Visual & Performing Arts

Dancing with the Cougars: Social Dance Series Fundraiser 
$10 per person, donations greatly appreciated!
Studio 34 / Shafer Gallery
Learn Line Dances, Social Dances & Ballroom Dances of all types in this series of 2 hour class workshops taught by Danika Bielek, & assisted by the Barton Dance Theatre dancers. All proceeds go to support Barton Dance Theatre's trip to the American College Dance Festival in March. No partner, no problem!

1/15 @  2pm- Line Dances for Wedding Receptions.
1/19 @ 6:30- pm- Latin Dances
1/22 @ 2 pm- Kick'n It With Country and Western Line Dances-
1/27 @ 6:30 pm- Swing Dance                                               
2/2 @ 6:30 pm- Smooth Dances: Waltz & Foxtrott 
2/23 @ 6:30 pm- Tango (Location: Shafer Gallery)

String Masterclass 
Saturday, February 4th
4pm
Morrison Chapel
FREE EVENT
String artists (Violin, Cello, Guitar) from Emporia State University and Washburn University will come to campus for a masterclass with Barton Community College students and local community members Open to the public and this is a free event!    

Concert Jopara Ensemble: An evening of music and cultural exchange.
Saturday, February 4th
7pm
Fine Arts Auditorium
FREE EVENT
A concert featuring Paraguayan music in different instrumental combinations. Open to the public and this is a free event!    

Music Scholarship Day
Saturday, February 11th 
8 - 4pm
Fine Arts Building
Instrumental, Piano, and Vocal Music Programs audition students for Departmental and Activity Awards for Fall 2023.

Fairytale Creative Camp for Kids
Sunday, February 12th
2 – 5pm
Fine Arts Building
$10 per child, and additional siblings $5 each. 
Children aged 3- 12 years who love fairytales will enjoy this camp full of Creative magic lead by the Barton Dance Theatre college dancers. Kids will learn a dance, have an acting class, join in an interactive storytelling session, and more! Activities will be age-appropriate as children attend in groups defined by their ages. All proceeds go to fund Barton Dance Theatre students’ trip to the American College Dance Festival this spring.   

Barton Junior Day
Wednesday, February 15th
Campus Wide

Auditions: Under Milkwood
Tuesday & Wednesday, February 21st and 22nd
5 - 7pm
Fine Arts Auditorium
The Barton Community College Theatre Troupe “The Barton Bards” will hold auditions for its late spring production “Under Milkwood”. All roles and technical positions will be cast. Anyone age 16 and over is encouraged to audition. Please come with a rehearsed poetry reading to perform at least 1 minute in length.

Barton Cougar Dance Day
Friday, February 24th
9:30 – 4pm
Studio 34
Dance students interested in learning more about dancing in college are invited to attend Barton Community College’s 3rd annual Barton Cougar Dance Day. Dancers aged 13-19 years are welcome to join in a day-in-the-life in our dance department with our current dance students. During the event participants will take short dance classes, attend dance information seminars, rehearse with Barton’s dance company- Barton Dance Theatre, and more. If you ever wondered what dancing in college is like then sign-up! Click here to register for Barton Cougar Dance Day!

Barton Dance Theatre 1st Auditions for Fall 2023
Saturday, February 25th 
10 - 11:30am (check-in at 9:30am)
Studio 34, Sunflower Housing Units
Dance auditions for Barton’s resident student dance company will be held for the Fall 2023 group.
Why audition? Perform at diverse venues in technical dance styles ~Modern-Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance & Ballet. Gain valuable experience as a working dancer in a company setting, from auditions to final performances. Experience dance trips with the company to perform, attend dance workshops, and see dance concerts live. Excellent dance scholarships available.

R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)
Thursday, March 2nd 7:30pm
Friday, March 3rd 7:30pm
Saturday, March 4th 2pm and 7:30pm
Thursday, March 9th 7:30pm
Friday, March 10th 7:30pm
Saturday, March 11th 2pm and 7:30pm
Fine Arts Auditorium
$10 for adults. FREE for children and students with ID.

R.U.R "Rossum's Universal Robots" by Karel Capek respectfully adapted and modernized by Daniel Williams and the Theatre Students and Staff of Barton Community College.

Box Office Hours (located in F-142, Starting February 20th):
Monday – Friday: 9 AM-11 AM
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: NOON-3PM
*Hours subject to change/Closed Holidays
*Other times available with advance notice. Contact Box Office Manager, Jamie Fager: 620-792-9391 for more information.       

Parnassus Auditions
Saturday, March 4th
9am
Morrison Chapel & F-111
Barton will host the Parnassus Music Competition for vocal and piano students ranging from grade school to high school, sponsored by the Central Kansas Piano Teachers League.

Central Prairie League Festival
Tuesday, March 7th
Fine Arts Auditorium
Barton will serve as the host for this event featuring hundreds of music students from area schools. Performers will present solos and participate in small and large ensembles for ratings.

CANCELED - Vocal Masterclass 
Wednesday, March 8th
This event has been canceled. World-renowned tenor Hugo Vera from California State University will come to campus to give a masterclass to Barton Community College voice students and possibly private students from local teachers and will offer a concert along Dr. Avila featuring repertoire varying from Opera, Musical Theatre, Artsong literature and even popular music. 

CANCELED- Vocal Recital
Wednesday, March 8th
This event has been canceled. World-renowned tenor Hugo Vera from California State University will come to campus to give a masterclass to Barton Community College voice students and possibly private students from local teachers and will offer a concert along Dr. Avila featuring repertoire varying from Opera, Musical Theatre, Artsong literature and even popular music. 

Music Scholarship Day
Saturday, March 25th
8 - 4pm
Fine Arts Building
Instrumental, Piano, and Vocal Music Programs audition students for Departmental and Activity Awards for Fall 2023.

Barton Dance Theatre 2nd Auditions for Fall 2023
Saturday, March 25th 
10 - 11:30am (check-in at 9:30am)
Studio 34, Sunflower Housing Units
Dance auditions for Barton’s resident student dance company will be held for the Fall 2023 group.
Why audition? Perform at diverse venues in technical dance styles ~Modern-Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance & Ballet. Gain valuable experience as a working dancer in a company setting, from auditions to final performances. Experience dance trips with the company to perform, attend dance workshops, and see dance concerts live. Excellent dance scholarships available.

Student Choreography Auditions 
Friday, March 31st
4pm 
Studio 34
Inviting all Barton students to audition dances for the spring concert. We are looking for dances of all styles. Requirements to audition: Must be a Barton student but does not have to take dance classes through our department.

Student Recital 1
Wednesday, April 5th
4pm
Morrison Chapel & F-111
FREE EVENT
Enjoy instrumental and vocal performances by students of the Barton Music Department.

Voice Masterclass
Wednesday, April 12th
4:30p
Morrison Chapel
FREE EVENT
Vocal masterclass, featuring Barton's voice students and HS students of local vocal teachers. Dr. Jared Hiscock, voice faculty at Hastings College, NE will come to campus to work with voice students and present a short recital along with Dr. Avila at the piano.

Voice Recital
Wednesday, April 12th
6:00pm
Morrison Chapel
FREE EVENT
Dr. Hiscock will present a short recital along with Dr. Avila at the piano.

Instrumental Concert
Thursday, April 13th
7:30pm
Fine Arts Auditorium
FREE EVENT
Instrumental Music Ensembles perform in the Spring Concert 

Spring Choral Concert
Thursday, April 20th
7:30pm
Fine Arts Auditorium
FREE EVENT
Spring Vocal Concert to include all vocal ensembles.

Guest Artist: Piano Recital
Friday, April 21st
7:30pm
Fine Arts Auditoriun
FREE EVENT
International pianist Chiara D'Odorico will come to Barton to give a recital, featuring works of the main canon of Classical music at the instrument, as well as new compositions featured in her two albums: Purahéi Che Retãgua, and Ofrenda a mi tierra. More info: https://www.chiaradodorico.com

Barton Dance Dept. Spring Dance Festival
Thursday and Friday; April 27th and 28th
7pm (Box Office opens at 6pm for ticket purchases)
Fine Arts Auditorium
$5 Adult- Students & Children FREE. 
No tickets maybe purchased in advance.
Barton's Dance Department presents dances of all styles celebrating the best things in life. Performers include all Barton dance classes, Barton Dance Theatre, student choreography and guest performances by regional dance studios.

Theatre Production: Under Milkwood – Barton Bards
Monday, May 1st
Tuesday, May 2nd
7:30 pm
Crest Theatre - 1905 Lakin Ave, Great Bend, KS 67530
FREE EVENT

Student Recital 2
Wednesday, May 3rd
4pm
Morrison Chapel and F-111
Enjoy instrumental and vocal performances by students of the Barton Music Department.

Music Endowment Concert
Tuesday, May 9th
7:30pm (Box Office will open at 6:30pm for ticket purchases.)
Fine Arts Auditorium
$10 for Adults. Students & Children FREE. 
No tickets may be purchased in advance.
Join us for a concert featuring vocal and instrumental music groups including the Rock Band, Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Choir, and Hilltops. All proceeds go to Barton’s Music Endowment Scholarship Fund.

Central Kansas Community Choir Concert - Kansas Connection
Saturday, May 6th
7:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church, 2400 Washington Street, Great Bend
Central Kansas Community Choir perform music from the Heartland, featuring Kansas composers.

Barton Dance Theatre 3rd Auditions for Fall 2023
Saturday, May 13th  
11:30am- 12:30pm (check-in at 10:30am)
Studio 34, Sunflower Housing Units
Dance auditions for Barton’s resident student dance company will be held for the Fall 2023 group.
Why audition? Perform at diverse venues in technical dance styles ~Modern-Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance & Ballet. Gain valuable experience as a working dancer in a company setting, from auditions to final performances. Experience dance trips with the company to perform, attend dance workshops, and see dance concerts live. Excellent dance scholarships available.

A Hometown Holiday
Friday, December 2
7:30 p.m. 
Fine Arts Auditorium 
The concert will feature Holiday performances by Barton’s Concert Choir, Hilltop Singers, Barton Jazz Ensemble, various soloists and small ensembles. 

A Christmas Carol Radio Play
Tuesday, December 6
7:30 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
Check back soon for ticket information.

Central Kansas Community Choir Concert
Saturday, December 10
7:30 p.m.
First Methodist Church, Great Bend, Kan.
Barton's Central Kansas Community Choir performs uplifting vocal selections.

Barton Dance Theatre Auditions for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023
Saturday, November 5
10-11:30 a.m.
Studio 34 and Zoom
Perform at diverse venues in technical dance styles. Modern-Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance & Ballet. Gain valuable experience as a working dancer in a company setting, from auditions to final performances. Experience dance trips with the company to perform, attend dance workshops, and see dance concerts live. Focus on dance as an art form. Excellent dance scholarships available. 

Student Recital
Wednesday, November 9
4 p.m. 
Morrison Chapel and F-111
Enjoy instrumental and vocal performances by students of the Barton Music Department. 

Instrumental Concert
Thursday, November 17
7:30 p.m. 
Fine Arts Auditorium

Student Recital
Wednesday, November 30
4 p.m. 
Morrison Chapel and F-111
Enjoy instrumental and vocal performances by students of the Barton Music Department. 

Dancing Around the World
Wednesday, November 30
7 p.m.
Barton County Historical Society (Address: 85 US-281 Great Bend, KS 67530)
Students from the History of Dance class will present their research on dances from their heritage.

The Thin Place Fall Theatre Production

Friday, October 14 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15 - 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium 
*For mature audiences due to strong language.

Autumn Arts Concert
Thursday, October 13
7:30 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium
The Barton Performing Arts Department invites the community to enjoy its “Autumn Arts” Sneak Preview Concert! The concert will feature vocal and instrumental performances, as well as performances by the Barton Dance Theatre.

Haunting on the Hill
Saturday, October 29
3-6 p.m.
Fine Arts Building
Mostly free Halloween event exploring the creative side of the season. The family-friendly community celebration includes, games, performances, art-making, dance session, a haunted house for ages 10 years & up, and a costume contest. $5 fee for a spooky haunted house. Hosted by the Barton Performing Arts Departments.
*Check back for ticket information!

Love Letters in Motion Dance Performance
Thursday, September 8
7 p.m.
Shafer Art Gallery
Free event with donations accepted!
Event Creativity can happen at any age. That is the idea behind Kansas Creative Arts and Industries Commission’s new initiative for Creating Aging. This is an art education program developed by the national organization, Lifetime Arts. The program’s focus is to enrich the lives of adults aged 55 years and older through engaging art education led by teaching artists with the purpose of empowering them to set creative goals and learn an artistic craft that results in art projects to share with others. This year, art organizations across Kansas has been diving into this creative process with older adults using the theme of love letters and personal stories from their past to create meaningful work. After viewing some other Creative Aging events, participants from Barton’s Dancing for Mobility class we’re not only inspired perform for the first time, but also be the creative organizers of the event in partnership with the Shafer Memorial Gallery. Even though the class’s primary focus is to use dance as exercise to promote better balance and build strength, some class members decided to workout their creative minds as well. The short performance will include uplifting live music, live art work and a dance piece choreographed from the memories of loved ones from the performer’s past. Audience members are encouraged to share their own “Love Letters” during an interactive part of the event, if they wish. The project has been a transformative one for the performers. 

Faculty Recital & Exhibition in Partnership with the Shafer Gallery
Thursday, September 15
4:30 p.m. 
Shafery Art Gallery
Free event with donations accepted!
Barton Community College's Fine and Performing Arts faculty will perform music, theatre and dance pieces alongside a display of faculty visual artwork.

The Thin Place Fall Theatre Production
Friday, October 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 8 - 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
*There will be a reception following the October 8th at 2pm performance for a meet and greet for our new Theatre Director, Dan Williams. Cookies and punch will be served, please join us! 
Friday, October 14 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15 - 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Fine Arts Auditorium 
Check back soon for ticket information! *For mature audiences due to strong language.