Three to See Edmonton Events: Maxim Dondyuk's Ukraine war photos, Ice Cube and Ballet Kelowna

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Moments from the Battleground: Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts marks the grim second anniversary of Putin’s sickening war in Ukraine Saturday by unveiling a new online gallery by talented Ukrainian photographer Maxim Dondyuk. Three themes emerge from Dondyk’s emotional photographs — the destruction of land and buildings, the celebration of life, and the human toll in Ukraine as Russia’s murderous autocrat tries to recapture the toppled tsarist empire. The exhibit is a call to action, urging reflection, empathy and unity in a collective pursuit for peace.

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Details: 10 a.m. Saturday at acuarts.ca

Ice Cube: Triple threat L.A. rapper, actor and film producer Ice Cube returns to drop numerous f-bombs from his long career going way back to N.W.A. in the ’80s. A controversial figure with undeniable cheek and cultural impact, without Ice Cube we would not have John Singleton’s Boyz N The Hood — named after Cube’s song which the rapper also starred in — or even Friday, the source of the dismissive phrase, “Bye, Felicia,” Cube co-writing and starring here, too. Flicks aside, if you want some tough, high-energy rhymes from a living legend, drop that paper: there are still a few seats left on the local leg of his Straight Into Canada tour. 18+.

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Details: 9 p.m. at River Cree (300 East Lapotac Blvd., Enoch), $109.99 and up at rivercreeresort.com

taqəš and Other Works: Ballet Kelowna’s only touring stop in Alberta features a compelling sample of the company’s high-energy repertoire Monday in Leduc. The performance opens with Cameron-Fraser-Monroe’s taqəš — meaning “to bring something back” in the Ayajuthem language — the piece a blend of traditional Coast Salish, Grass and Hoop Dance with contemporary dance. Next is National Ballet’s Guillaume Côté’s interpretation of the jaunty escalation of Ravel’s Boléro, followed by Alysa Pires commissioned work, MAMBO, a vivacious climax to this truly global dance spectacle.

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Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts (4308 50 St., Leduc), $42 at maclabcentre.com

fgriwkowsky@postmedia.com

@fisheyefoto

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