A trumpeter, santur player, vocalist and composer, Amir ElSaffar is steeped in classical and jazz traditions while also bringing the microtones and ornaments of Arabic music into play. He also is a practitioner of the endangered Iraqi maqam music, which influences both his playing and composing. His band, Rivers of Sound, features 17 musicians who blend Eastern and Western music, using fluid rhythm and pitches to create a transcultural soundscape. Tonight’s concert is part of Hancher’s Embracing Complexity initiative, designed to build understanding of contemporary Islamic cultures and Muslim identity
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The Daily Iowan - Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Pianist and composer Billy Childs, and his music’s rhythmic soul with undertones of jazz, will be welcomed at Hancher along with his quartet. They will play in Strauss Hall on twice each on Friday and Saturday.
Childs has been a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and, as of Sunday, is a four-time Grammy winner with his album *Rebirth* winning Best Jazz Instrumental Album. He will play music described by Hancher as grounded in the classical but also innovating rhythmically.
Daily Iowan - Friday, January 26, 2018
Camille A. Brown has dedicated her career to creating choreography and dance exploring culture, social justice, and African-American narratives.
She will talk about her creative process, thoughts, and experience today at 7:30 p.m. in Hancher’s Strauss Hall. The discussion, originally part of the Creative Matters Series, is free and open to the public.
Brown is the lead choreographer of her company, Camille A. Brown and Dancers. She is also a 2016 Guggenheim fellow, Broadway choreographer, and community-based dance instructor.
Little Village Mag - Thursday, January 25, 2018
Dancer and choreographer Camille A. Brown, a 2016 Guggenheim fellow, has had work commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Urban Bush Women and more. This Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., she presents ink, an original Hancher commission. The piece is the third in a trilogy about identity. The first two parts, Mr. TOL E. RAncE and BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, likewise explored black culture and identity.
Daily Iowan - Thursday, January 25, 2018
Ink uses a blend of everyday movements and traditional African dance to create a powerful display of African-American empowerment. Camille A. Brown, the creator of ink, roams around the stage with a mix of pedestrian-like motions and displays of modern-dance mastery. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Hancher will welcome Brown and her dance company as they perform Ink, the third and final installment of a dance series focused on African-American identity; the first two being Mr. TOL E. RAncE, which was performed in 2012, and BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, débuted in 2015.
Press Citizen - Tuesday, January 23, 2018
As students return to class at the University of Iowa, the second half of Hancher Auditorium's 45th season is about to kick off.
With Broadway shows, jazz masters, acclaimed orchestras, imaginative dance troupes and a noted crooner or two, the next five months at Hancher have something for everyone.
Here's a guide to 10 highlights from the rest of Hancher's 2017-18 season.
The Daily Iowan - Friday, January 19, 2018
African-American artists at the University of Iowa showcased their creativity in an event Thursday evening highlighting race-related social justice and progress through a wide range of artistic expression.
The event featured spoken-word poetry, music, theater, rap, and photography.
The event, Four Movements Towards Freedom: A Creative Showcase, was part of a series of events observing Martin Luther King Jr. week on campus.
Presented at Hancher, it followed a variety of other events including Che “Rhymefest” Smith’s keynote address, the King Day of Service, an anti-racism workshop, and much more.
Little Village - Friday, January 19, 2018
The updated Flyover website vows to “take the under out of representation,” and their lineup delivers.
Programming will continue to include fashion-focused events, musical performances, discussions and artist exhibitions including a collaboration with Hancher to exhibit the work of (totally bonkers in the best way) costume designer Machine Dazzle. Iowa City audiences might be familiar with Machine Dazzle through his work with Taylor Mac.
Press Citizen - Tuesday, January 16, 2018
One of the most gorgeous food and drink venues in Iowa City is someplace you may not have thought of: the University of Iowa's Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Road. Hancher will open its third-story Stanley Cafe from 5 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday during the school semester for drinks and eats at the cafe. No matter if there's an event at Hancher that night or not, you can take in the architecture and design beauty that is Hancher while also getting a full meal or just some drinks.
Iowa City Press Citizen - Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Paul Brohan may be new to his job as Hancher Auditorium's programming director, but the role of planning seasons and helping create creative opportunities at Big Ten universities is something he's been doing for years.
From 2004-2014, Brohan worked at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, first as the associate director of cultural participation then as the director of artistic initiatives.