5. Thrill to some expert ballroom dancers at the Fabulous Fox
Maksim Chmerkovskiy left Ukraine for America in the 1990s to conquer the country through competitive Latin ballroom dance. By 2002, he was ranked second in the nation and seventh in the world. He went on to conquer Dancing with the Stars, which he won with Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis. Younger brother Valentin followed in his dance shoes, winning a world junior championship under Maks' coaching. Valentin also appeared on DWS, winning the twentieth season with Rumer Willis. The brothers take their show on the road in Maks & Val Live on Tour: Our Way. They dance at the Fox Theatre (527 North Grand Boulevard; www.fabulousfox.com) at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $48 to $98.
6. Check out a cool bike race in the Grove
High-speed bicycle racing returns to the Grove in the second installment of the Grove Criterium. The cyclists have a set amount of time to complete as many laps as they can on the 1.2-mile course, which features six turns. The first race (there are nine categories for male and female riders, with prizes for each category's winner) starts at 10 a.m. in front of Urban Chestnut (4465 Manchester Avenue; www.thegrovecrit.com). The brewery gets into the spirit in a big way, with a race-day expo that includes a beer garden, food and live music throughout the day. Admission is free for spectators and $60 for prospective riders.
7. See an important film at Webster U
A film that utilizes the talents of stoic comedian Buster Keaton and avant-garde writer Samuel Beckett seems like it would be a sure thing, but their only collaboration is as much of an enigma as it is a treasure. Beckett's "Film" requires Keaton to hide his face and flee from the camera, which pursues him relentlessly. The result is perhaps the ultimate distillation of the chase scene cliche, reducing the visceral thrills wrought by high-speed cinema kinetics to paranoia and existential terror — for Keaton's unnamed character and the audience. The Webster Film Series presents this lost gem in a double feature with Keaton's zany romantic comedy The Cameraman. The Great Stone Face plays a man in love with a woman who works at MGM Studios; he decides to get a job as a cameraman so he can be close to her, with some unexpected results. "Film" and The Cameraman are shown at 8 p.m. Friday through Tuesday (July 29 to August 2) at Webster University's Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood Avenue; www.webster.edu/film-series). Tickets are $4 to $6.
8. Catch Cirque du Soleil's new show at Chaifetz Arena
Insects are all around us, but we only notice them when they're biting us, stinging us or drowning in our beverages. Cirque du Soleil imagines a realm of bugs that experience curiosity, joy and love in its new show, Ovo. An egg appears one day in the center of the insects' community. As they ponder its meaning and possible significance, a quirky new insect wanders into town. Very quickly he notices a beautiful ladybug, and she notices him. You'll never look at a bug zapper the same way once you've witnessed the colorful, acrobatic and spell-binding world Cirque du Soleil creates in Ovo. The show is performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday (August 3 to 7) at the Chaifetz Arena (1 South Compton Avenue; www.thechaifetzarena.com). Tickets are $25 to $135.
