Veronica Tennant, acclaimed ballet dancer and filmmaker, will launch UC Irvine's sixth Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series -- an annual series that brings renowned scholars and non-academics to campus to share their experience and expertise with the UCI community.

On Oct. 20, Tennant will host a special showing of "Shadow Pleasures" (2004), a performance film directed by her, and written and narrated by Michael Ondaatje, author of "The English Patient." Structured in five episodes, "Shadow Pleasures" features excerpted readings from some of Ondaatje's most popular novels ("In the Skin of a Lion," "Running in the Family" and "Anil's Ghost") and poems ("The Nine Sentiments" and "The Cinnamon Peeler"), as interpreted in dance and film by Tennant. At the showing, Tennant will discuss the collaboration, as well as her career as a dancer and director. The presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Edwards University Center, Cinema 6, 4245 Campus Drive in Irvine. Tickets are $30 for the general public, $5 for UCI students, faculty and staff. For additional information, call (949) 824-5414.

For 25 years, Tennant was prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada, where she earned accolades in every major classical role. During her career as a dancer, Tennant partnered with premier male dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev, Erik Bruhn and Mikhail Baryshnikov before turning her eye to filmmaking. As a dance film director and producer, her projects have won numerous awards, including three Emmys, and in 2004 she was named Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honor. "Shadow Pleasures" has been shown on the CBC and Bravo television networks, and excerpts from the film played in first-run commercial cinemas across Canada.

Since 2000-01, the Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series has featured fellows selected for their contributions in disciplines that address the challenges of an increasingly interdependent world. As part of their residency, fellows give a presentation to students, faculty, staff and the public.
Other speakers scheduled for the 2005-06 Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series include:

. Alan Lloyd, "Air Quality, the Environment, and Energy from Smog to Global Climate Change" -- Lloyd is secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, overseeing the environmental activities of the Air Resources Board, Integrated Waste Management Board, Water Resources Control Board, Office of Environmental Health Hazardous Assessment, Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Department of Pesticide Regulations. 7 p.m. Jan. 18, 2006, Beckman Center Auditorium; admission free.

. Mary Frances Berry, "Civil Rights in the United States: Past, Present and Future" -- Berry is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the former chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, 2006, Crystal Cove Auditorium, UCI Student Center; admission free.

. Margaret Geller, "Einstein Meets Newton: Mapping Dark Matter in the Universe" -- Geller is a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and has been a pioneer in mapping the nearby universe. 8 p.m. April 19, 2006, Social Science Lecture Hall, Room 100; admission free.

. William Julius Wilson, "The Bridge over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality and Coalition Politics Reexamined" -- Once selected by Time Magazine as among America's 25 Most Influential People, Wilson is the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University and author of several acclaimed books, including most recently "The Bridge over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality and Coalition Politics" (2001). 7 p.m. May 11, 2006, Beckman Center Auditorium; admission free.

. Marvin Minsky, "Building Intelligent Machines: Impact on Our Lives Today and Vision for the Future" -- Minsky is Toshiba Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research has led to theoretical and practical advances in artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, neural networks and other areas. 7 p.m. May 24, 2006, Beckman Center Auditorium; admission free.

Other speakers planned but not yet scheduled for this year's series include:

. Jagdish Bhagwati, "Globalization's Critics: Why They Are Wrong" -- Bhagwati is University Professor at Columbia University and Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a member of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Advisory Group of the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) process in Africa.

. Wangari Maathai, "Environment: The Language of Human Life" -- Recipient of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, Maathai is a founder of the Green Belt Movement, a broad-based, grassroots organization established in Kenya whose primary focus is the planting of trees with women's groups in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life.

For information on the planned events, contact Cheri Weisel at (949) 824-6503 or visit http://www.chancellor.uci.edu/distinguishedfellow.shtml.


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