A Night to Remember: The Pablo Gimenez Spanish Ensemble at Bucknell On the evening of January 31st, the Weis Center at Bucknell University was transformed into a sanctuary of passion, rhythm, and cultural celebration as the Pablo Gimenez Spanish Ensemble took the stage. But the journey to that magical moment began much earlier, as the lobby of the Weis Center became alive with the sound of anticipation and the stir of excitement. As patrons arrived, the air was filled with the soft hum of conversation, the mingling of diverse voices, and the warmth of shared excitement. Students, faculty, and community […]

If you couldn’t find parking on Bucknell’s Campus on night of Friday, February 23rd, it was probably because nearly a thousand people had made their way to the Weis Center for the return of one of the finest symphony orchestras playing today. The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine returned to Lewisburg for the first time since 2020 to an incredible and enthusiastic reception. If you listened carefully over the hum of the full lobby, you’d hear this experience be called a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to witness artists in their peak form. The Weis Center was alive in all […]

“You are all VIPs tonight!” Hamid Rahmanian told the packed Weis Center auditorium during the introduction to Tuesday night’s show. And we certainly were. Rahmanian’s Song of the North would be a treat for the senses under any circumstance, but the Weis Center was treated to a very special “behind the scenes” experience. The large scale shadow puppet theatre, which includes over 500 puppets and a team of 9 actors, is usually set up with the giant screen facing the audience and the projectors, actors, and puppets backstage. But because of the size of the Weis Center’s stage, the whole […]

The Weis Center was abuzz last Friday as one of this year’s most anticipated performances took the stage: Grammy Award and International Bluegrass Music Award winner Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. Following a lively, acoustic opening set which earned The Wicked Chicken a standing ovation, Molly and her bandmates came out in cowboy hats and sparkles. A perfect combination to represent the rich, twangy, glittery fun of journey Molly took the Weis Center on that night. Featuring plucking guitar melodies so fast and complex, no one could fault you for forgetting there were human fingers controlling them and harmonies that […]

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 […]

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

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 […]