Best Bets for events in and around La Jolla, week of Feb. 3-11

Dance Benefit

Jeffry Sitcov and Christopher Estrella, director of CStar Productionz, will host a dance showcase “ALL4U” to raise funds for House of Hope, a shelter for San Diego’s homeless, ages 18-24. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the production that runs 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 at UCSD’s Mandeville Auditorium. The show will feature styles of dance from lyrical to modern to jazz and hip hop, along with a “visual delight that unfolds into a surprise dance piece sure to leave an impression on all who attend.” Advance tickets $20-$12 at (858) 534-TIXS or cstarproductionz.com. Tickets at the door $25.

Dare to be a Docent

Want to know more about the gem you live in? Consider becoming a La Jolla Historical Society docent. You can learn about the volunteer job at an Open House, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 5 at Wisteria Cottage, 780 Prospect St. The free event will feature coffee and a light breakfast by Girard Gourmet, a tour of the cottage, and a meet the docents. Reservations required at (858) 459-5334, ext. 4 or by e-mail to volunteers@lajollahistory.org.

Meet a Master Sculptor

San Diego Fine Art Society will launch Pulse Gallery with an international exhibition in partnership with Alexander Salazar Fine Art showcasing the work of master sculptor Xiaoye Sun, who is visiting from China. Much of Xiaoye’s work reflects the human behaviors that mirror an animal-like nature: searching for food, playing, and having an attraction to another. A public reception is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4. Pulse is at NTC Promenade, Liberty Station, 2825 Dewey Road, Suite 103. Reservations required at (619) 702-6742 or rsvp@sdfas.org. www.pulse.org

Applause Applause

If you’re in the mood for a stage show, here’s what’s in the spotlight this week. San Diego Lyric Opera: Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers” Feb. 4-13. UCSD Potiker Theatre: “The Threepenny Opera” Feb. 3-5. The Old Globe: “Jan Austen’s Emma, A Musical Romantic Comedy” to March 6 and “Death of a Salesman” to Feb. 27. San Diego Opera: “Turandot” Feb. 4 and 6. North Coast Rep: “2 Pianos 4 Hands” to Feb. 13. Lyceum Stage: “Superior Donuts” comedy through March 6. Cygnet Theatre “The Tragedy of Commons” to Feb. 20.  Visit theater websites for times and tickets.

The Russians Are Coming!

The Russian National Ballet Theatre, that is, with two classic programs. The company of 50-plus dancers will perform Peter Tchaikowski’s full-length ballet “Romeo & Juliet” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4 (choreography restaged by Yuri Vetrov) and Prokofiev’s masterpiece “Cinderella” 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth at E Street, San Diego. Tickets: $76-$30 at (619) 570-1100 or Ticketmaster.com.

Gypsy Jazz

Hutchins Consort will present “Gypsy Soul: Romani Life and its Origins,” with a guest performance by Flamenco guitar master Guillermo Rios, a new arrangement of Enesco’s “Romanian Rhapsody No. 1,” and dancers who will demonstrate the progression of Kathak dance of Rajasthan, India to the Flamenco dance of Spain, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 at The Neurosciences Institute Auditorium, 1640 John Jay Hopkins Drive. Tickets $50-$10. (858) 626-2000 or hutchinsconsort.org.

Cultural Exchange

The La Jolla Music Society presents the Kodo Drummers of Japan in a spectacular exhibition, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 at the Balboa Theatre. Although the main focus of the performance is taiko drumming, other traditional Japanese musical instruments such as fue and shamisen make an appearance on stage as do traditional dance and vocal performance. Tickets $65-$25 at ljms.org or (858) 459-3728.

Food + Movie = Foovie

Four award-winning animated shorts, “Oscar Nominated Nibbles,” will whet the appetite for the accompanying meal of hearty tastes inspired by the shorts in an ArtPower! Foovies event, 7 p.m. food, 8 p.m. films, Thursday, Feb. 10 at The Loft, UCSD. Tickets $30, $8 animations only (858) 534-TIXS. artpower.ucsd.edu.