing from Dante's Divine Comedy, Taylor will escort audiences through purgatory, hell and heaven. Taylor calls the piece "socially relevant" in the sense that "there are plenty of characters people will be able to relate to in some fashion" in the 70-minute show. Brief nudity, adult language, suggestive situations. At the Varner Studio Theatre, Varner Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; doors 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m.; $15 students, $20 general.

Thursday • 14
Rob Curto's Forró for All
MUSIC

How to describe the pleasure of Brazilian forró for the uninitiated? This backcountry, distant cousin to bossa nova is chunky where bossa is smooth. It sounds more like music of a cantina than a sophisticated nightclub. And with the accordion as the signal forró ax, you might think of forró as Brazil's answer to New Orleans' zydeco — or maybe a Southern Hemisphere rockin' polka. Since it's never had a crossover hit (like bossa's "Girl from Ipanema"), we have to go to these convoluted lengths to suggest checking out Rob Curto's Forró for All. Curto, the U.S.-born leader of the New York-based band, has spent years studying with the forró greats in northeast Brazil and keeps plenty of the classics in his band book. This tour features Rio de Janeiro vocalist Magali. At the Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; call Ticketmaster or 248-645-6666.

Friday • 15
Transient Structures
ART

Paper snowflakes with Marfan's. Or origami on steroids. Technically, they're "a series of tectonic structures with obliquely modified units," but the lowbrow definitions are really a better way to describe these intricately structured, painstakingly crafted paper sculptures. Transient Structures will feature the work from local artists Mary Kim and Lynn Bennett-Carpenter, who present the idea that artwork is never fixed nor permanent — but constantly subject to change. At the Paramount Gallery, 22635 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-414-6500.

Friday • 15
Bill Frisell
GUITAR JAZZ

You wouldn't expect that a guitarist who pioneered lassoing electronic effects into jazz and improv would also be an Americana buff — but that's Bill Frisell, and those are just some of his talents. On his own discs he's tackled everything from John Philip Sousa to Aretha's "Chain of Fools" to jazz standards and span-the-gamut originals. For his current tour, he's with bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Kenny Wollenson, a team heard on East/West, his 2005 live double-disc. The Frisell show is the first of seven Friday summer shows at the Detroit Institute of Arts, with such names as Tom Verlaine and James Carter to follow. At the DIA 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 313-833-7900. Music is in the theater, entrance on John R.

Saturday • 16
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
BENEFIT

More than 1,500 breast cancer survivors are expected to walk the pink carpet — as will more than 30,000 other participants and volunteers — in this year's 5K Race for the Cure. Sponsored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, around 75 percent of the proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to metro Detroit breast cancer treatment and research facilities. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Volunteers are still needed – visit komen.org for more information.

Saturday • 16
OK Go
MUSIC

It's hard to move past the synchronized treadmill dance when you're thinking of a group like OK Go. But then, why even try? It was sweet, man. And anyone that promotes eccentricity, unabashed nerdiness and catchy power pop gets multiple gold stars. The winsome fivesome will perform with Mae and the Fray at DTE Music Theatre, 774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

Saturday • 16
Hip Hop Mile
MUSIC

Watch the city's budding hip-hop talent showcase their shizzle (wow, that word is outmoded) in this all-day homage to hip-hop culture. In effort to shy away from stereotype and keep this an all-ages event, performers are expected to bring clean content to the show. Musicians, dancers, graffiti artists and poets will serenade, boogie, scrawl and wax philosophical from 12:30-8 p.m. on Detroit's Belle Isle; call 877-819-5974 or visit hiphopmile.com for more information.

Saturday • 16
Dance India
DANCE

The sculptural poise, the expressive, lilting eyes, the intricate hand gestures and the impossible footwork — these are only a fraction of what makes classical Indian dance mesmerizing. In an evening featuring whirling, frenetic Kathak; sensuous, lyrical Odissi; stylized, dramatic Kuchipudi and fast-paced, elemental Bharathnatyam, four dance companies will perform to raise money for Sparsh, a nonprofit organization that aids children in need of cardiac surgery. At 7 p.m. in the Towsley Auditorium of Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor; 724-769-4917. Tickets are $15-$100.