For its New Orleans premiere, Cirque du Soleil gets elemental. Debuting in 1999, DRALION celebrates life with an homage in color-coded fashion to the four elements: air, water, fire and earth. But as with all things Cirque, nothing could possibly be quite so simple. This superstar circus troupe serves up a futuristic look at nature in a production that premieres this week under its blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau in the Zephyr Field Parking lot (6000 Airline Drive, Metairie). Dralion also infuses an Eastern sensibility into the Montreal-based circus act ordinarily awash in European flavor, borrowing a few pages from the Chinese acrobatic tradition. More than 55 artists from 10 countries are highlighted by a house troupe of 37 Chinese acrobats who literally try to take the circus to new heights. It's truly a visual feast: high-caliber acts include bamboo poles, ballet on lights, double trapeze, hoop dicing, juggling, single-hand balancing and much, much more. Accentuating the mood is a combination of visual and aural presentations that include a futuristic set capped off by a "three ring" aluminum sculpture representing the sun, a catwalk and a technical home base where a giant lantern is housed. The score borrows from several influences including Hindu melodies and instruments from Africa, Europe and beyond. Creative director Gilles Ste-Croix leads a team that features director Guy Caron, costume designer Francois Barbeau and composer Violaine Corradi. And, yes, there will be clowns aplenty. Dralion will tentatively run through Feb. 23, but may be extended depending on ticket sales. Tickets range from $45 to $65 for adults, $31.50 to $45.50 for children, $40.50 to $58.50 students ages 13 to 17 and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, while VIP packages can be purchased by calling (800) 678-5440 or visiting www.cirquedusoleil.com. Group sales are available by calling (800) 450-1480. Premiere-week performances are 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. After that, regular showtimes are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. -- David Lee Simmons

Rock 'n' Roll High School 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 El Matador, 504 Esplanade Ave., 569-8361 Everyone but a few hopeless, vinyl-grubbing geeks has gaps in their knowledge of rock 'n' roll history, and El Matador's Tuesday night Rock 'n' Roll High School is about to improve our cultural IQs. So far, the night attracts a crowd of people who already know all the words to most of the songs, but even these holier-than-thou rocker kids can learn a thing or two from DJs like Josh Nagel (of local retro-rock band the Fontanelles UK) and other musician types. The club leaves a revolving door on the booth, so each week brings a different trip. You might hear anything from Bo Diddley and the roots of rock, to Elvis' advent, or a set of '60s one-hit wonders and Ramones B-sides. Some DJs also throw in tracks from current bands who recreate historic styles, like Memphis garage band American Death Ray and notorious Detroit lo-fi rockers the Demolition Doll Rods. Next Tuesday brings Memphis band the Lost Sounds to show you how its done live. No cover. -- Cristina Diettinger

10th Annual Tribute to the Classical Arts 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 La Nouvelle, Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St.; 486-5900, ext. 136 Far from a round of back-slapping, the Tribute to the Classical Arts provides an up-close-and-personal view of the local performing arts scene. While honoring achievements in classical music, opera and dance, the Tribute illustrates the achievements with performances from nominated artists in all three fields. This year, the Tribute recognizes distinguished achievement from a wide variety of contributors to the scene. Dean Angeles, director of orchestra and string education at Loyola University, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. (See this week's A&E Feature.) The Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will receive the Arts Education Award. Jeri Nims, benefactor and Gambit Weekly's co-New Orleanian of the Year, will be given the Arts Patron Award. Moses Hogan -- who has been credited for bringing the American Negro spiritual to symphony orchestras around the world -- will receive the Outstanding Contribution Award. WDSU-TV anchorman Norman Robinson will serve as master of ceremonies for the luncheon. The Tribute benefits the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education and is made possible through the support of Gambit Weekly, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, the Hotel Monteleone, Werlein's for Music, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, and Smith & Wollensky Restaurant. Tickets are $25 and seating is at tables for 10. Seating is limited. -- Simmons

Papa Roach 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS Hordes of nu-metal fans were elated when Papa Roach released Infest in early 2000. The Northern California band had mastered the art of adolescent nihilism; its loud songs rolled every nerve-grating rock derivative into one obnoxious sound that parents couldn't stand, and its dark videos represented the ultimate teenage basement underworld. But Papa Roach has quieted down some since aggro rap-rock's late-90s heyday. Last summer's release, lovehatetragedy, is a throwback to the band's purer punk rock EPs from the mid-90s. A subsequent spot on Eminem's Anger Management Tour saw lead singer Jacoby Shaddix (who has shed his adopted moniker, Coby Dick) getting cathartic on crowds of Slim Shady wannabes. To seal a connection with the rap world, Papa Roach recently collaborated with N.E.R.D. (featuring pop-production kings the Neptunes) on a track titled "Don't Look Back" for the Biker Boyz soundtrack, released last week. Swedish rock band Blindside opens. Tickets $15. -- Diettinger

Freilich does Dylan 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 Mermaid Lounge, 1100 Constance St., 524-4747 Guitarist Jonathan Freilich doesn't shy away from musical challenges, whether it's with his own creative jazz bands Naked on the Floor or the Naked Orchestra, or as a sideman in diverse groups such as the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars and Cuban-music devotees Los Vecinos. As an antidote to the procession of haphazard tribute shows filling local clubs, Freilich's putting his own spin on the phenomenon by paying homage to Bob Dylan -- in a decidedly Freilich way. Augmented by a rhythm section, Freilich plans to tackle compositions from every facet of Dylan's career -- "almost one song from every album," he says -- including such relative obscurities as 1964's "When the Ship Comes In." Considering that Dylan's revered for his lyrics, the most intriguing aspect of Freilich's take on the bard of rock 'n' roll is that it'll be 100 percent instrumental. "I think there are some ways you can put ideas about Dylan's output out there and do some explorations of the material," says Freilich. "Some people may find it impenetrable; some may like it." Admission TBA. -- Scott Jordan

OffBeat Best of the Beat Awards 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 TwiRoPa Mills, 1544 Tchoupitoulas St., 587-3777 Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen perform at the OffBeat Best of the Beat Awards on Friday at TwiRoPa Mills. Louisiana music magazine OffBeat annually asks its readers to vote in its Best of the Beat awards to honor their favorite musicians and albums, recognizing achievements of the previous calendar year. The winners are announced and honored at the Best of the Beat awards show -- which has turned into a full-scale blowout featuring one of the biggest and most diverse musical lineups of the year. Once the awards are given out (from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.), the music kicks into high gear 'til the wee hours of the morning. The 2003 show features performances from All That, Sean Ardoin, Bingo!, Brotherhood of Groove, Marc Broussard, Joe Caruso, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Henry Gray, Hazard County Girls, Hot Club of New Orleans, I.A.C., Eric Lindell, Fredy Omar con su Banda, the Red Stick Ramblers, Kermit Ruffins, Lil' Buck Sinegal and Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes. Food is also available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with offerings from 25 restaurants including Bourbon House, Gumbo Shop, Praline Connection and Acme Oyster House. Tickets $15. -- Jordan

Moragues Woodwind Quintet 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, UNO Lakefront campus, 280-6381 Moragues Woodwind Quintet kicks off UNO's "Les Nuits des Musiciens de France" series on Friday at the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The Louisiana Purchase bicentennial events are coming in fast and furious -- and I'm just talking about UNO. The school's classical music department, which loves a good packaging -- 2000's Beethoven series comes to mind -- has conjured up a fitting nod to our state's roots with "Les Nuits des Musiciens de France (Evenings With Musicians From France)." Throughout the month of February, some of the best and the brightest from one of Louisiana's spiritual homelands will grace the UNO campus for a trifecta of classical music. The Moragues Woodwind Quintet kicks things off; the five products of the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris have performed throughout the world including France, Japan, Germany and Holland. Three are soloists with the National Orchestra of France, the Paris Opera Orchestra, and Paris Orchestra; two are professors at prestigious French music schools. Upcoming performances on successive Fridays will come from Cedric Tiberghien (Feb. 14) and the Paris Piano Trio (Feb. 21). Individual tickets range from $5 to $20, while series packages range from $10 to $40; all can be purchased by calling 280-6381. -- Simmons

Oscar Wilde's Salome >8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Feb. 7-9; through March 9 UNO Downtown Theatre/Scottish Rite Temple, 621 Carondelet St., 945-4285 Hot on the heels of the New Orleans Opera Association's version of Oscar Wilde's Salome, local troupe Madame Palmetto's Amusement Company is scaling a multi-media event based on Wilde's 1892 play. Tristan Codrescu directs the tale of love, lust, debauchery and murder, with Diana E.H. Shortes in the title role, Henry Hoffman as Herod, Lyla Hay Owen as Herodias and Brendan McMahon as John the Baptist. A live band including the exotic textures of Brian Prunka on ud and Andrew McClean on tabla accentuates the action on stage. And to really get you in a Salome frame of mind, each performance is preceded by choreographers, composers and poets rendering their new works based on the play -- against the backdrop of a Salome-inspired group art show featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture, digital art, collages and jewelry. Admission $20. -- Manny Lander

S.I.N. featuring Princess Superstar 11:59 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE Princess Superstar is miffed by the fact that people play Justin Timberlake at hip parties, and she's doing all she can to offer the world an alternative. The rapper/DJ/vocalist/instrumentalist has been bucking the status quo ever since she released her demo in 1994. The recording, Mitch Better Get My Bunny, was a precursor to her debut full-length album, Strictly Platinum. Both sent buzz waves through industry circles. The Princess eventually started her own label, Big Rich Major Label, then changed its name to Corrupt Conglomerate, releasing The Last of the Great 20th Century Composers in 2000. Though she's been called "the female Eminem," she's not apparently angry; most of her rhymes are humorous and sex-drenched, her favorite melange. Her latest album, Princess Superstar Is, features producer Curtis Curtis and collaborations with the likes of Mista Sinista (of the X-ecutioners), Beth Orton and Kool Keith. Tickets $10. -- Diettinger

Elemore Morgan Jr., Debbie Fleming Caffery, Francis X. Pavy Through March 29 Arthur Roger Gallery, 432 Julia St., 522-1999 Ever notice how bayous meander all over the place? The creative process has also been described as flowing laterally, meandering all over. Maybe that's why there is so much creativity in bayou country. We know about the food and music, but these Acadian visual artists are no slouches either. Elemore Morgan Jr. is famous for his luminous paintings of the environs around Vermilion Parish. Likewise, Francis X. Pavy is known for his unique visual zydeco, hallucinatory images where the denizens of the region pass a good time in paint on canvas. And Debbie Fleming Caffery's photographs are being shown in conjunction with the release of her new book, The Shadows, images from the mysterious back country of Mexico and Acadiana. Her photographs are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. -- D. Eric Bookhardt