The Gourdian Society, a Northern Michigan University student organization, is hosting meditation classes at 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the Whitman Hall Commons. Sessions are free and open to the public. The group plans to meet every Tuesday, except over NMU breaks.

The Gourdian Society’s purpose is to teach the benefits and practice of meditation through the use of outside resources and materials. It also establishes discussion-based learning, examples and practice during meetings.

Email jmolloha@nmu.edu for more information.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center and NMU International Dancers will hold a free Ethnic Folk Dance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at DanceZone. The event will feature ethnic dances from various groups represented in the Upper Peninsula, including French, Italian, Slovenian, Finnish, Swedish, Irish and more. Music will be performed by the Copper Country’s Thimbleberry Band. The dance is being held in conjunction with the current Beaumier Center exhibition, "The Immigration Experience."

The University Choir and Arts Chorale of NMU will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at St. Peter Cathedral. Directed by Dr. Erin Colwitz, the choirs will present “Music for a Grand Space," featuring choral music suited for the acoustics of a cathedral. There is no admission charge.

Featured selections include music by Lauridsen, Palestrina, Ticheli, Culloton and Rutter to prepare for the group's performance at the 2018 American Choral Director’s Association Conference in Kalamazoo.