Ten talks to expand your mind in London

LORD OF THE DANCE
Street dance, from hip-hop to krumping, is now recognised as an art form. So where does ballet now fit into the world of dance? 21 October, 7pm-9pm. Vibe Live, 91-95 Brick Lane, E1, www.battleofideas.org.uk, £7.50.

CASHING IN
A timely introduction to financial booms and crashes from Niall Ferguson, author of The Ascent of Money. The Ascent of Money, 6 November, 6:30-8pm. Sheikh Zayed Theatre, LSE, Houghton Street, WC2, 020 7405 7686, www.lse.ac.uk. Free.

ATLANTIC EXPLORER
Explorer Tristan Gooley talks about sailing and flying solo across the Atlantic. Travel and Exploration: A New Direction?, 6 November, 7pm, The Clothworkers Hall, Mincing Lane, EC3. www.rgs.org. For Royal Geographical Society members and guests.

ARTISTIC EYE
Art professors and psychoanalysts discuss the visual pleasure of art in relation to current Tate exhibitions. Sex and Shame in the Visual Arts (in collaboration with the Royal College of Art and the Freud Museum), 15 November, Tate Modern Starr Auditorium, Bankside, SE1, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk, £10.

MORAL MAZE
Discuss the ethics facing society and explore what we do, compared to what we should be doing. From Is to Ought? 26 October, 11am, South Place Ethical Society, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1, 020 7242 8037, www.ethicalsoc.org.uk/events. Free.

LATIN FILM
Film critic Julian Smith discusses the success of Mexican, Argentinian and Brazilian films in time for the 7th Discovering Latin America Film Festival. Transnational Cinemas in Latin America,
18 November, 6:30pm, British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, SW1, 020 7969 5300, www.britac.ac.uk. Free.

SCIENCE FICTION
This talk explores the links between different areas of Sir Isaac Newton's research. Sir Isaac Newton, Science and Unorthodox Theology, Friday 17 October, 1pm, The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1, 020 7451 2500, www.royalsociety.org.

SWEET TOOTH
Celebrate Chocolate Week with questions and answers from chocolatier Gerard Coleman, followed by a tasting of Fortnum & Mason's new chocolate bars. Meet the Chocolatier, 15 October, Fortnum & Mason,181 Picadilly, W1, 020 7734 8040, www.chocolate-week.co.uk.

MADE IN CHINA
Accompanying an exhibition from Chinese artist Wang Guangyi, experts discuss the politics of Chinese art. Politics of Expression in Contemporary Chinese Art, 31 January,
3pm-5pm, Louise Blouin Institute, 3 Olaf Street, W11, 020 7985 9600, www.ltbfoundation.org, £5.

POETRY IN MOTION
A study of the work, life and loves of the Irish poet WB Yeats (right) presented by actress Virginia Byron. An Evening with WB Yeats, 16 October, 7pm, Calder Bookshop, 51 The Cut, SE1, 020 7620 2900, www.calderpublications.com/shop, £6.

BLESSED EXISTENCE
Journalist Libby Purves talks to actor and explorer Brian Blessed about trekking into the Venezuelan jungle and up Mount Everest. Discovering People with Brian Blessed, 4 November, 7pm, Royal Geographical Society,
1 Kensington Gore, SW7, 020 7591 3100, www.rgs.org, £15.