Extending our range

It’s an institution of higher academic learning, yes, but the university also ranks high in social and cultural action. Take last weekend, for example, when the campus hosted a half-dozen musical events ranging from international folk music to swing dance to the Rathskeller’s late-night rock-n-roll.

Madison favorites Marques Bovre and the Evil Twins headlined the weekend music series in the German-style Rathskeller at Memorial Union. The union hosts a constant parade of lectures, concerts and performances, most open to the public. Photo: Aaron Peterson

Four floors above the Rath, dancers link arms at the Folk Ball, which capped the Midwest’s premier participatory folkdance festival hosted by Narodno International Dancers on campus. Photo: Aaron Peterson

Earlier, members of the Ethnic Dance Theater of Minneapolis performed a Hungarian folk dance. The day featured traditional folk arts ranging from instrumental music, singing and drumming to storytelling – many involving creative costuming as well. Photos: Aaron Peterson

Also in Great Hall, a large group gathered to dance together during an evening that featured Reptile Palace Orchestra (Madison), Izvor (Milwaukee), Spatter Dash (Indiana) and Izgrev (Chicago). As the evening grew later, over at Union South, students were swinging to a Club 770 “Live and After Hours” event. The RWJ Campus Task Force and Wisconsin Union Directorate bring live music and dancing to the no-alcohol venue Fridays and Saturdays. Photo: Aaron Peterson