To kick off the Weis Center’s Spring 2023 season, Step Afrika!, a traditional stepping company, brought a lively, energetic performance that dazzled audience members of all ages. Beginning with the pre-show talk allowed spectators to gain a better understanding of the traditions of the performance they were about to see. This talk also emphasized the artform’s roots in the community of traditional African American fraternities and sororities. The sense of community carried through during the performance as audience members were involved in chanting and clapping along with the artists. The performance consisted of rhythmic chants and movement and instruments for […]

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This past Friday, the Weis Center kicked off its 35th season with an invigorating performance by global fusion brass band, Red Baraat. Red Baraat energized adults and kids alike on the plaza outside the Weis Center. The music and collaborative nature of the performers enlivened the audience and allowed them to participate in making music and dancing with the band. This upbeat and inspiring performance was a pleasure to watch and be a part of! –Katherine Leschner, Class of 2023

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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

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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