Jason Koski/University Photography

The 2014 launch of the Late Night Series of student-driven short performance pieces.

If you encounter people dancing in the street as you get off the Campus-to-Campus bus in New York City, or if you happen to catch a bit of a student film on the Schwartz Center’s plasma screen, take time to stop and watch.

These events are part of the celebration for Cornell’s 150th birthday brought to you by the Department of Performing and Media Arts’ sesquicentennial project, #150events.

Brought together by Joyce Morgenroth, a recently retired professor of dance, the abundant mini-performances began at orientation and will continue throughout the academic year.

“The Department of Performing and Media Arts is such a fertile ground for creativity, it seemed a natural fit for us to loose the floodgates this year as we celebrate Cornell’s sesquicentennial,” Morgenroth said.

In addition to a season of performances at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, given the number of events, many will be small, involving a few dancers or actors, Morgenroth said, and they will be offered in a surprising variety of locations where you might not expect to encounter dance, film or theater – for example the suspension bridge or the lobby of Lynah Rink before a game.

A list of events will be available on the PMA website, and they will also be promoted on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Some of the events will have ties to Cornell’s history, Morgenroth said, such as a photo exhibit of dance at Cornell dating to 1935 or the Arts Quad “Walk of Fame,” where passersby will be surprised by how many prominent actors, dancers, designers, directors, filmmakers and producers were students at Cornell.

Other events include:

• Showcases of student documentaries and feature films;
• Displays of set designs from Schwartz Center productions, highlighting the months of planning that go into creation of a set;
• Performances by edgeofthegorge, a student dance company led by faculty member Byron Suber;
• Theatrical vignettes to promote upcoming shows and to reveal what acting and directing students are learning in the classroom; and
• Special Cornell Cinema events, including live music with silent films and guest artists.