Fundraising resumes for university’s hurricane recovery team

For 39 Fresno State students, three staff members and two volunteers from Northwest Church in Fresno, a January trip to Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Slidell, La., was a trip to remember. And the team is sharing its memories in video presentations to on- and off-campus groups trying to raise money to cover unanticipated costs of a larger-than-expected student response, material to help the hurricane victims and an unfortunate incident on the way home.  More...

CSU Summer Arts Program course catalog available
For the eighth consecutive summer, the College of Arts and Humanities will host the CSU Summer Arts Program in July, embracing 17 intensive 2-week, 3-unit courses taught by guest artists who are tops in their fields.

The principal guest artist for the Complete Jazz Musician course, for example, is 2005 Grammy winner Terence Blanchard.
Students, practicing teachers, arts professionals and serious amateurs in various arts areas are urged to apply for admission to the program. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. In addition to the courses offered, CSU Summer Arts includes a festival of 41 public events showcasing the guest artists. 

A catalog describing each course is available by calling 241.6090.  The catalog also is available online at www.csusummerarts.org.

Portable Dance Troupe continues tradition of innovative art

The Portable Dance Troupe performs “Last Resort,” a concert featuring four innovative dance pieces, performed Feb. 17-19 and 21-25 in the John Wright Theatre.

One of the company’s artistic directors, Ruth Griffin, created “Rose to Blue” (inspired by two periods in artist Pablo Picasso’s career) and “Seven Deadly Sins” (based on the origins of the theological precept), which comes to life in ballet, modern dance, contact improvisation and physical acting.

The other two pieces are “Tablas,” choreographed by Erin Landry, which is inspired by a fusion of ballet and Afro-Haitian dance, and “Slightly Askew,” in which Melissa Rolnick has designed dance movements set to the music of Dmitry Shostakovich to evoke the structure of a slightly off-kilter string quartet.

Performances begin at 8 p.m., except Feb. 19’s (a Sunday), which starts at 2 p.m. Admission is $15 general; $13 for faculty/staff, Alumni Association Members (with identification), seniors (60+) and non Fresno State students; $8 Fresno State students (with ID). No one under 5 years old will be admitted. Tickets are available from the Theatre Box Office at the north entrance of the Speech Arts Building noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or online at www.csufresno.edu/Theatre.

For more information, go to the following Web sites:

www.csusummerarts.org

www.csufresno.edu/Theatre