Do you want to see breathtaking dancers, globally renowned musicians and blistering martial artists for the same price as a foot-long sandwich?
As a student at Rhode Island College, you can see some of the most talented artists in the world just a few minutes away from your dorm.
Despite being a small school in the smallest state in the Union, RIC features a brilliant arts program with a global influence. Along with dazzling performances by students, RIC also brings an assortment of gifted musicians, dancers and performers in what is known as the Performing Arts Series.
The acts and individuals brought to campus have won inter- national awards, and have been seen by millions across the globe, and regularly would cost a quite a bit of money to see. However, as a RIC student you get to see these distinguished performances for only five dollars. That’s right, for the same price you can order a fatty feast from a fast food chain, you can see some of the most entertaining and awesome performing artists in the world.
his year’s Performing Arts Series will be made up of 11 acts, five occurring in the fall and six in the spring. Kicking off the Series will be Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, a dance troupe hailing from Mexico City. Seen by over 22 million people in the last 53 years, Ballet Folklorico has become beloved across the world. Coming to RIC on Oct. 2, Ballet Folklorico is a compilation of various, diverse styles of Mexican culture, and serves as a historical walkthrough of Mexican history through choreographed dance.
Following Ballet Folklorico will be two music acts of worldwide prominence. On Oct. 21, Pianist Soyeon Lee will be bringing her unique style to the Nazarian Center’s Sapinsley Hall. Described to have “a huge, richly varied sound, a lively imagination and a firm sense of style” by the New York Times, Lee is a rising global star with an energetic sound. On Nov 5, The Muir String Quartet will return to RIC for their third performance of their six-part Beethoven String Quartet Cycle.
On Nov. 15, Roberts Hall will witness some of the most magnificent martial artists from China with the Shaolin Warriors. According to the Orange County Register, the Shaolin Warriors are “so good at what they do, it almost looks like animation.” Considered one of the best Kung-Fu acts in the world, RIC students should buy tickets early as their shows tend to sell out in advance.
The final show of the fall hails from the north and features a fiddling skill that kept the Devil out of Canada for years. On Dec. 9, Natalie MacMaster will come to RIC, fiddle in hand, to welcome the holiday season in style. Featuring jigs, reels and strathspeys that are all the rage in Canada, MacMaster is sure to warm RIC hearts during the December cold.
It may seem that RIC may be a small school with nothing interesting to do, but don’t be fooled; the entire world is up for grabs for students.
To get tickets for any of these sensational events, contact the Nazarian Center Box Office at (401) 456-8144 or at www.ric.edu/ pfa.
