ON THE TOWNS: In Texas, a First for Female Filmmakers; Expect Feats (and Feet) of Fancy as Ardani Artists Celebrates 25 Years; 17th Annual Taste of Tennis Adds Appetizers

Yokayam, a strengthening exercise that combines yoga, Indian martial arts and Indian classical dance, is on the workshop schedule for the Indian Festival of Dance. Photo courtesy of Indian Festival of Dance.

AUGUST 2016

THE film world turns its focus on Locarno, which had been going strong for nearly 70 years in Switzerland. On these shores, the Women Texas Film Festival debuts in Dallas, proudly proclaiming that it is "the very first full-fledged film festival in the state of Texas to focus solely on the work of female filmmakers."

Elsewhere, plenty of dance moves are to be found at the Festival of Indian Dance and the spectacular Ardani Artists.

1-7 August

FILM. 3-13 Aug. Festival del Film Locarno. The 69th edition of the Swiss-Italian festival known for featuring trendsetting works and an open-air theater (Piazza Grande)'that can acconmodate 8,000 viewers. Various locations. Locarno, Switzerland. http://www.pardolive.ch/pardo/festival-del-film-locarno/home.html

Sennia Nanua at the Piazza Grande after the screening of her film, "The Girl With All The Gifts," at the Locarno film festival. Photo by Massimo Pedrazzini.

8-14 August

DANCE. 13-15 Aug. IAAC Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance. The festival highlights the literary content and language of classical Indian dance through a concert, workshop and all-dance program. The dance program is hosted by the Battery Dance Festival. Pace University and Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park. New York. http://www.iaac.us/IAAC_dance_fest2016/index.htm

15-21 August

THEATER. 18 Aug. - 2 Sept. Gregorian. Working Artists Theatre Project presents the Matthew Greene drama about the triumphs, challenges and tragedies - starting with the Armenian genocide - experienced by four generations of the titular family. Soho Repertory Theater, 46 Walker St. New York. http://www.WATproject.com/Gregorian

DANCE. 19-20 Aug. Sergei Danilian presents Ardani 25 Dance Gala. The 25th anniversary of Ardani Artists will feature three U.S. premieres. The gala closes with "Le Divertissement du Roi" choreographed by Maxim Petrov to the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau and featuring members of the Mariinsky Ballet. New York City Center, 130 W. 56th St. New York. http://www.bit.ly/2bbwTFg

FILM. 19-21 Aug. Women Texas Film Festival. The debut of the first Texas film festival to focus exclusively on the work of women opens with "Girl Asleep," the award-winning comedy from Australian director Rosemary Myers. Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas. http://www.WomenTxFF.org

22 August and beyond

FOOD, SPORTS. 24-27 Aug. 17th Annual Taste of Tennis (2016).The tennis-party franchise owns the week leading up to the U.S. Open. The main events, over three consecutive days, beginning 24 Aug. are Taste of Tennis Master Class: top chef prepares favorite meal of top tennis player ... the new Taste of Tennis World Team Tennis and Billie Jean King reception ... Taste of Tennis New York Gala: the jewel of the crown features dishes prepared by top chefs with an assist from top players, who may also help serve them up ... and the new Taste of Tennis Pavilion: takes what had recently been the Celebrity Chef Tennis Challenge and adds a Mylan World Team Tennis match and interactive Taste of Tennis Pavilion.

Finally, the Taste of Tennis Player Party has a new venue: the Knickerbocker Hotel. Guests mix and mingle with players, including Feliciano Lopez and Alexander Zverev, who will also be available for photo-ops. Various locations. New York. http://www.tasteoftennis.com/nyc/

ART. Through 25 Sept. 2016. Danny Lyon: Message to the Future. The retrospective of the photographer’s work includes nearly 200 photos and is billed as the first to consider his work as a filmmaker. Whitney Museum of American Art. 99 Gansevoort. New York. http:// www.whitney.org/Exhibitions/DannyLyonMessageToTheFuture