Passionate Heart,” the Cleo Parker Robinson dance performance scheduled April 3-5 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, will feature two world premiere works by award-winning choreographers Nejla Y. Yatkin and Ray Mercer. Yatkin, a Robinson ensemble member from 1996-99, created “For the Love of …” to music by Natash Atlas and Merced Dede and Mercer’s new work is called “When Push Comes to Shove.” This will be the ensemble’s first production at the Ellie. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $33 to $39, $26, $19. 303-295-1759 ext. 13 or TicketsWest at King Soopers.

Beekeeping will be Jo Haughland’s topic when she addresses the Littleton Garden Club at 6:30 p.m. April 1 at Prince of Peace Church, 7000 S. Windermere St., Littleton. (Enter on the south, or use the north entrance if stairs are a problem.) Haughland, who grew up in Littleton, is president and founder of High Land Beekeeping and a promoter of backyard beekeeping. With a crew, she maintains more than 60 hives. She will talk about how gardeners can help with the serious plight of honeybees and general information on products and benefits. Visitors and new members are welcome at meetings of this longstanding Littleton organization, which meets on the first Wednesday of the month through the school year and plans field trips and visits to member’s gardens in summer.

A few spaces remain for Arapahoe Community College’s third annual Spring Literary Festival, April 4. It features morning workshops by Teague Bohlen: Fiction Workshop, “What You Know;” Lyrical Essay by Natalie Costanza-Chavez, “Putting the Pictures Together;” and afternoon sessions; Poetry Workshop by Mark Irwin, “Poetry and Memorability;” Nonfiction Workshop with John Calderazzo, “Using the Techniques of Fiction to Write Compelling Nonfiction.” The fee for both is $45 for two workshops; $25 for one. Mail check or money order by March 31 to ACC Writers Studio Literary Festival, c/o Dr. Kathryn Winograd, LAPP Division, Campus Box 27, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, P.O. Box 9022, Littleton, CO 80160-9002. Information: www.arapahoe.edu /writersstudio.

Celebrate the start of spring at the Audubon Nature Center at Chatfield with hands-on nature activities, guided walks and independent explorations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through April, as well as Sunday, April 5. Admission is free. The Audubon Center is on Waterton Road off South Wadsworth Blvd., 4.4 miles south of C-470. For information, call 303-973-9530 or e-mail info@denveraudubon. org.

Enjoy Breakfast With the Easter Bunny at 8 a.m. April 4 at Arapahoe Community College., on the West Lawn, 5901 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Breakfast, games, fun. Tickets are mandatory and are available at $2 each in the Student Activities Office, M 2820. For information, call 303-797-5667.

“A Service of Darkness,” a traditional Tenebrae service, will include Dale Wood’s meditations on the seven last words of Christ, performed by the Chancel Choir of Littleton United Methodist Church and the Colorado Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. April 9. Additional orchestral works and Holy Communion will add to this Holy Week experience. All are welcome. LUMC is at 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. 303-794-6379.

The South Suburban Community Orchestra will repeat its successful “New World” concert at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Valor High School, (commons room), 3775 E. Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. The program will include Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World;” Copland’s “An Outdoor Overture;” Piazzolla’s “Milonga de Angel;” and Ives’ “Variations on America.” A reception follows the concert. A $5 donation is suggested. www.sscorchestra. org

Susan Montague Spear, a watercolorist who grew up in Littleton, will exhibit her figurative paintings April 8 through May 4 at Town Hall Arts Center’s Stanton Gallery, 2450 W. Main St., downtown Littleton. A reception is planned for 4-7 p.m. April 11. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during performances. 303-794-2787.

Olde Town Market will debut on Main Street on July 11 this year and run on the second Saturdays of August, September, October, expanding to a six-month run in future years. The sidewalk fair of diverse vendors will exhibit and sell items for home, garden and personal wear in 10-foot-by-10-foot tents lined on West Main Street, from Sycamore to Rapp Streets. The event is organized by four downtown Littleton businesswomen: Peggy Cooper, Details; Amy Doherty, Pink Attic Cat Antiques; Marsha Asheim, A Knitted Peace; and Sue Coffey, Believing in Kids and Family. Prospective vendors can find information at www.oldetownmarket.com or e-mail: oldetownmarket@ aol.com. Discount for registration by April 15.

“Infrastructure” is the April exhibit at Artists on Santa Fe, 747 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, according to owner Macy Dorf of Littleton. The gallery’s resident photographers, potters and painters will be featured with an opening during the First Friday Gallery Walk, 6-9 p.m. April 3. 303-573-5903.

A juried exhibit of art by Arapahoe Community College students will run April 1-15 in Colorado Gallery of the Arts in the annex on the east side of the Main building, 5901 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Painting, drawing, design, ceramics, jewelry, metals, photography and printmaking will be included. A reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. April 3. Gallery hours: noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 5-7 p.m. 303-797-5649.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month and the Littleton Historical Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton, will present a free concert by vocalist Joni Janak and Centerpiece Jazz at 7 p.m. April 15. Pick up free tickets in advance at the museum desk. 303-795-3950.

“Cinderella” will be presented by Classic Acts at 7 p.m. April 3 and at 1 and 5 p.m. April 4 at the Parker Mainstreet Center, 19650 E. Mainstreet. Tickets cost $5. This is a good opportunity for parents and their theatrically inclined offspring to get acquainted with Classic Acts, which teaches theater techniques and presents plays for kids, age 10-18. Auditions are May 5 for the “Wizard of Oz” and Cyrano de Bergerac is scheduled for fall. For information, classicacts.net or call 303-955-7279.

Pop-Folk artists Falling to Fly will perform from 1-3 p.m. March 28 at the Parker Library, 10851 Crossroads Drive — outdoors if possible and indoors if weather fails to cooperate. Free. 303-791-READ.

Listen to fairy tales in a real castle. Librarians from the Neighborhood Library at Lone Tree will have a special storytime at Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Road, Sedalia, for kids age 3-7, who are encouraged to dress as a princess, knight or other character. Two storytimes are schedule at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on March 30. Reservations are required, 303-791-READ or visit your library.

Art exhibits are scheduled at two Douglas County libraries in April. At Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Lorrie Caplan will display abstract watercolors. At Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive, acrylics by Pat Rosales will be exhibited.

The Denver Lyric Opera Guild will offer its April “Opera on Tuesdays” luncheon at 11:30 a.m. April 7, at Pinehurst Country Club, 6255 W. Quincy Ave., Denver. The program will be the 2009 guild competition for Colorado singers. Make a reservation by sending a $28 check payable to DLOG, to Marlene Diamond, 1827 Ross Lane, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-4050, by April 3.

An exhibit of intricate structures and models built from Lego building blocks by 7-year-old Michael Hu will be displayed April 1-30 at Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle during hours of operation.

Museo De Las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, has announced an extension of its popular exhibit “Fine Line” through August 21. It features installations by artists from Mexico to Uruguay, demonstrating unique perceptions of the horizon. For hours and admission information, see www.museo.org. The second Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. is Target Free Day and admission is free every Friday, including during the First Friday Art Walk from 5-9 p.m. The Museo’s executive director, Patty Ortiz has recently resigned to start a job in Texas near her family.

The Parker Artists Guild will hold its sixth annual Spring Art Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 and March 29 at the Mainstreet Center, 19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker. More than 40 artists will exhibit paintings, photographs, glass and more. Artists will demonstrate techniques and free face painting will be offered for kids. Admission is free.

Opera afficianados will want to attend the competition finals held by the Denver Lyric Opera Guild from 1-5 p.m. March 28 at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood. Admission is free and competition for more than $37,000 in prizes will attract Colorado’s fine singers who are beginning careers. See denverlyricoperaguild.org.

A Vintage Voltage Expo featuring hundreds of old radios, stereos, guitars, vinyl records and more will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 29 at the Ramada Plaza Convention Center, 1-25 and 120th in Northglenn. About 75 vendors, DJs spinning vintage tunes, lectures, demonstrations and a show by the Colorado Radio Collectors Club will fill the space in the show organized by vintage guru Dana Cain of Littleton. Admission: $5, free for younger than 12. Information: www.danacain.com, 303-347-8252.

“Insiders to the Indian Wars” is the annual one-day conference presenter by Order of the Indian Wars from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18 at the Colorado National Guard Headquarters Auditorium, 6858 S. Revere Parkway, Centennial. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The conference is for students, scholars and followers of western history and will feature five well-known speakers: Jeff Broome (also conference chairman); John Monnett; Doug Mc Christian; Greg Michno; Mike Koury. A $25 ticket includes coffee, speakers, buffet lunch, authors and booksellers. Mail check to OIW, P.O. Box 1650, Johnstown, CO 80534. For information and limited author or bookseller arrangement, call Rich Lea after 9:30 a.m. at 970-226-5549.

Sampler