What's on this weekend

Ballet Revolucion blends classical ballet with Cuban cultural dance styles. Photo / Supplied

Don't know what to do with yourself this weekend? We've handpicked the top five things to do around Auckland.

1. Dance like everyone is watching

The entertainment precinct has a dance off with Aotea Centre showcasing the crisp, heart-rending Salute, the brilliant tribute to the WW1 commemorations, from the Royal New Zealand Ballet, while down the hill the Civic has the energy and pop-Latin crossover of Cuba's Ballet Revolucion. Live bands go head to head too, with the ballet featuring the New Zealand Army Band (brass, drums with cello) vs the full sound of the Cuban streets in more drums, trumpet and voice.

Details: RNZ Ballet, tonight 7.30pm, Aotea Centre.
Ballet Revolucion, today 2.30pm, 7.30pm, tomorrow 1.30pm, 7.30pm, Civic Theatre.

2. Crazy cold

The winter solstice always brings out the crazy folks with their mid-winter swims. Super masochists head south for the icy snow-melt of the Tongariro River, making those who merely hit the Waitemata at Mission Bay or Devonport seem like wimps in comparison. There are prizes, possibly soup, to make up for it.

Details: Go Tongariro River Shiver, tomorrow, 11am-1pm. Creel Tackle House and Cafe, Turangi; Mission Bay, tomorrow, 12-2pm. Selwyn Reserve; Devonport, tomorrow, 12 -1pm, Windsor Reserve. All on eventfinder.co.nz

The Tongariro River. Photo / Ian Ashmore

3. Break the fever

The world's best young footballers finally vying for the FIFA Under 20s title. Today, Mali and Senegal play for third place before Brazil and Serbia will battle it out for the top. Finals tickets have sold out, so head to Fever Pitch, the interactive fan hub on Queen's Wharf for entertainment and to watch on the big screen. Opens at 10am and the final is playing live on big screens. Enjoy the festive atmosphere, food stalls, entertainment and be in with a chance to win spot prizes.

Details: Today, 1.30pm and 5pm. QBE Stadium or Queen's Wharf Fever Pitch, from 10am.

4. Fruity fare

This is the final weekend of Billy Apple: The Artist Has to Live Like Everybody Else, a huge retrospective. Get to the gallery, and time it to listen to jazz musician Nathan Haines and his quartet's sound performance based on the Billy Apple - Jonathan Besser score Quartet and new works based on Billy's classic motorcycle recordings.

Details: Until tomorrow, 10am-5pm. Nathan Haines, tomorrow, 1pm, North Atrium. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.

A piece from Billy Apple: The Artist Has to Live Like Everybody Else. Photo / Jennifer French AA

5. Bendy

Tomorrow is International Yoga Day and New Zealand is the first of 176 countries to celebrate it. The Manukau Indian Association, Yogathon NZ and The Art of Living are hosting a massive free community yoga session. Bring your own mat.

Details: Tomorrow, 8-10.30am. Vodafone Events Centre.