Best bets: See the real 'Swan Lake'
Black/white ‘Swan'
With all the award hoopla surrounding star Natalie Portman in “Black Swan,” why not take in the original Tchaikovsky ballet that inspired director Darren Aronofsky's film when The State Ballet Theatre of Russia performs “Swan Lake” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Tickets cost $30-$87. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org.
Russian myths
Pianist Inon Barnatan teams up with conductor Robert Hanson to perform fairytale-worthy music by Russians Mussorgsky (“Night on Bald Mountain”), Tchaikovsky (“Swan Lake”) and others with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets cost $25-$75. (847) 888-0404 or elginsymphony.org.
Chicago artist
Depiction of African-American culture by black artists is prominently featured in “Charles White: The Shaping of Black America,” which takes a look at the late social realist painter at the G.R. N'Namdi Gallery, 110 N. Peoria St., Chicago. The opening reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4; the show continues through Saturday, March 5. Free admission. (312) 563-9240 or grnnamdi.com.
A cappella act
A cappella troupe Naturally 7 has opened for Michael Buble and made plenty of guest appearances on late-night TV. Now see these harmonizing guys as the main attraction at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets cost $32-$35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts.
Argentine passion
Feel the passion of the Tango Buenos Aires dancers as they strut their stuff across the stage of College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, to the sounds of a live orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4. Tickets cost $36-$46. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.
Step dance on up
Celebrate Celtic dance and culture in the dance revue “Riverdance,” which makes a “Farewell Tour” stop at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets cost $48-$63. (800) 982-2787 or geneseetheatre.com.
Comic Koplitz
Joan Rivers is a personal friend and vocal fan of comedian Lynne Koplitz. See why Koplitz is one of the most sought-after comedians in the country when she does a special Valentine's weekend gig at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12; 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14. Tickets cost $17-$19. Special Valentine's packages run $50. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com.