Also this issue: Eye Candy The tantalizingly decorative work of Candy Depew draws the viewer into its complex, multicultural core. -Robin Rice Marcel Marceau -Deni Kasrel Art in Northern Liberties -Debra Auspitz Macbeth -Peter Burwasser Self-Criticism George Pelecanos’ previous work is his own toughest judge. -Justin Bauer

March 20-26, 2003

artpicks

Rambleshoe

Take the famous North Carolina old-timey band the Red Clay Ramblers and mix with a bunch of dancers doing clogging and country style swing who call themselves Rhythm in Shoes. What do you get? Not a hoedown, not Hee Haw, but something called Rambleshoe. The Ramblers have been around for more than 30 years -- they were in the original Broadway production of Diamond Studs, provided music for Sam Shepard’s film A Lie of the Mind, have done a zillion A Prairie Home Companions and have toured everywhere, including sub-Saharan Africa. Heck, the Ramblers even won a Tony. The Rhythm in Shoes dancers started in Indiana back in 1980 but have called Ohio home since 1988. Sharon Leahy, the Shoe’s director/choreographer, has the modern dance training to put all the high-spirited clogging and tap into patterns that let you enjoy the fun while seeing the action. The joint performance of the music makers and the movers has been called a "crossover of Celtic music and clogging, wailing gospel and Mardi Gras marches." There’s something of a story line to all this fun -- one of the dancers actually is a character named Rambleshoe who goes on the road. One observer called the result as "impressive as it is silly."

Rambleshoe, Tue., March 25, 7:30 p.m., $28-$33, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900.

—Janet Anderson