Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes a wealth of dynamic campus arts events. From avant-garde dance showcases to nostalgic film screenings to Celtic fiddle music, there’s something for everyone to enjoy as the weather warms up.
Theatre and Dance
Zodiaque Dance Company
March 3 - 4, March 4 - 5
The 48th annual spring showcase of Zodiaque Dance Company will include jazz, ballet and contemporary performances (to name a few) choreographed by UB’s own dance majors.
The showcase is part of UB Dance Day, an annual celebration of dance on campus, which also includes a pre-show workshop, a dance class and a Q&A with Zodiaque Dancers.
An all-access UB Dance Day ticket costs $30; admission to the showcase alone is $10 for students.
Eurydice
March 9 - 11, March 11 - 12, Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre
This theatrical production is a reinterpretation of the iconic Greek myth of Orpheus with a unique spin — it’s told through the perspective of Eurydice, his wife, as she journeys to the underworld. Written by playwright Sarah Ruhl, the play is an inventive new look on a tragic story.
Admission for students is $10.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
April 27 - 30, May 5 - 7, Center for the Arts Drama Theatre
Written by two legends of musical theatre, this adaptation of Cinderella is a contemporary take on the classic fairytale. The whimsical production is perfect for anyone in search of a little magic.
Admission for students is $10.
Music
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Feb. 14, Center for the Arts MainStage Theatre
Join real-life couple and fiddle virtuosos Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy for a night of traditional Celtic music this Valentine’s Day.
The Canadian duo, who have collaborated with stalwarts like cellist Yo-Yo Ma, vocalist Alison Krauss and banjo player Bela Fleck, are internationally recognized for their energetic take on traditional fiddle music.
Tickets start at $29.
Harlem Quartet
Feb. 25, Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall
This acclaimed string quartet was formed by the Sphinx Organization, a musical nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity in the world of classical music.
The Grammy-winning group is set to take the stage at Lippes Concert Hall later this month to perform a selection of classical and jazz music.
The performance is free to UB students.
An Evening With Third Eye Blind
March 29, Center for the Arts MainStage Theatre
Best known for hits like “Semi-Charmed Life,” 90s alternative rock band Third Eye Blind is back on tour in support of their 2021 album “Our Bande Apart.”
A portion of ticket sales will benefit SeaTrees, an organization that fights climate change by restoring kelp forests.
Tickets start at $58.25.
Art and Film
Napoleon Dynamite Live
April 13, Center for the Arts MainStage Theatre
The cast of cult classic comedy film “Napoleon Dynamite” reunites for an engagement at the Center for the Arts this April. The event will kick off with a screening of the movie, followed by a moderated discussion with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries (or Napoleon Dynamite, Pedro and Uncle Rico, respectively).
Tickets start at $38, with VIP meet-and-greet packages available for $108.
I don’t know you like that —- Curator’s walkthroughs
Feb. 25, Anderson Gallery
March 2, CFA Gallery
UB Art Galleries’ latest exhibition, “I don’t know you like that: The bodywork of hospitality,” may have opened back in November, but there’s still plenty of time to explore the show.
Join curator Sylvie Fortin at the Anderson and CFA galleries for an in-depth walkthrough of the exhibition, which features a diverse collection of multimedia works on the topic of hospitality and the human body.
Admission to UB Art Galleries is free.
Meret Kelsey is the senior arts editor and can be reached at meret.kelsey@ubspectrum.com
Meret Kelsey is an assistant arts editor at The Spectrum.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
