Walton Arts Center is excited to announce the 2015-16 lineup for the 10×10 Arts Series, featuring 10 of the finest in music, dance, film and more at just $10 per ticket.  “10×10” is a phrase that’s become synonymous with curiosity, innovative arts and cultural engagement. Celebrating six years of extraordinary performances, this bold and diverse series is an inspired collage of what’s happening in the arts today.  From music, to dance, to film and more, the 10×10 Arts Series transforms an audience into a community of exploration, discussion and learning.

Jenni Taylor Swain, Vice President of Programming for Walton Arts Center says, “10×10 is about making arts experiences accessible and fun.  I think people who are curious and interested in expanding their horizons will love this series.” She adds, “Jazz, classical and dance are art forms that challenge, inspire and entertain us and give us new ways to see our lives and engage our imaginations,” says Swain.  “Walton Arts Center is proud to bring some of the best artists in their fields to Northwest Arkansas.”

All 10×10 performances include a pre-show Creative Conversation with the artists, an After Party and the popular Sticky Note Responses, which allows you to share your thoughts and experiences and post comments on the 10×10 feedback wall about the show to share with the artists and fellow patrons.

10×10 Arts Series

  1. Paragon Ragtime Orchestra presents The Clown Princes of Silent Comedy

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 – 7 pm

With more than 650 screenings across 48 states and seven countries, The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra (PRO) is one of the world’s foremost silent film accompanists and the world’s only year-round, professional ensemble re-creating “America’s Original Music” – the syncopated sounds of early musical theater, silent cinema and vintage dance. In this program, the PRO will accompany a screening of The Clown Princes of Silent Comedy – three short films starring Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Early cinema is a vast world of entertainment waiting to be enjoyed, and none bring it to life as grandly as the PRO!

  1. Simone Dinnerstein – An Arkansas Debut Bach Goldberg Variations

Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 – 8 pm

American pianist Simone Dinnerstein will revisit the work that brought her international recognition and critical acclaim – her 2007 Telarc recording BachGoldberg Variations, a self-financed album which ranked No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Classical Chart in its first week of sales. Motivated by a desire to find the musical core of every work she approaches, Dinnerstein is noted for the “majestic originality of her vision” (The Independent). Her deliberate and thoughtful approach to piano takes you on a journey of discovery, uncovering modern musical landscapes that renew your appreciation for classical music.

  1. BalletBoyz – An Arkansas Debut

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 – 7 pm

This all-male dance troupe has become one of the hottest dance tickets around. Performing at the highest level, the company delights audiences with flair and ingenuity, boasting rave reviews and sell-out performances around the world. The brainchild of two former Royal Ballet dancers, The Boyz have quickly established themselves as one of the most innovative forces in modern dance: revolutionizing traditional programming and collaborating with a wide range of cutting-edge talents. Combining dance that is technical, athletic, energetic and graceful with groundbreaking music and film, BalletBoyz distinctive style is sure to leave you wanting more.

  1. Danú

Sunday, March 13, 2016 – 4 pm

From fierce fiddle reels to pensive ballads, Danú’s high energy performances are a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Direct from County Waterford in Ireland, this spirited band is known for authentic interpretations, ebullient performances and jaw-dropping talent. For over two decades, Danú has performed worldwide for a growing fan base, making them one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles today. With virtuosi players performing a glorious mix of ancient Celtic music and new repertoire – with songs in both English and Gaelic – this evening will be a night to embrace the rich musical heritage of Ireland!

  1. The Swingles

Friday, April 1, 2016 – 8 pm

The Swingle Singers have pushed the boundaries of vocal music for more than half a century. First making waves in the 1960s with a group of Parisian session singers performing Bach compositions, this renowned ensemble has evolved alongside the a cappella world, holding onto their distinctive niche while growing their repertoire to include a wide variety of music. The seven young singers that make up today’s London-based group are driven by the same innovative spirit that has consistently defined the five-time Grammy® winners. Join us for an evening of harmonic excellence, as this esteemed British vocal band headlines WAC’s second annual VoiceJam Festival!

  1. Hubbard Street Dance

Saturday, April 9, 2016 – 8 pm

Hubbard Street Dance is among the most original forces in contemporary dance, demonstrating fluency in a wide range of techniques and forms with a deep comprehension of abstract artistry and emotional nuance. Highly acclaimed for its exuberant and innovative repertoire, the company performs works by masterful American and international choreographers – including the prolific Alejandro Cerrudo, who made his Walton Arts Center debut in 2015 partnering with Wendy Whelan. With 18 artists hailing from five countries, the ensemble exudes virtuosity and versatility. Help us welcome this celebrated dance company back to Northwest Arkansas to enrich, engage and transform lives through the experience of dance!

  1. An Evening with Branford Marsalis

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 – 7 pm

NEA Jazz Master, Tony® Award nominee, “The Tonight Show” bandleader, Drama Desk Award winner and three-time Grammy® Award winner – these are just a few of the accolades granted to Branford Marsalis. From his early acclaim as a saxophonist bringing new energy and new audiences to the art of jazz, he has refined and expanded his talents and his horizons as a musician, composer, collaborator and educator – becoming one of the most revered instrumentalists of his time. Don’t miss your chance to hear this legend play with one of the most innovative and celebrated ensembles playing today!

  1. Malpaso Dance Company with Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Octet

Thursday, April 28, 2016 – 7 pm

These impeccable dancers are committed to bringing Cuban contemporary dance into the 21st century, working with top choreographers from outside Cuba’s walls while continuing to develop talent from within. They have quickly amassed a significant repertoire, including two works choreographed by Osnel Delgado and Trey McIntyre (a WAC favorite!) set to a live score by Grammy® Award-winning Cuban-American composer Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Octet (ALJO). The ALJO brings together the drama of big band jazz, the culture of Latin music, and the virtuosity of the world’s most accomplished solo musicians to present some of the very best in dance music.

  1. DakhaBrakha – An Arkansas Debut

Sunday, May 1, 2016 – 7 pm

Ukranian “ethno chaos” group DakhaBrakha has radically revived and reshaped their musical heritage, giving native folk tunes an intriguing contemporary edge and producing unexpected, intimate new music that draws attention to Ukraine’s cultural achievements. Moving back in time to discover the roots of world music, the ensemble simultaneously crafts a trans-national sound using traditional instruments from various cultures alongside astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal harmonies. You’ll sway to the sound and soul of their deeply rooted voices and gape at their spare, yet unforgettable visual aesthetic, witnessing first-hand the many worlds of sound still waiting to be explored.

  1. Artosphere Festival Orchestra

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 – 7:30 pm

Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere Arts + Nature Festival is dedicated to introducing meaningful dialogue about the natural beauty of our local and global environment through innovative arts experiences. An integral and impressive component of the Artosphere Festival’s annual program is its lauded orchestra, which features premier musicians from major symphonies, prestigious ensembles and distinguished music programs around the world led by internationally acclaimed Maestro Corrado Rovaris. Help us welcome back these accomplished musicians for the sixth time, as they once again gather in Northwest Arkansas to present a series of professional music-making experiences unique to Artosphere.

See it all for $100 with our 10×10 subscription package. Tickets for the 10×10 Series can be purchased by calling 479.443.5600 or by visiting www.waltonartscenter.org.

Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ premier center for the performing arts and entertainment. Each year more than 190,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend over 275 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, graduations and more.  Approximately 42,000 students and teachers from 30 school districts participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 300 volunteers donate more than 22,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to pay on average only 50% of the cost of programs offered. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.