Ailey II, modern dance repertory company
Friday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre 
As one of the most active touring ensembles in the United States, this company, formerly known as Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, brings to the stage endless energy, talent and soul. Sylvia Waters, the ensemble's artistic director, selects the most talented students from the Ailey School to take the leap from the studio to stage. The ensemble showcases a diverse and exhilarating repertoire that combines an array of outstanding choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Carmen de Lavallade, Homer Avila and Edisa Weeks. This is a dance company that you will never forget after you see their powerful and moving performance.

Crazy for You, Broadway musical with music by Gershwin
Tuesday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre 
Winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Choreography, Crazy for You is pure magic; the one show in years that has brought back the lost paradise of the American musical in all its glory. Based on the George and Ira Gershwin musical, Girl Crazy, Crazy for You retains the zany, loveable boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl plot line. The best of the original show's timeless songs include "Bidin' My Time," "Embraceable You," "But Not For Me" and "I Got Rhythm." Filled with a treasure-trove of gems of the Gershwins' genius, and featuring the dazzling choreography of the period, Crazy For You is a visual treat filled with unforgettable songs, phenomenal dancing and sparkling showmanship.

Rhythm & Brass, 6-piece jazz ensemble
Tuesday March 27, 7:30 p.m., Carl Sandburg Auditorium, Holmes Student Center 
Duke Ellington reserved the term "Beyond Category" as the highest praise for those artists who transcended normal boundaries. Since their first season in 1993, Rhythm & Brass has lived up to the ideal of music unbound by time and geography of culture. Rhythm & Brass demonstrates their unique ability to incorporate influences as divergent as Josquin Dex Prez, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane, Johann Sebastian Bach and, of course, Duke Ellington. The ensemble discovers the commonalties in these influences and, in their own eclectic compositions, fearlessly molds them into a singular concert experience. Rhythm & Brass weaves a tapestry of sound, color and theater that is simply beyond category.

Chanticleer, all-male a cappella vocal ensemble
Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., Carl Sandburg Auditorium, Holmes Student Center 
With its seamless blend of twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer has earned international renown as "an orchestra of voices." This all-male group performs over 100 concerts a year across the U.S., Europe and Asia, consistently containing repertoire as diverse as Renaissance, sacred music spirituals, folk songs and commissioned works. Chanticleer, the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the U.S., has developed a remarkable reputation over its 22-year history for its interpretation of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music. The ensemble recently won a Grammy Award for their 1999 release, "Colors of Love."

The NIU Fine Art Series of the Campus Activities Board is funded in part by the NIU Student Association. Performances are open to all. The series received additional funding support from the Illinois Arts Council and the Heartland Arts Fund, in cooperation with The National Endowment for the Arts. Promotional support is provided by B-95 FM, Northern Public Radio (WNIU/WNIJ), The Daily Chronicle/DeKalb County Weekly, and the Sycamore News.