Tap dancing, Buddy Holly & Family Day: Calgary entertainment this weekend

The weekend is around the corner, and there's lots to do in Calgary's arts and entertainment scene. Here's our weekly roundup.

Tap dancing

If you fell in love with the fancy-foot percussion better known as tap dancing, after watching too many old movies from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to Gregory Hines to Singing in the Rain, here's something for you.

Starting Thursday in Calgary, the seventh annual Rhythm, Body and Soul Tap Festival is taking over Decidedly Jazz Danceworks .

It's not just about performance, it's also about education. It starts tonight with a viewing of historical tap works, including the work of Heather Cornell and Manhattan Tap's Ray Brown Suite.

Friday they're bringing in world-class dancers to teach master classes and participate in panel discussions.

There's a live music tap jam, where you can test your skills out with live musicians.

But here's what makes this year's festival even better. On Saturday night, the faculty and performers are putting on a show in tribute to the amazing Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.

You can catch The Oscar Peterson Experience on Saturday Night at 8 p.m. at the DJD Studio.

For all the other events, times and locations involved in Rhythm, Body and Soul Tap Festival, check this out.

Buddy Holly

The Buddy Holly Story has turned into a musical and it's making a stop at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday. One night only.

The story follows the life of Holly, who made it to rock and roll super stardom in the 1950s, only to die in a tragic plane crash that also took the lives of the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and pilot Roger Peterson.

The musical has toured all over North America and it stops in Calgary at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday night at 7 p.m.

Here's all the details.

Opus Cactus

The Alberta Ballet Company has invited the Momix Dance Company, from Phoenix, to Calgary Thursday through Saturday to stage their Opus Cactus.

This work, choreographed by Moses Pendleton, brings the landscape of the American southwest to life. That's cactuses, prickly pears, slithering lizards, Gila monsters and fire dancers.

There's acrobatics mixed with modern ballet, amazing costumes and fantastic music. It's all happening at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

More info including tickets can be found right here.

Block Heater

It's not going to be super warm this weekend, so if you want to avoid the cold, there's Block Heater 2018.

There's music at the Ironwood and Festival Thursday, followed by big shows Friday night and Saturday at the National Music Centre as well as Festival Hall.

From Windigo to Delhi to Dublin to Ndidi Onukwulu to Begonia, Dan Bern, Wilderness of Manitoba, and Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer.

Tickets are still available, here's what you need to know.

Family Day

Kid Koala is performing twice at the National Music Centre and it's included in regular admission.

Here's the details.

There's also free skating at arenas around the city from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., free public swims from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at many city pools.

And finally, the Bow Habitat Station is hosting Family FISHtival, where you can roast marshmallows, trek through the park on snowshoes, practice fish identification skills, tie a fly and more.

Here's more on what's happening around Calgary on Family Day.