TEACHING THE TOPS: Most teachers have a few top students that they keep in touch with after the kids have left the classroom. But not every teacher can keep up with his former students by reading the Billboard charts. Bart Marantz can. He’s the head of the jazz studies program at Booker T. Washington and counts Erykah Badu, Norah Jones and Roy Hargrove among those who he’s taught. “That’s the beauty of being an instructor or a mentor,” Marantz tells dallasnews.com. “Those people remain with you.”

DANCE ANOTHER DAY: Texas Dance Theatre announced its 2010-11 season on Tuesday. Among the selections are a new work by Fort Worth-based choreographer Bruce Wood. Also new for this season – more dancing. The group will bump up the number of performances from five to eight. Wil McKnight, the company’s founder, tells dfw.com that the extra performances will lead to a stronger group of dancers. “Last season the dancers were working so hard for just one performance,” McKnight said. “And I would see things that could be improved upon.”

A LOOK AHEAD: On Aug. 29, the Kimbell Art Museum will open “Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea.” (Just got the preview invite in the mail yesterday.) The show defines the ancient culture by its relationship to water and will feature more than 90 works – some never seen before in the U.S. “Fiery Pool” opened at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., in the spring, and Artes Magazine took note with this review that includes lots of pictures and video.