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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1997)
AARON CROMCAN, 8, of Omaha, i hoMs his entry io the 17th Aina! j Avoca Qnack-off. Cronican started - racial lacks whoa he was 3 aal was one of more thaa 150 entries lathe races. ON photo by Matthew White. IRE RACERS fa the Avoca Qaack Off weren’t exactly the easiest to holl. The lacks were arpel — 1 withoat being toachel — Iowa a track liael by lack race eathesiasts. ON photo by Matthew Waite * DRRIRR COMPETITION, lacks werestartlel, coaxed aal sheatel across the finish line, which sat at the eal of aa ice-covered tennis coort. ON photo by Michael ... warren. - —— himi m ir-iv-iTiifflin.TBMr nm—n Tfrvr'Tn Outdoor duck race enthusiasts aren’t quacks By Jeff Randall Senior Editor AVOCA—Temperatures near the zero-degree mark usually bring a halt Utmost outdoor activities. On winter days when the bitter wind and frozen ground are all that beekons people outside, most sane people choose to stay in the comfort of their homes. And the people of Avoca may not he insane, but on Saturday afternoon, they were definitely outside — and about 200 people from other towns and cities came to join them. Saturday was the 17th Annual Avoca Quack-off, an unusual celebration of the great out doors, ducks and beer that usually draws enough people to double the population ofthis small town 25 miles east of Lincoln. —.» ui uiavm. The centerpiece of the event is the duck races, which take place on ice covered tennis courts. The duck jock eys gather to urge their steeds across the finish line by any means neces sary — with the small exception of touching the ducks. The result is often hilarious, usu ally action-filled and always of ben efit to the Avoca Volunteer Fire De partment, which has raised more than $20,000 in the event’s 17 years. So while most sane people gath ered around fireplaces and televisions Saturday, more than a few of them decided to do something a little dif ferent. They raced ducks—and not many people can say they’veever done that. Russian Festival Ballet tells wordless tale ByLaneHickenbottom Dance Critic Though not a single word came from the stage all night, a strong form of expression was sent to a captivated Lied Center audience this weekend. Members of the Russian Festival Ballet company did not need their voices to tell the classic, romantic story of “Giselle” Friday and Saturday nights. Rather, they used their athletic and artistic bodies coupled with dra matic classical music to tell the story of a young villager who falls in love with a local nobleman. The two-act ballet kicked off with brightly costumed artists dancing to tell the story. The dancing was grace fill and void of error but less-than-in credible in its technical difficulty. Act I consisted of what seemed more like a group of voiceless, graceful actors than a world-renowned ballet com pany. But speechlessness made the first act great. The dancers’ ability to build a story and gain interest before daz zling the audience with gravity-defy ing dancing would soon become ap parent in the following act. The first act ended with the night’s most dramatic music and the death of the main character. The thrill and power sent the audience into intermis sion hungry for more. When the curtains lifted for the second act, a breath-taking stage, com - ptete with smoke effects and the look of a dreary forest at night contrasted the happy, bright village scene of the first act. The dancing of the second act was simply superb. Storytelling took back stage to the dancers’ awesome displays of strength, athletics and grace. Unfortunately, the music of the sec ond act didn’t equal the shrill power of the first. But still, the music was an important and useful companion to the drama occurring on stage. Overall* the young Moscow Festi val Ballet performed with splendor in one of the world’s premiere works. White-hot punk group promotes newest album Fwm Staff Reports Veteran punk-rockers Social Distortion (right) will cruise into Omaha’s Sokol Hall, 13th and Martha streets, tonight in support of their latest album, “White Light, White Heat, White TYash.” Two opening acts — Super Suckers and Swingin’ Utters—are scheduled for the all-ages concert. ' The music will begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are $15. Be sure to show up early so you can get your tick ets, and so you don’t risk missing the Super Suckers.