Under the bright lights: WCU's Bardo Arts Center welcomes ballet, circus acts
WCU will present Ballet Hispánico Feb. 12. File photo
With the spring semester soon underway at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, so, too, comes the rich, diverse and vibrant cultural programming to the Bardo Arts Center.
Offering four marquee performances from renowned national production companies, this Spring 2025 lineup for the BAC will include “Light Chasers with Cloud Cult,” “Ballet Hispánico,” “Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience” and “Our Planet Live: A Netflix Original Documentary Series with Dan Tapster.”
In terms of the WCU Stage & Screen productions featuring an array of its talented students, “Boeing Boeing” and “Pippin the Musical” will hit the stage on select dates. As well, the annual "Controlled Chaos Music Festival” will return in May.
Below are full descriptions and dates for the stage events.
• Jan. 24 — “Light Chasers with Cloud Cult”: We’re born. We grow together. We triumph. We lose. We fall apart. We mourn. We resolve. And then we depart. This is our collective journey. But, is there more?
This singularly unique production tells the story of one couple’s life together, from childhood to marriage, sorrow and reconciliation — and ultimately to departure — through the beloved art rock band, Cloud Cult’s, 2010 concept album, “Light Chasers,” performed live by the band during the performance. Told through dance, movement, lights, music and imagery, this beautiful and affirming piece finds joy in loss.
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Produced with permission and in partnership with Cloud Cult.
• Feb. 12 — “Ballet Hispánico”: This is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization and one of America’s Cultural treasures. For 50 years, Ballet Hispánico has been bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance performances, transformative dance training and enduring community engagement experiences. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Ballet Hispánico as they preform new and beloved works from their 50-year history.
• Feb. 13-16 — “Boeing Boeing”: Buckle up for farce at 30,000 feet. Jet-setting romances collide and turbulences of desire ensue. Parisian skies shimmer with laughter and intrigue.
• Feb. 27 — “Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience”: This captivating circus show unfolds the story of a character who has lost his inner light, plunging him into a wondrous and surreal world where memories come to life and the ordinary becomes ‘extra’ordinary.
WCU will present "Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience" Feb. 27. File photo
“Solstice” blends over eight acrobatic acts with lighting, costumes, music, scenery and snow to create a unique blend of poetry and circus in a 90-minute show. “Solstice” is an unforgettable celebration of the human spirit, where every member of the audience will feel like a kid again and remember what it was like to see snow fall for the first time.
• April 10-13 — “Pippin the Musical”: Step into a carnival of wonder, where illusions dance and destiny beckons. Young Prince Pippin’s quest for purpose unfolds in acrobatics, firelight, and magic.
• April 24 — “Our Planet Live: A Netflix Original Documentary Series with Dan Tapster”: From the Emmy Award-winning team behind Netflix’s “Our Planet” series, comes a new natural history speaker series: “Our Planet Live.” Brought to you by Silverback Films and Producer Desk in association with Netflix, “Our Planet Live” is a new and immersive live show featuring behind-the-scenes stories from the explorers, filmmakers, scientists and adventurers.
With some of the most eye-catching footage of our planet, this brings to life these stories from the natural world. With a focus on climate fragility and climate migration, “Our Planet Live” tells an unprecedented story about overcoming obstacles on a global scale and explores the messages at the heart of these action-packed, emotional, and unforgettable sequences.
• May 2 — “Controlled Chaos Film Festival”: The film festival is an annual showcase of work by students in the WCU School of Stage and Screen, Film and Television Production program. Organized by the School of Stage and Screen students, with faculty and guest judges overseeing the festival selections and awards, it features a diverse range of class projects, thesis, and independent films. For more on the CCFF, go to controlledchaos.wcu.edu.
WCU faculty art showcase
Featuring works from faculty artisans at Western Carolina University, the 2025 School of Art & Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition will be displayed Jan. 21 through May 2 in the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee.
Outside of the classroom, faculty members in the School of Art & Design are active artists and scholars that make significant contributions to the arts. The exhibition provides students and the community with an opportunity to view recent works created by distinguished faculty members whose primary research output is studio-based.
"Desert Gems" is a work by Nathan Ellis Perry.
A special reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the BAC. This event will include a gallery talk, along with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Free parking in available. The reception is free and open to the public.
The museum’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and until 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Want to go?
For more information and a full schedule of events at the Bardo Arts Center, visit wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center. To purchase tickets to any of the performances, go to wcuarts.universitytickets.com.
