Arizona Arts Live looks to keep bringing the world to Tucson
The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet speaks to students in Hsain Ilahiane's Contemporary Muslim Societies class about music's role in mysticism throughout history.
In September, the classical jazz music of the Mohamed Abozekry Sextet filled the Hotel Congress Century Room in front of two sold-out crowds. Earlier that week, the ensemble of six musicians from two continents visited a Contemporary Muslim Societies class on campus and spoke with students about the role of Arabic instruments, jazz fusion and mysticism in contemporary Muslim societies. Both experiences were made possible by Arizona Arts Live, which funds and organizes logistics for international acts to come to campus, and Center Stage, a cultural diplomacy program of the U.S. State Department.
For more than a decade, Center Stage has brought artists from around the world to the U.S. to foster cultural exchange. This year is the program's final season, which will bring performers from Indonesia and Ukraine to Tucson in the coming weeks.
Chad Herzog
"The program uses arts and culture to show Americans, as well as visiting artists, that we're more alike than different," said Chad Herzog, executive and artistic director of Arizona Arts Live, the university's performing arts presenter.
Bringing the world to Tucson
Created by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts and Lisa Booth Management, Center Stage has brought nearly 50 ensembles from more than 25 nations to perform in the United States. Herzog said Tucson's openness, border location and Indigenous history make it a natural host for worldwide arts and culture.
"Tucson is a place that welcomes individuals from around the world, not just to show their work, but to be part of this community," Herzog said. "Audiences here are open to experiencing performances that may be new or unfamiliar, and that makes Tucson a special place for these artists."
The final Center Stage season includes two more international acts coming to Tucson:
Papermoon Puppet Theatre (Indonesia) | Oct. 8-11 | Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Rd., Tucson
Founded in 2006, Papermoon Puppet Theatre blends traditional puppetry with modern storytelling.
Kurbasy (Ukraine) | Nov. 13 | La Rosa Arts Center, 800 N. Country Club Rd., Tucson
Kurbasy, known for powerful vocal harmonies and theatrical flair rooted in Ukrainian folk traditions, close their U.S. tour in Tucson.
Beyond the stage
When Arizona Arts Live brings artists to Tucson, their stay extends well beyond their performance. Over the course of a week, they engage with students, faculty, staff and the community.
"Almost all of the artists on our stages are here more than three days," Herzog said. "They meet with classes and clubs, work with faculty and even eat with students. It's part of the research we bring to the university."
The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet played to two sold-out crowds in September at the Hotel Congress Century Room.
When the Mohamed Abozekry Sextet visited Hsain Ilahiane's Contemporary Muslim Societies class, the group offered both cultural and technical insight into music's role in mysticism throughout history.
"A standout moment was the sound engineer showing how Arabic instruments absorb sound differently and how recalibration lets them hold their presence alongside saxophone and drums," said Ilahiane, professor in the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies and associate director of the School of Global Studies. "For students, that was eye-opening."
Ilahiane said the experience felt like a "tiny study abroad" in his classroom, where the artists could meet students where they are.
"One of my students, a hip-hop musician and producer, was in heaven talking scales and theory I don't teach," he said. "That exchange was beautiful to watch."
Hsain Ilahiane
Looking ahead
While the Center Stage program is taking its final bow, the effort's impact and model will live on at the university.
"While Center Stage is ending as a State Department program, we're not done bringing the world to Tucson," Herzog said. "That's central to Arizona Arts Live."
Arizona Arts Live normally works at least two seasons ahead. In addition to presenting work that already exists, the organization actively commissions new work to help generate original performances that will shape future seasons.
Herzog wrote more about the partnership and future plans in an opinion column published Sept. 18 in the Arizona Daily Star.
Herzog said the commitment to making tickets accessible and affordable remains in place as well. The organization offers $10 student tickets and 20% discounts for employees who purchase tickets at the Centennial Hall box office.
Find more information and purchase tickets for future shows on the Arizona Arts Live website.