Pilobolus Dance Troupe

Pilobolus is a dance troupe. It is also proof, yet again, that art is a miracle. Founded almost 25 years ago, Pilobolus Dance Theatre will appear Wednesday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Today Pilobolus is widely regarded as one of the most startling, most innovative, most physical, most amusing groups in the history of modern dance. But, as Michael Tracy, one of its four artistic directors, explained recently, the group should never have made it.

In 1971, four Dartmouth College undergraduates on a lark took a course in modern dance. That act changed their lives and the course of dance history. Combining acrobatics, athletics and gymnastics with dance, they forged what soon became the signature choreographic style of Pilobolus Dance Theatre--a zany, witty, sly style based on the body as sculpture. Audiences were entranced, and Pilobolus, which comes to the Irvine Barclay Theatre this week, flourished.

In 1971, four Dartmouth College undergraduates on a lark took a course in modern dance. That act changed their lives and the course of dance history. Combining acrobatics, athletics and gymnastics with dance, they forged what soon became the signature choreographic style of Pilobolus Dance Theatre--a zany, witty, sly style based on the body as sculpture. Audiences were entranced, and Pilobolus, which comes to the Irvine Barclay Theatre this week, flourished.

Pilobolus is a dance troupe. It is also proof, yet again, that art is a miracle. Founded almost 25 years ago, Pilobolus Dance Theatre will appear Wednesday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Today Pilobolus is widely regarded as one of the most startling, most innovative, most physical, most amusing groups in the history of modern dance. But, as Michael Tracy, one of its four artistic directors, explained recently, the group should never have made it.

Move over Joan Rivers, you've got company. Fox Broadcasting has booted Frank Zappa from his scheduled stint as tonight's guest host on "The Late Show"--and replaced him with a re-run. (Exactly which non-Rivers re-run hadn't been decided by press time, a Fox spokeswoman said.) " 'Every cell in my body is telling me not to do this show,' " producer John Scura said, according to Zappa.

Prime-time ratings leader NBC put up the biggest numbers at Sunday's nighttime Emmy Awards presentation, claiming the most trophies in 52 categories primarily covering technical areas such as editing, sound and lighting. An additional 28 awards devoted mostly to programs and performers will be presented this Sunday and televised on CBS at 8 p.m.

Here is the complete list of nominations for the 49th annual nighttime Emmy Awards, as announced Thursday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. They cover the period of June 1, 1996, through May 31, 1997: * Comedy series: "Frasier," NBC; "The Larry Sanders Show," HBO; "Mad About You," NBC; "Seinfeld," NBC; "3rd Rock From the Sun," NBC. * Drama series: "Chicago Hope," CBS; "ER," NBC; "Law & Order," NBC; "NYPD Blue," ABC; "The X-Files," Fox.