From ancient sculptures to jazz classics to a world-famous love story, Dartmouth students will have a wide range of arts events to choose from this winter.
The Hopkins Center
The Hopkins Center publicity coordinator Rebecca Bailey said that she is “agog” at what is booked for the start of the term, particularly Shantala Shivalingappa and the performance of “Cineastas.”
Shivalingappa, who performs Jan. 7 and 8, specializes in South Indian dance.
Bailey said that “Cineastas” will be a theatrical production unlike anything the College has had before. The piece simultaneously tells the story of both the lives of four filmmakers in Argentina and the films they are producing in a “split screen” set.
“The concept, the stories, the acting and the technical aspects are all supposed to be incredible,” she said.
The Hopkins Center will present “Cineastas” on Jan. 15 and 16 in the Moore Theater.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will venture up to Hanover to perform a selection of American and European folk tunes, including pieces by renowned composers Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorák, on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. in Spaulding Auditorium.
On Jan. 23, Inuit singer Tanya Tagaq will perform in in front of the1922 silent film “Nanook of the North.” Bailey said that, much like the “Cineastas” performance, Tagaq’s performance will link film and performing arts.
“This similarity wasn’t intentional,” she said. “It just comes out of the fact that so many performing artists are using film and video these days in live events.”
Beginning on Jan. 24, the Hopkins Center will start its “Combat Paper Project” workshops as part of its “World War I Reconsidered” series — which will run for the remainder of the calendar year — commemorating the centennial of the start of World War I. Drew Cameron, a co-founder of the “Combat Paper Project,” will use traditional hand papermaking to transform used military uniforms into art. Cameron will also hold workshops on Jan. 25 and a discussion on Jan. 26.
On Jan. 30, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits will perform pieces focusing on social issues, with a mix of traditional Zimbabwean and modern instruments.
As part of the “World War I Reconsidered” series, the Kronos Quartet will perform “Beyond Zero,” a piece that will be accompanied by film footage to create a narrative of the early years of World War I. The performance will occur on Feb. 10.
On Feb. 25, Grammy-nominated jazz singer and 2010 winner of the Thelonious Monk competition Cécile McLorin Salvant will perform a selection of jazz classics.
Bailey said that she suggests that students take a chance on at least one of the artists visiting this term.
The Hood Museum of Art
On Jan. 10, the Hop and the Hood will host the second Dartmouth Alumni in the Arts Biennial Exhibition at the Top of the Hop. The exhibition will include public performances by alumni in both January and March.
The Hood’s exhibit of “Poseidon and the Sea: Myth, Cult and Daily Life” will open on Jan. 17. The exhibition will focus on the impact that Poseidon had on day-to-day life in Ancient Greece and Rome and will include sculpture, mosaics and coin.
On Jan. 30 and 31, the Hood will hold a celebration and symposium on the exhibition that will include a public reception, lectures and a keynote address by Tampa Museum of Art acting director Seth Pevnick ’99.
On Jan. 31, the exhibit “About Face: Self-Portraiture in Contemporary Art” will open at the Hood. The exhibit looks at the diverse approaches to the traditional art of self portraits in the modern world. The exhibit will include pieces by artists including photorealist artist Chuck Close and photographer Cindy Sherman.
Student Performances
While the winter term offers the shortest season, Bailey said that student performers rise to the challenge and continue to turn out strong performances.
On Jan. 17, dance groups Sugarplum and Raaz will take part in the Hop’s “HopStop” series to introduce school-aged children and their families to the arts. SugarPlum co-president Valerie Zhao ’15 said that the group has never done a show like this and plans to focus on interacting with children, through teaching breaks after dances.
“The goal is to engage the kids and show them how fun it is to dance,” she said.
While the location of the event, Alumni Hall, is not ideal for their choreography, she is excited to have the opportunity to make ballet more accessible.
Dartmouth Idol will return, starting with auditions on Jan. 25, semifinals on Feb. 3 and the finals on Mar. 6.
On Feb. 6, the Dartmouth Dodecaphonics will help kick off Winter Carnival with the annual “Winter Whingding.” Dodecaphonics president Katelyn Onufrey ’15 said she expects that the group will debut 10 to 12 new songs at the event.
She said that the concert’s location in Spaulding Auditorium and its wider audience, including community members and parents, make it different from most of their shows.
Onufrey said that the group has not finalized their song choices or which student groups they will invite.
On Feb. 7, the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble will have its 39th annual Winter Carnival concert. The group’s director, Donald Glasgo, said that the group’s selection will include music by composers Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams.
Other student groups performing this term include the World Music Percussion Ensemble on Feb. 13, the College Glee Club on Feb. 14 and the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 28.
During the last two weeks of February, students at the College will have the opportunity to see a new spin on “Romeo and Juliet.” The theater department’s production, directed by Peter Hackett, will include interviews with the actors and rehearsal footage.
Wrapping up the term, the Dartmouth Wind Ensemble’s partner group the Dartmouth Youth Winds will have a concert on Mar. 7. Bailey said that the program, which is in its third year, has helped connect young musicians with students at the College.
