Last rhumba in Ft. Worth

If Last Tango in Paris made you want to tango, this is the place. People of all ages dress “for going out” and head for the Wintergarden Ballroom any Wednesday, Friday or Saturday night. Admission is $3 and entitles you to free dance lessons when they’re offered. In November, for instance, waltz and swing lessons will be offered; the tango’s turn comes next May, and by then you’ll know the rumba, cha-cha, and samba.

Wintergarden Ballroom/1616 John West Road/Fort Worth/Wed., Fri., or Sat. Eves./327-6265.

Divine light show

Who is the Guru Maharaj Ji? And why have the 15-year old perfect master and his friends booked the Astrodome and the Astrohall for three divine days in November?

Well, for a party called Millenium ’73 that will be attended by 20,000 followers airlifted from India and the Continent to join some 100,000 Guruites to usher in a new era—1000 years of peace.

For three days the Dome will be alive with the sound of celestial music, provided by Maharaj Ji’s brother, a Houston resident, and with the vision of giant rainbows and who knows what-all, projected onto three 12-story-high scrims that will be dropped from the ceiling. That’s for openers. And on the third day, the Guru Maharaj Ji himself will speak and some believe he’ll do more. Anyway, it’s free and should be quite a trip.

Millenium ’73/Divine Light Mission/526-4639/Astrodome/Houston/Nov. 8-10/Free.

Best hat on the block

If you have ever wanted one of Bella Abzug’s hats, a shawl made of ties from members of the Texas legislature, or other priceless political relics, your chance has come. George Bush and Robert Stauss, chairman of the Republican and Democratic National Committees, will be putting these and other items—including airplane tickets to the next national conventions—on the auction block November 18 for the benefit of the Texas Bill of Rights Foundation. Tickets are $25 a couple.

Political Artifacts Auction/Texas Bill of Rights Foundation/Houston/November 18, 3 p.m.-7 p.m./Call 713-524-2263 for tickets.

For the young at art

Children and adults alike will delight at “Images of Childhood,” a celebration of the arts reflecting visions for children, by children, and about children. The festival, presented by the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas, opens November 3 and continues until December 4, offering music, drama, lectures, films, and exhibitions—and most festival events are admission-free or priced nominally.

Special emphasis is placed throughout on the music of Benjamin Britten, featuring Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Serenade,” “Cantata Misericordium,” “St. Nicholas,” and “Canticle II.” Recognition of young talent in visual and musical arts is prominent among festival offerings.

Particularly outstanding among the daily events are a new musical play for children—”You, Me, and Who”; the American premiere of “The Prince, the Wolf, and the Firebird”; renowned guitarist Christopher Parkening; George Crumb’s “Ancient Voices of Children;” and a children’s version of Moliere’s fantasy-comedy “Scapin.” Call 471-1444 for a brochure listing all events and times.

32nd Annual Fine Arts Festival/University of Texas/471-1444/Nov. 3-Dec.4.