Ball State Libraries' Programming Ranges from Latin Dance to Bluegrass Music

One of the benefits of attending college or living near campus includes the opportunity to enjoy diversity in music, art, and culture. Ball State University Libraries bring an array of performance arts programming to students, faculty and staff – from choreography with a Latin theme to holiday music with a Bluegrass twist.

On Tuesday, November 28, 2006 students from the Department of Theatre and Dance treated Bracken Library visitors to a high-energy dance performance under the guidance of Lou Ann Young, Creative Director. A segment of A Passion for Latin: Rhythm and Soul was promoted as a “sneak preview” to the full performance, which ran the first week of December at the University Theatre.

On Wednesday, December 4, the Ball State University Singers came to Bracken Library for a delightful 30-minute show of holiday songs. The talented group began their program by descending Bracken’s spiral staircase, which was donned in holiday greenery and red bows. The singers joined Dr. Jeffrey Carter to perform a variety of songs including Faith in the Season, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and White Christmas.

On Monday, December 11, Jerry Cole from Ball State’s Video Information Systems, along with his wife Judy and Jordan Hess, a talented 11-year old violinist, offered Bracken visitors a program entitled, A Victorian Bluegrass Christmas. Students took a respite from their studies to join in song and ring bells and tambourines. A class from Burris Laboratory School ventured over to hear the program, too.

The University Libraries seek to engage and expand cultural opportunites for the 5,400 students who visit the Libraries daily.

Many thanks to Fritz Dolak for arranging the series called Bracken Matinee Musicale. For information, contact Fritz at FDolak@bsu.edu or call (765) 285-5330. These performances and more can be viewed and heard from the University Libraries’ web site, www.bsu.edu/library/virtualpress.