This past Sunday, American Patchwork Quartet came to the Weis Center to kick off the Springseason. The musicians worked harmoniously together to create their own spin off of traditionalAmerican folk songs. It was beautiful to see band members of various cultural backgroundscome together to highlight that there is not just one definition of “American”. I enjoyed the blendof traditions and I could tell that the other patrons did as well. Something about the folk tunesand overlays of vocals and instrumental segments gave audience members a sense of comfortand feeling at home. ~Katherine Leschner, Class of 2023

On Friday, Nov. 12, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, BalletX, performed at the Weis Center. Each of the four works brought a distinct style and dimension to the company’s work, allowing the audience to experience a truly engaging spectacle. Although all of the works were beautifully choreographed, my personal favorite was Amy Seiwert’s It’s Not a Cry. In this piece, two company members danced to a musical rendition of Hallelujah. I thought the movement in this piece paired wonderfully with the song and told a moving story about yearning for love. The dancers moved seamlessly under the single white spotlight […]

On Thursday, October 28th, Mavis Staples gave a stellar performance at the Weis Center. Her unique vocal style of rock and blues captivated audience members and got everyone head-bobbing and clapping along to the beat. There was a sense of joy and excitement in the air as her voice paired with the guitars, drums, and blues medleys echoed through the auditorium. Staples said she guaranteed that spectators would leave happier than they arrived, and based off of the audience’s response, she accomplished that goal. Aside from her upbeat tunes with meaningful lyrics about equality and Civil Rights, Staples has a […]

I was in awe of Red Sky’s performance of “Trace” on Tuesday, September 28th. The company’s distinct melody of magically choreographed movement and eye-catching visuals projected onto a screen behind the dancers made this presentation unforgettable. As the dancers glided on and off stage, the audience could feel the performers’ sense of unity and reliance on one another to tell these Indigenous origin stories. It was captivating to see soloists, duos, and larger groups as the constant variety held spectators’ attention for the full duration. The music paired perfectly with the loose, fluid movements and superbly showcased the beauty and […]

The Tamburitzans brought Croatian, Georgian, Nordic, Russian, Serbian, Polish, Irish, and Bulgarian cultures to Lewisburg this past Friday. It was an incredible performance and included live musical instruments, singing, and dancing. Each piece was representative of a new culture. Through dance and music, the audience traveled through these intriguing countries around the world and got a taste of what the culture is like. There were larger dance pieces as well as smaller ones with less performers, which provided a nice variety. Additionally, there was always something new happening on stage. When one piece ended, the next one was already beginning […]

Allison Miller and her band Boom Tic Boom presented In Our Veins: Rivers and Social Change on Friday, Jan. 24. The performance consisted of a wonderful live band, a tap dancer, and captivating projections to encompass what the program is all about. The visuals of the nearby waterways paired wonderfully with the changing rhythms of the music and evoked emotions from viewers. The audience was able to see and appreciate the rivers of the surrounding area. The passion for the project was seen by all members of the ensemble as they immersed themselves into the music. It was interesting to […]

On Tuesday night, we welcomed Nobuntu to the Weis Center stage for a mesmerizing performance that dealt with various issues facing Zimbabwe as well as traditional gospel music. Each song blended the quintet’s voices with minimal percussion. At one point, they even engaged the audience by turning on the house lights and teaching the snapping rhythm and some song lyrics to the performance goers.  The ensemble successfully promoted their mission of using music as a vehicle for change to transcend racial and gender boundaries. In one of their songs, Moya Moya, they touch upon the sad story of a woman […]

This Saturday at the Weis Center, Manual Cinema spooked and stunned the audience with its intriguing multimedia performance of Frankenstein. The well-known story was conveyed in a unique, attention-grasping way which was able to captivate any lover of the arts. The show included live acting, orchestra and vocals, shadow work and puppetry, film, visual art, and sound effects. All of these elements brought the audience into the world of the story and allowed us to experience it in a new way. The Weis Center shook as the sound of thunder permeated through the space. It was fantastic to be able […]

The Philadelphia Dance Company, better known as PHILADANCO!, stunned the audience on Tuesday night with their captivating ability to tell stories through movement. The first piece on their program, “Super 8!”, dealt with love, sensuality, and seduction via the examination of three different couples. Throughout this piece, the music and lighting played a key role in complementing the dancers’ movements and enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, the communication of body language between the dancers was visible to the audience and provided an authentic experience. PHILADANCO! also performed two other pieces titled “With(in)verse” and “La Valse” which were both raw and […]

From Texas, to Brooklyn, to the Weis Center stage! Kat Edmonson, jazz vocalist with specialty in what she refers to as “vintage pop”, gave a truly captivating performance. As her recent album is titled, she truly is an “old fashioned gal”; her unique and romantic vocal style instantly places audience members into another time period. Kat conveyed to the audience and in several interviews that her main source of inspiration comes from 1930s and 40s movies such as Turner classic movies. These movies and personal life events such as breakups spark her spectacular songwriting method. Kat says she first hears […]