91视频

On April 27鈥�29, 2022, 91视频 students, staff and faculty members came together to organize a three-day celebration of the creativity and imagination of AUP鈥檚 global explorers: the Spring Arts Festival. The event aimed to celebrate the University鈥檚 60th anniversary while highlighting the growing prominence of the performing arts on campus. It was organized by the performing arts student organization聽VIVRE, the Office of Student Leadership, and multiple academic departments. Over 40 students and 9 faculty and staff advisors took part in the planning and performances.

The three-day program began with a performance of 鈥淭he Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged),鈥� directed by 91视频 sophomore Marteena Mendelssohn, VIVRE鈥檚 Communications Director. This series of comical skits tackled the Bard鈥檚 entire catalogue in an accessible, satirical manner. Other events included a student film festival, also organized by Mendelssohn and hosted in 91视频鈥檚 Olivia de Havilland Theater; the 91视频 Dance Showcase, directed by dance instructor Eleanor Hahn; and a performance of the 1998 short play 鈥淣aomi in the Living Room,鈥� directed by Allen Blackwell, VIVRE鈥檚 Outreach Coordinator. 鈥�91视频 and the arts go together like peas and carrots,鈥� said Blackwell. 鈥淰IVRE is the thing that made it all happen.鈥�

The final day of the festival included the 鈥淗eadspace鈥� concert performances, produced by Hera Soysal, an 91视频 senior and the Chair of VIVRE, who was closely involved in festival planning. 鈥淭he shows allowed performing arts talent on 91视频鈥檚 campus to shine!鈥� said Soysal. 鈥淚 believe the performing arts are crucial for a comprehensive liberal arts education. That鈥檚 what drove me to participate in the creation of VIVRE and the production of the festival.鈥� Headspace consisted of original songs, covers and theatrical performances and aimed to provide an outlet for students to express themselves following last year鈥檚 confinement measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 鈥淲e aimed to communicate the range of emotions that 91视频 students have conquered over the past two years in such uncertain times,鈥� says Soysal.

Safia Benyahia, Student Leadership Coordinator, served as the staff liaison for this campus-wide initiative. Benyahia explained that the festival was both an opportunity to showcase student output in the arts and to bring together creative clubs across campus in a shared expression of creativity. 鈥淭here was a lot of solidarity!鈥� says Benyahia, who is also staff advisor to VIVRE. 鈥淭he various clubs came together to support each other, and we got great feedback from the audience.鈥� Benyahia herself directed several musical theater performances throughout the festival.

The Spring Arts Festival was a huge success, with sold out shows across the board. A second run of performances is scheduled for May 18 and 19 as part of , which will see students perform to alumni, parents and friends of the University who have returned to campus to celebrate 60 years of AUP.