WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The New York-based Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Company will celebrate works by contemporary dance visionaries and showcase a wide-ranging spectrum of both American and international repertory Nov. 13 in Purdue Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse.

The 8 p.m. event is presented by Purdue Convocations and includes a pre-show discussion by a member of the Cedar Lake artistic staff, who will talk about the company’s history and the evening’s repertoire. The discussion will take place at 7 p.m. in the Stewart Center Gallery.

Since its founding in 2003, the New York-based Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Company has distinguished itself through both its talented corps of 16 athletic dancers and its emphasis on acquiring and commissioning new works by the world’s most sought-after emerging choreographers.

Under the artistic direction of Benoit-Swan Pouffer, a celebrated dancer, choreographer and installation artist, Cedar Lake will take audiences on a bold and diverse choreographic journey in a program. The event features works by several distinct and important choreographers, including Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, and Didy Veldman.

Born and raised in Paris, Pouffer joined Cedar Lake as artistic director in 2005. His career began with study at the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse, where he performed works by such renowned French choreographers as Claude Brumachon, Daniel Larrieu and Angelin Preljocaj. Pouffer’s distinguished career as a professional dancer includes a seven-year tenure with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, seasons with Philadanco, Donald Byrd/The Group and Complexions. He also has offered outreach programs in South Africa and master classes throughout Europe.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $19 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at 765-496-1977.

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30 to 40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children’s theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of language, Andrew Clements’s “Frindle,” presented by the Griffin Theatre Company, comes to life on the Loeb Playhouse stage of Purdue University’s Stewart Center at 7:00p on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009.

Purdue Convocations will present an imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of language on stage on Oct. 1. Frindle is based on a book about a 10-year-old who decides to loosen things up in a classroom led by a no-nonsense teacher. (Photo courtesy of Brad Simon Organization)

The performance, part of Purdue Convocations’ family series, is recommended for children ages 8 to 12.

Based on the book by author Andrew Clements, the play follows 10-year-old Nick Allen, a creative kid with a lot of ideas; teachers know him as “trouble.” But it looks like his fifth-grade language arts teacher might put an end to his troublemaking days. Everyone knows that Mrs. Granger has X-ray vision, and nobody gets away with anything in her classroom.

When Nick decides to liven things up in Mrs. Granger’s class, he comes up with his greatest plan ever. He invents a new word for a pen: frindle. It doesn’t take long for frindle to take root, and soon the excitement spreads beyond the school and town and unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control. His parents and Mrs. Granger would like Nick to put an end to all this nonsense. But frindle doesn’t belong to Nick anymore. All he can do now is sit back and watch what happens.

“‘Frindle’ is-about discovering the true nature of words, language, thought, community, learning,” says Clements. “It’s also about great teaching and great teachers, and about the life that surges through corridors and classrooms every school day.”

Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30 to 40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children’s theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Bringing their unique mix of Mongolian folk and alternative country music, the Beijing-based band Hanggai, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Purdue Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse.

Hanggai, a folk band comprised of ethnic Mongolians, is captivating the Beijing music scene with its innovative blend of traditional Mongolian music with a contemporary feel.

The event is presented by Purdue Convocations in partnership with the Confucius Institute at Purdue University.

While China’s capital may seem an unlikely place for a Mongolian folk revival, Hanggai (pronounced HAHNG-guy), a folk band comprised of ethnic Mongolians, is captivating Beijing’s music scene with its innovative blend of traditional Mongolian music with a contemporary feel. Led by a singer Ilchi, the former lead singer for the punk band T9, the band members dress like men of the Mongolian steppes and perform on traditional instruments, such as the morin khuur, a horse-head fiddle, and the tobshuur, a two-stringed lute. Their music also features hoomei, an age-old traditional Mongolian throat-singing technique.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at 765-496-1977.

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30 to 40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children’s theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Tippecanoe Arts Federation (TAF) announces 28 organizations throughout Region 4 (Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren, and White Counties) will receive a total of $116,393.00 in grant awards for Fiscal Year 2010.

Earlier this year volunteer citizen peer panels, convened by TAF, reviewed 30 proposals. Grant awards were approved August 3, 2009 during the TAF board of director’s meeting.

Grants are made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission with funds appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly and the U.S. Congress, through the National Endowment for the Arts, and are for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009.

The following organizations from Region 4 were approved for funding:

Activities of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation are provided, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, with funds from the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Convocations’ 2009-10 season will feature 22 performances, including a variety of Broadway musicals, plays and concerts. Highlights of the season include Broadway musicals such as “Mamma Mia!” “Avenue Q” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” starring Ted Neeley, as well as performances in Elliott Hall of Music of “Metropolis” and the Martha Graham Dance Company.

This season features a diverse range in programming, including a partnership with Lafayette’s Long Center Theatre Organ Society presenting the silent film classic “Metropolis,” starring Clark Wilson; the Kronos Quartet performing the Midwest premiere of “Music from Fences,” a work co-commissioned by the Sydney Opera House and Purdue Convocations; and Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” by Aquila Theatre.

“‘An Enemy of the People’ has as much social currency today as it did when it was written 127 years ago, raising the age-old question of whether art imitates life or the reverse,” said Todd Wetzel, director of Purdue Convocations.

Other highlights of the season include special engagements leading up to the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Convocations, the organization’s donor group. Performances include an appearance by acclaimed jazz musician Dave Brubeck and the Martha Graham Dance Company.

The Friends of Convocations are a key part of Purdue Convocations, said Kendall Purpura, director of development for Convocations.

Avenue Q, the Broadway musical is coming to the Elliott Hall of Music, April 29, 2010

“Convocations appreciates the support that we receive through tickets sales,” Purpura said. “However, ticket sales only provide 60 percent of the costs of presenting performances. Contributions from Friends of Convocations make it all possible, and we are looking forward to celebrating 25 years of support from this devoted group.”

Friends of Convocations will receive priority seating if their orders are received by June 12. All other orders are then processed as received. To join the Friends of Convocations or learn more about membership benefits, contact Convocations at 765-494-9712.

In addition to scheduled public performances, thousands of students from preschool to high school also will be treated to a series of matinees and artist-in-residence activities that will be brought to schools during the 2009-10 season. These events are open to all schools, and a complete list can be found at http://www.convocations.org

Advance tickets are now on sale for all performances and may be purchased as single tickets or the flexible Pick 5 package. Discounted tickets also are available for groups of 10 or more.

Ticket order forms, complete ticket pricing information and details on all performances are available at http://www.convocations.org, in the 2009-10 Convocations brochure or by calling 765-494-9712. Tickets also can be ordered at the campus box offices or by phone at 765-494-3933.

The Purdue Convocations 2009-10 season schedule includes:

• “Metropolis,” directed by Fritz Lang and starring Clark Wilson on the Elliott Hall of Music theater organ. Presented by Purdue Convocations and the Long Center Theatre Organ Society. 8 p.m. Sept. 18. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students.
• Hanggai with special guest Mamer. 8 p.m. Sept. 25. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $18 for the general public and $15 for students.
• Andrew Clements’ “Frindle,” presented by Griffin Theatre Company. 7 p.m. Oct. 1. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $14 for the general public and $10 for students.
• The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” directed by Christopher McElroen. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $28 for the general public and $20 for students.
• “Mamma Mia!” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $20-$48 for the general public and $20-$35 for students.
• Jeremy Denk on the piano. 3 p.m. Oct. 25. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $16 for students.
• Afiara String Quartet. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $12.
• Dave Brubeck Quartet. 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $35-$85 for the general public and $25-$45 for students.
• Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. 8 p.m. Nov. 13. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $19 for students.
• “Strega Nona” by Tomie dePaola. Presented by Maximum Entertainment in association with Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences. 3 p.m. Nov. 22. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $14 for the general public and $10 for students.
• Fauré Quartett. 8 p.m. Jan. 15. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $16 for students.
• “The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson. Presented by the Enchantment Theatre Company. 3 p.m. Jan. 17. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $14 for the general public and $10 for students.
• Dave Holland Quintet. 8 p.m. Jan. 22. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $30 for the general public and $22 for students.
• “The Opera Show.” 8 p.m. Jan. 30. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $35-$45 for the general public and $25-$30 for students.
• Kronos Quartet, “Music Without Borders,” featuring a Purdue Convocations co-commission. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $16 for students.
• “Jesus Christ Superstar” starring Ted Neeley. 8 p.m. Feb. 12. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $20-$45 for the general public and $20-$32 for students.
• “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Presented by the Théâtre Sans Fil. 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $18 for the general public and $12 for students.
• “An Enemy of the People” by Henrik Ibsen. Presented by Aquila Theatre Company. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $28 for the general public and $20 for students.
• Martha Graham Dance Company. 8 p.m. Feb. 27. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $20-$38 for the general public and $15-$26 for students.
• Chaconne Klaverenga on the guitar. 3 p.m. March 28. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $12.
• Miguel Zenón’s “Esta Plena.” 8 p.m. April 9. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $19 for students.
• “Avenue Q,” the Broadway musical. 7:30 p.m. April 29. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $20-$45 for the general public and $20-$32 for students.