COMMUNITY WRAP

FILMS AT EAST LAS VEGAS CENTER

Nostalgic look at Italy offered during Spanish-language series

"Ciema Paradiso," a nostalgic look at post-World War II Italy, will be shown as part of the Spanish-language Cine en el Centro film series at East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

Series curator Luis Bonilla will introduce the film at 6 p.m. on Thursday and lead a discussion in Spanish following the screening. The film is in Italian with Spanish subtitles. Admission is free. Call 229-1515 for information.

"Cinema Paradiso" won the 1989 Academy Award for best foreign film and a special jury award at Cannes.

Based on the life and times of Italian screenwriter/director Giuseppe Tornatore, the film is told in flashback. Salvatore, a famous director, returns to the small village where he grew up to attend the funeral of his childhood friend and surrogate father, the movie theater's projectionist. He recalls the magic he felt as he spent time in the village's small theater, his years as an adolescent and his decision to leave the village as an adult.

DEADLINE THURSDAY

Registration for city arts classes continue at four local centers

Registration continues through Thursday for a variety of six- to 10-week arts classes offered by the Arts & Community Events Division of the city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services.

Classes in a variety of disciplines are available at four sites (Call any for a free spring class schedule):

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., 229-6383; East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 229-1515; Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 229-6211; and West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 229-4800 The class session begins Feb. 26.

Charleston Heights Arts Center has added ballet and contemporary jazz dance classes for home-schooled students in addition to the after-school classes.

East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center has begun a pottery class that meets the Scout Merit Badge criteria. A variety of other classes are also offered and many of the classes are taught in English and Spanish.

Reed Whipple Cultural Center's classes include drawing, pottery for beginning to advanced students, youth ceramics, hula and private voice lessons. Rainbow Company Youth Theatre staff conducts two Saturday classes for children, story drama for ages 4-6 and improvisation for ages 7-9. Acting and improvisation for teens is offered on Tuesday evenings.

West Las Vegas Arts Center offers ethnic crafts, including jewelry and quilts, African dance and drum, ballet, modern dance, hip hop, tap, tae kwon do, piano, voice, music production, studio engineering and youth theater.

The center often offers a special daylong arts workshop for pre-teens and teens.