Movement, music, and precision combine in a beautiful dance tribute to the chart-topping songs of Burt Bacharach. Described as “the preeminent modern dance organization of our time” by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Mark Morris Dance Group showcases sensational choreography sure to captivate eyes and ears. Following the roaring success of his Beatles tribute Pepperland, Mark Morris teams up again with musical collaborator Ethan Iverson for The Look of Love, a wistful and heartfelt homage to the chart-topping songs of Burt Bacharach. A towering figure, across decades of popular music, Bacharach is known for crafting soaring melodies embedded in unique orchestrations influenced by jazz, rock, and Brazilian music – his longtime lyricist Hal David providing unsentimental, often bittersweet lyrics. This evening-length showpiece features original choreography by Morris and new, lush musical arrangements by Iverson, performed by an ensemble of vocals, piano, trumpet, bass, and percussion, with singer, actress, and Broadway star Marcy Harriell on lead vocals. The Look of Love is a production of the Mark Morris Dance Group; BAM; BroadStage, Santa Monica; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley; The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University; Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth; and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in association with Arizona Arts Live, University of Arizona; Harriman-Jewell Series; The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Modlin Center for the Arts at University of Richmond; Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech; Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts; Tennessee Performing Arts Center; UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures; and Virginia Arts Festival. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Embark on a 60-year musical legacy with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, five-time Grammy winners spreading messages of peace and love. With a deep respect for cultural and personal history, they return to the Old Pueblo for an evening of uplifting South African rhythms and harmonies taking center stage at the Rialto Theatre. For over 60 years, the five-time Grammy-winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has captivated global audiences with messages of peace, love, and harmony. Formed in the early 1960s, their name symbolizes the founder’s hometown (Ladysmith), strength (Black, like oxen), and the ability to triumph over rivals (Mambazo, Zulu for chopping ax). Specializing in isicathamiya, a traditional music style developed in South African mines, the group reflects the cultural resilience of black workers who, despite harsh conditions, found solace in music during weekends away from home. In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon collaborated with them, introducing their rich harmonies to mainstream audiences through his landmark Graceland album, a pivotal moment in the popularization of World Music. Their musical efforts over the past five decades have garnered praise and accolades from a wide body of people, organizations, and countries. The late former South African president Nelson Mandela designated the group “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world,” a title the members carry with them with the highest honor. In 2018, the group received two Grammy Award nominations for two separate albums, a first in the history of World Music. These two nominations brought their career total to 19 Grammy nominations. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter

Join us for an unforgettable evening of strength, power, and grace as we proudly present the nationally acclaimed Urban Bush Women: Legacy + Lineage + Liberation. Prepare to be moved by their captivating performance highlighting the voices of women of color in an inspiring and healing journey live at Crowder Hall. For 40 incredible years Urban Bush Women have been using dance as a medium to unite diverse audiences through their innovative choreography, community collaborations, and artistic leadership development. Now, in Urban Bush Women: Legacy + Lineage + Liberation, they showcase iconic works that transcend genres, amplifying the voices of women of color. These timeless classics offer multiple dimensions of life that deeply resonate with today’s reflection on equity and justice, uplifting Black lives in profoundly inspiring ways. This dynamic program features iconic works by Founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and a new work by Co-Artistic Directors Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis. Works include but are not limited to: Give Your Hands to Struggle; Women’s Resistance; I Don’t Know but I Been Told…if You Keep on Dancin’ You Never Grow Old; and Haint Blu (proscenium). Urban Bush Women will mesmerize you with their exceptional musicality and thought-provoking reflections on empathy and joy. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube