by Anne Porter
staff associate

Infatuated Bob dedicates a song to Dream Date Suzy as a way to communicate his feelings for her without actually saying the words. Like Bob and his dedication, different cultures also can represent their beliefs, values and norms in the conveyed dialogue of music.

The Center for International Studies created the International Performing Arts Series to demonstrate the power of harmonies in a very entertaining way.

Joel Glassman, director of the Center of International Studies, has worked very diligently to make the Performing Arts Series possible.

"We are very proud of [the International Performing Arts Series]. We work with many ethnic groups, and we have tried quite successfully to involve them. Music seemed to be a common meeting ground," Glassman said.

Terry Williams, coordinator for the Center for International Studies, helped plan the inaugural series.

"The Center for International Studies has a very long track record in hosting lectures, seminars, workshops, and conferences, but those are more academically oriented," Williams said.

Before Williams began working on the Performing Series, some scholar-musicians spoke at UM-St. Louis. Altan, a group from Ireland, was one of those, and they will be performing in the upcoming series.

"Before, we've talked about political, environmental [and] historical issues.... now we have an opportunity to visit a culture through their art. This is the first year the center has produced this type of experience," Williams said.

Williams considers this another natural extension for the Center for International Studies.

"It's another way for the center to have an in-depth presentation about other cultures. It's an expansion of our services to the international community of St. Louis [so they can] learn more [about] other countries," Williams said.

An objective of the Performing Arts Series is to build an audience through the reasonable ticket prices. Through the audience, it is hoped the series will become self-supporting and able to host future international performances.

"We are inviting [the audience] to think of UM-St. Louis as a place that does produce performing art," Williams said.

Other missions of the series include an illumination of international cultures, a desire to provide the highest quality entertainment possible, and the potential to increase intercultural communication.

For next year's season, Williams looks to add more shows with the possibility of a Cuban performance to compliment the opening of communication with Cuba.

This year's concert schedule includes the following shows and dates.

On October 12, 1999, Vuka Uzibuse, the Zulu dance and drumming troupe which includes 24 dancers, drummers, and singers, will bring to life rituals of South Africa. These marriage, war, birth, and death rites embody the culture and life of the performers and their ancestors.

On Nov. 10, Nikos Touliatos will play ancient Byzantine, Demotic, folk, and modern music.

On Jan. 26, 2000, Altan, mostly from the northwestern countries of Donegal and Derry, plays an Irish and energetic Celtic concert containing ballads, jigs, and modern folk-based tunes.

On March 31, 2000, erhu virtuoso George Gao will perform. Gao has been Emmy-nominated for his delightful and exhilarating erhu performances. His music has been featured on television dramas, such as "Earth: Final Conflict" and movies.

Apr. 13, 2000, Kati Karoda, who starred in the off-Broadway version of The Joy Luck Club, performs nine characters in her solo performance. These characters incorporate the Noh and Kabuki styles with poetic elegance.

All performances are at 8 p.m. in the J.C. Penney Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for seniors over the age of 65, and $7 for students with ID's. For more information on the Performing Arts Series, call (314)516-7299.

"I guarantee [the audience] will see some of the finest acts brought to St. Louis, so they will not be wasting their time, money, or energy. They will be very well rewarded for attending the performance," Williams said.