"Happy birthday, CFA"

This is the first of a two-part series. Next week's story will take a closer look at the history and impact of the Center for the Arts.

With a star-laden schedule that includes tap legend Savion Glover and the popular show "Rent," the Center for the Arts continues to celebrate its 10th anniversary this semester and commemorate a decade of growth in the arts at UB.

"Last year was an especially good year," said Thomas Burrows, director of the CFA. "This year is even better because the things we've added to the program seem to have taken hold and are really working out."

Although there are only three months left in the school year, the CFA's remaining schedule is packed. "Rent," the popular musical tale of the hard lives of several starving artists, comes in for two nights on Feb. 22 and 23.

Savion Glover, known for his Tony-winning tap choreography and performance in "Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk," rounds off the semester on April 22.

A few international acts include "Romeo and Juliet" presented by the St. Petersburg State Ballet Theatre on March 23, and the Trinity Irish Dance Company on April 8. The National Acrobats of Taiwan will jump onto the stage on April 20.

Burrows, who has been director of the CFA for eight years, said he expects stellar turnouts for many of these events, but it hasn't always been that way.

"It took time to develop an audience out here," he said. "It's been a long, but a very steady build."

On Wednesday the UB community was treated for the second time to opera at the CFA with the Opera Verdi Europa presenting "La Traviata." World-renowned opera star Kathleen Battle performed there in October.

"We're introducing opera this year because we think there's an audience for it," Burrows said.

A few other special events include a production of Cinderella on April 15, Don Quixote on May 7, and "Crossing Delancey" from May 5 to May 29.

Burrows said he is also proud of the way the CFA has brought the academic side of UB's arts community together. Before the CFA was built, the theater, dance and arts programs were scattered across both campuses.

"There are many more opportunities now," Burrows said, citing the music theater program, which wouldn't have been possible without the CFA. "The academic side tends to get shorted, and that hasn't happened here."

"Now (all these departments) are rehearsing, performing, constructing sets all under one roof," Burrows added. "And these are state-of-the-art facilities."

But before its current prosperity, the CFA faced growing pains when its entire budget was taken away in university-wide cuts. Today, the CFA still doesn't have a budget to pay for its numerous guests and performances, but it generates enough funds from ticket sales, renting out the facility, and fundraisers.

"I think we're tough as hell right now," Burrows said. "It was not easy. It took a really concerted and dedicated effort by the staff here."

"What has happened really," he added, "is that we took what we had and we maximized the use of every inch of the space."

Another event filling up the space besides students this semester will be Dr. Michael Eric Dyson on April 7 in the continuing Distinguished Speaker Series.

Burrows highlighted the CFA's ability to keep up with the overall growth of UB and said the programs offered are both improving and increasing.

"It's a pretty tightly run organization and we're expanding," he said.

And with the schedule for fall 2005 already filling up, and student programs growing and changing, Burrows said he has high hopes for the CFA's future at UB.

"Hopefully by next fall there will be programs such as a master's in arts management and museum management," he said. "Programs will be expanded, there will be strong internships, and more hands-on experience."