University of Virginia Library

University Union's Artists Series
Headlines Year's Cultural Activities

By Tom Adams
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

THE ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE

Photo by Jack Mitchell

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Will Perform Next Year As Part Of Artists Series

Troupe Of Fifteen Dancers Presents Legacy Of Black American Culture Through Music, Dance

Cultural activities abound for
the student interested in a diversion
from academics, and the vigorous
social whirl of the University.

Headlining this season's cultural
schedule is the University Union's
Artists Series. Each year the series
brings to the University a wide
selection of talent in the concert
and dramatic fields.

Leading off the six programs for
this year's series will be the Boston
Symphony Orchestra, conducted
by William Steinberg. The concert,
on Monday, October 20, will be
part of the University's Sesquicentennial
Convocation.

Successful Opera Group

One month after the Boston
Symphony's concert, on November
19, the Goldovsky Grand Opera
Theater will once again come to
Charlottesville, this year to do a
performance of Verdi's "La
Traviata" in English. The performances
of this most successful
of traveling opera groups are ideal
for those who have a limited
understanding of opera.

The program for the first event
of the series includes the Beethoven
overture "Consecration of the
House," Brahms' Symphony No. 2,
Starer's Concerto for Violin and
Cello and Strauss' "Till Eulensplegel."

New Year's First

The first event of the Artist
Series in 1970 is scheduled for
January 15, when the always
popular London Symphony
Orchestra, with Andreé Previn conducting,
will make its third appearance
on the Grounds. The London
symphony, has built up a considerable
reputation in its 65 years of
existence by giving the first performances
of many compositions
by British composers from Elgar
onwards.

One of the most exciting troupes
of the dance theatre to appear in
recent times will perform at the
University on February 9. The
Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater is a company of fifteen
young dancers that was begun in
1958 in New York City by Alvin
Ailey.

Negro Heritage

"The cultural heritage of the
American Negro is one of America's
richest treasures. From his roots as
a slave, the American Negro
sometimes sorrowing, sometimes
jubilant, but always hopeful has
created a legacy of music and dance
which has touched, illuminated and
influenced the most remote preserves
of world civilization. I and
my dance theatre celebrate in our
programs this trembling beauty. We
bring you the exuberance of his
jazz, the ecstasy of his spirituals,
and the dark rapture of his blues,"
the group's founder has said.

On Wednesday, March 4, students
will have a chance to witness
a performance by Misha Dichter,
certainly one of the best of the
young pianists in the nation. He
performed here last year and won
impressive reviews.

The final program in the Series
will be a performance on the hit
Broadway musical "Mame," with
Sheila Smith starring

Tickets Available

Tickets to the Artists Series are
still available at the Director's
Office on the fourth floor of
Newcomb Hall. Reserved student
seats for the entire series may be
purchased for $9.

In addition to the Artists Series,
the Music Department offers student
memberships to its excellent
Tuesday Evening Concert Series for
$7.50 to students and their wives.

Two student groups, the University
Glee Club and the Virginia
Players, offer performances
throughout the year for students.
Admission to the performances of
these two groups is usually either
free or for a moderate charge.