A documentary premiere, dance, art and lectures highlight Fanfare’s upcoming week

A documentary film premiere, dance concert, a day of Latino culture, lectures, music, and art are the highlights scheduled during the upcoming week of the 40th season of Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual fall festival of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

First up is a special dance concert by Southeastern’s Department of Music and Performing Arts’ dance company, Dance Performance Project titled “LA STRONG: 14 Victims.” Scheduled Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., in Pottle Auditorium, the concert is approximately one hour.

Director of Dance and Dance Performance Project Artistic Director Keith “Skip” Costa said the concert is dedicated to the lives of the 14 victims who were innocently killed on New Year’s Day in New Orleans and the strength of our state to stand together as explored through dance, video projections, and music for the one hour performance.

Tickets to the concert (cash only) are $10 for students, seniors, children, and military, and $15 general admission and will be available one hour prior to the performance in the Pottle Auditorium lobby. 

Also on Oct. 1 is a Fanfare Day of Latino Culture, a College of Arts, Humanities and Sciences collaboration. Co-sponsored by the Departments of Communication, English and World Languages, and History and Political Science, the day of free lectures is scheduled in the Student Union Theatre from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

On Oct. 2, at 5 p.m., the department of Visual Art + Design will host an opening reception for the 2025 Visual Art + Design Exhibition “To Make and Be Received: Analyzing the Artistic Process.” Scheduled in the Contemporary Art Gallery on Southeastern’s campus, the opening reception is free. The exhibition will remain open to the public during gallery hours until Nov. 5. 

The exhibit includes seven artists from a variety of disciplines, including installation, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and photography: Eric Whitaker, Brooke Cassady, Diane Appaix-Castro, Ben Hamburger, Keir Johnston, Jessica Lynne Brown, and Danielle Fauth.

“The artists actively pursue the relationship between the conscious and unconscious realms in their work. The visual language is specific and personal, yet open to interpretation,” said Gallery Director Cristina Molina. “The exhibition invites the audience to first look at the artist’s work, and without titles or artist’s statements, leave written reflections on paper in response to the work. Then, the audience listens to interviews with the artists. This information reveals what is unique to them and what is shared.”

Also scheduled Oct. 2 is a music concert presented by the Department of Music and Performing Arts titled “Mosaic Concert: A Tapestry of Sound and Movement.” Scheduled at 7:30 p.m., the concert will take place in Southeastern’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond. 

The concert is a special evening of live performances from various university ensembles, including the Wind Symphony, Saxophone Ensemble, Bella Voce, Gospel Choir, dance ensembles, and opera scenes. Students from Southeastern Theatre will serve as the evening’s MCs. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 non-Southeastern students, SLU faculty and staff, and Southeastern students are admitted free with university ID.

Closing out the week is the world premiere of “Southeastern 100,” a documentary on the university’s first 100 years. Scheduled Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., at Columbia Theatre, the documentary explores the profound impact the university has had on the people, culture and economy of the region. The film presents stories from every aspect of campus, from the current students to some of the oldest alumni, as it looks back on a century of impact and toward a future of promise.

Entry to the premiere is free; however, an RSVP is required, and seating is limited on a first come, first served basis. Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. To RSVP, visit https://www.southeastern.edu/events/southeastern-100-documentary-world-premiere/.

Fanfare events are free, unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact the Columbia/Fanfare office at 985-549-2999.