By Christina Oddo

Writer

Arts. Everywhere, a three-day festival of the arts, featured free events open to campus and the public. The festival began last Friday, August 26, with the official opening of the Campus Theatre.

The events that followed were just as important. Visual artist Nancy Cleaver created a mandala chalk exhibit outside Smith Hall with the help of festival participants. The creation signified ideas of peace, joy and community.

The Weis Center for the Performing Arts housed a handful of spectacular events throughout the weekend. Saturday morning, jazz artist Phil Haynes partnered with associate professor of dance Kelly Knox to produce a twist on jazz dance, percussion and improvisation.

By night, the Weis Center was hopping with Hector Rosado y Su Orchestra, accompanied by salsa dance lessons taught by the University’s Latino Dance Corner (LDC). University students and faculty, and Lewisburg residents joined together to learn four simple but classic salsa steps.

“It’s really nice to be able to pass on a small piece of information and to watch people have so much fun,” said Luciana Salles ’14, president of LDC. For those interested in learning more about salsa rhythms and dance, look out for auditions for LDC coming soon.”

The Elaine Langone Center was honored to have Luke Chohany ’10 perform a preview of the classical guitar pieces he performed in Bucknell Hall later on Saturday.

Students were more than willing to aid the University and contribute their artistic ways to the festival.

“I am so happy to see the liberal arts so accessible and promoted by the University and its students, and I am honored that I got to perform in two of the many events,” said Matt Dranzik ’13,  “Arts.Everywhere was a huge success and the spirit of creativity will continue throughout the year and into the future.”

This weekend-long collaboration of arts, theatre, dance and music is an indication that the University’s stated commitment to the arts is coming to fruition.