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(08/24/12 3:52pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After 2002, the “Little Theatre,” once abuzz with student performances, sat empty.But after a 15-month restoration project, the IU Cinema, which opened Jan. 2011, is now home to the 82,000 movie reels the University has in its archives.With state-of-the-art technology, enthusiasts of the new cinema hope it becomes one of the best cinemas in the country.“This is a great moment in IU history,” IU President Michael McRobbie said. “It’s a great facility, and now, like the MAC and the art museum, we have a place to see great pieces of cinematic art.”Under the guidance of Herman B Wells, the theater officially opened its doors on March 19, 1941, and was traditionally known as the “Little Theatre.”Originally used as a performance space, the facility included a proscenium stage, two prop rooms, a scenic design room, a green room, two chorus rooms, four dressing rooms and seven staff offices.Until the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center opened, the “Little Theatre” was the main theater in which IU students could act. In December 2001, the theater showed its final performance, and in 2002, closed its doors.But now, the interior of the theater has been restored to its former glory, including four of Thomas Hart Benton’s “Indiana Murals.”“I had seen when the murals were being restored at the IU Art Museum,” said Chris Meyer, art director for the Offices of Public Affairs. “It’s great to see them so opulent.”The cinema shows a variety of film series and is also used for academic purposes.“I think it’s going to change the ways people will go to the movies and create a culture in film that has not been seen since the Nickelodeons,” senior Seth Mutchler said.About 40 percent of the films shown are used in partnership with other academic departments for lectures and classes.“I’m delighted for the University and our colleagues,” McRobbie said. “This will ensure the excellence we’ve always had in film and will become one of the best cinemas in the country.”
(08/11/11 9:43pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After 2002, the “Little Theatre,” once abuzz with student performances, sat empty. But after a 15-month restoration project, which included hiring a new director, the IU Cinema is now home to the 82,000 movie reels the University has in its archives.“I’m very excited,” said IU alumnus Drew Davdelin, who graduated in spring 2010. “It’s great for the city because there is no independent theater here. I traveled here specifically from Franklin to see this.”The cinema, which is THX certified, has a 16 mm and a 35 mm projector. Located on the northeast side of the IU Auditorium, the cinema is also 3-D and reel-to-reel capable, IU Cinema Director Jon Vickers said.With state-of-the-art technology, enthusiasts of the new cinema hope it becomes one of the best cinemas in the country.“I am absolutely delighted,” IU President Michael McRobbie said. “This is a great moment in IU history. It’s a great facility, and now, like the MAC and the art museum, we have a place to see great pieces of cinematic art.”Under the guidance of former IU President Herman B Wells, the theater officially opened its doors on March 19, 1941, and was traditionally known as the “Little Theatre.”Originally used as a performance space, the building opened with an original variety show of music and comedy titled “Take the Day” and the world premiere of William Saroyan’s “Jim Dandy.” The facility included a proscenium stage, two prop rooms, a scenic design room, a green room, two chorus rooms, four dressing rooms and seven staff offices.Until the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center opened its doors, the “Little Theatre” was the primary theater in which IU students could act. In December 2001, the theater showed its final performance with the play “Waiting for Godot.”In 2002, the theater closed its doors. But now, the interior of the theater has been restored to its former glory. Four murals, created by Thomas Hart Benton for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and also known as the “Indiana Murals,” have been fully restored.“I had seen when the murals were being restored at the IU Art Museum,” said Chris Meyer, art director for the Offices of Public Affairs.“I had also seen the building last summer when it was being restored, and the paintings were in boxes. It’s great to see them so opulent.” The cinema will show a variety of film series from international art house films to underground films. The cinema will also be used for academic purposes.“I’m extremely excited,” sophomore Seth Mutchler said. “I think it’s going to change the ways people will go to the movies and create a culture in film that has not been seen since the Nickelodeons.”About 40 percent of the films shown will be used in partnership with other academic departments for lectures and classes.“I’m delighted for the University and our colleagues,” McRobbie said. “This will ensure the excellence we’ve always had in film and will become one of the best cinemas in the country.”Originally published in the IDS on Jan. 14, 2011.
(05/02/11 7:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>School’s out for summer in a week, but before students throw away their worries for the summer, the IU Auditorium is announcing next year’s season. The upcoming season is filled with stage legends, TV personalities and Broadway shows.The Auditorium season will include a performance by Bernadette Peters, a one-night stand-up comedy show by Jon Stewart, the San Francisco Jazz Collective, Dennis James, a musical performance by Schola Cantorum de Venezuela, “Shrek the Musical,” “Chimes of Christmas,” “Stomp,” Evidence, A Dance Company, an evening with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, “In the Heights,” “South Pacific,” the European Union Youth Orchestra and “Young Frankenstein.”The Indiana Daily Student sat down with Director Doug Booher to ask about the upcoming season. IDS What inspired you to choose next year’s lineup?BOOHER Well, we wanted to make sure we did two things when planning next year’s season. One thing we want to make sure we focus on is providing the highest quality possible. We are very excited to have Jon Stewart, “In the Heights” and “Young Frankenstein” as a part of our lineup. The second thing we wanted to focus on was to book the hottest shows off of Broadway. We want to really reach the student population and not just show the same shows of the last 20 years. IDS The Auditorium has a lot of big names and celebrities coming by next year. Why is that?BOOHER One of the things we try to do season after season is to have a celebrity focus. Bernadette Peters is recognized as a Broadway legend and is known for her film and television work. She is going to kick off our season. Students and nonstudents will have an incredible night watching her perform. Jon Stewart will also have a lot to say, I’m sure. He will perform a very rare stand-up show. We are very excited to have him at the front end of our season. Anthony Bouradain is also going to be a great program. He and Eric Ripert are going to have a one-night performance where they talk the latest trends in culinary arts, eating and traveling the world. It should be a highly entertaining and a maybe controversial talk. I imagine without censoring, Anthony Bourdain is very likely to say things that will turn heads onstage. IDS Is there anything you think people should know about the season?BOOHER We are really encouraging students to place their orders before the summer. We are expecting a lot of tickets sold in the summer, and we want to make sure students are able to get their tickets before they sell out.
(04/28/11 2:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite dead week, students are not dead yet. Audience members were excited to weather the storm Wednesday night to see IU Auditorium’s final show of the season, Spamalot. It’s also known by its other title, “Finns Ain’t What They Used To Be,” presented by The Flying Finns Aerial Ballet, Rovaniemi Traffic Police, Border Guards for Christ and The International Friends of the Sauna. All of these were mentioned in the program. “I’ve seen the show on Broadway and I love it,” said Bloomington native Shelby West. “I think the humor is universal and everyone thinks it’s really funny.”The musical, which is “lovingly ripped off the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” has had a cult following since its preview in Chicago and later opening on Broadway in 2005. “I’m a big Monty Python fan,” said Indianapolis native Jeff Lee. “This is going to be a trip back down memory lane.”Monty Python has a legacy of good humor which has transcended the decades. From television to film, and now the stage, whenever the name Monty Python is associated audiences flock to see it. “It’s Old English humor. Slap stick.” Lee said “Some people don’t get it, but it’s just good comedy.”The auditorium lobby had a large variety of people ready and waiting to hear the familiar songs and jokes in a new context. “As I was walking around, I was seeing there were a lot of different people from different walks of life tonight,” said IU Auditorium Events Manager Maria Talbert. “I’m not sure what it is about Monty Python that attracts people, but I think it’s just smart humor. People love to laugh. And I think people always relate to the history of it. You have an affinity to it.”As audience members took their seats, a loud English voice boomed through the IU Auditorium speakers. The voice asked people to talk as much as they like on the phones, feel free to tweet and Facebook and to loudly unwrap candy. The voice quickly realized his mistake and told the audience not to follow the previous instructions. He then gave a hint of the treat that was in store. When the lights turned down, the familiar intro music started, playing to the tunes “I am not dead yet,” “Always look on the bright side of life” and other numbers. A rowdy trumpeter showed off and was quickly shot by the conductor.“I think it’s great to have a fun, light-hearted show at the end of the season,” Talbert said, “and we might have a similar type of fun show next season.”After the intro music, the Historian came on stage and gave a quick history lesson of England. Then, as if on cue, a large group of Finnish dancers danced onto the stage, slapping each other with fish and waiving the flag of Finland. This error was quickly caught and the play was taken back to dreary ole England. Spamalot poked jokes at the English monarchy and held important mathematical debates on whether or not a European swallow could carry a coconut. The conclusion was that an African swallow could, but not a European one. “I think this show is a good way to let off some steam from studying,” said IU sophomore John Machesky.
(04/21/11 1:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Cartoon movies always have a hidden message, and “Rio” is no different: “Don’t buy exotic birds.” The film focuses on Blu, the last male Blue Macaw on the planet, who is supposed to mate with Jewel, the last female, but is kidnapped by black market exotic bird sellers. Like most children’s movies, the film is very funny and just as entertaining for children as it is for adults. Unfortunately, some of the authenticity of “Rio” was lost with the many non-Brazilian, American celebrity voices, which at times becomes a little bothersome. But what the film lacked in authenticity of Brazilian voices it made up for in gorgeous scenery and a great sound track, which was helmed by Sergio Mendes. Director Carlos Saldanha, who was born in Rio de Janeiro, captures all of the beauty and magic of the city while also giving a view of its poorer parts.With its sunny scenery and fun samba numbers, “Rio” will have audiences leaving the theater dancing along with a deep wish to visit Brazil.
(04/20/11 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ballet dancers let their hair loose as they stepped into the role of choreographer for “Ballet at the BCT: The Choreography Project” on Tuesday. As people ran away from the rain into the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, dancers were backstage putting on the finishing touches to their costumes and makeup and warming up before going on. While performers were backstage, dancers turned choreographers were sitting in the audience waiting to see their piece come to life. “I think it’s really good to know how we think about movement,” sophomore and choreographer Miriam-Rose LeDuc said. “It’s good to step out of the box of dancer and expand ourselves.”While some choreographers were more relaxed, others were nervous. “When I’m the choreographer, I’m the one speaking,” sophomore Grace Hellweg said. “I’m telling the dancers what to say and having them speak through my choreography. I get more nervous for people to see my choreography than when I dance because my choreography says a lot about me.”Other choreographers had the same feeling of nerves. For them, the choreography of a dancer shows their story and makes them vulnerable, Hellweg said. However, dance is a collaborative art, and while some choreographers may have a vision, sometimes dancers incorporate the language of the choreographer differently through their bodies. “I choose not to tell my dancers what I’m saying through my dance and try to play with it,” Hellweg said. “The dancers allow the movement to tell their own story. You create something you didn’t plan on in rehearsal.”The choreographers were in charge of finding the costumes and picking the lighting cues and music for each piece. The choreographers had three weeks to rehearse their dances because of their intense schedules, Hellweg said. “Every year the show has gotten better and better,” said Violette Verdy, distinguished ballet professor and former Balanchine dancer. “Because our kids have been exposed to so many things, their imaginations are well-developed.”Every ballet major is required to do two choreography projects before they graduate as a part of the curriculum. “When you do intense ballet at the high level, you can do anything,” Verdy said. “Ballet is architectural, not just movement. It is architectural because we do it in space.”For the ballet dancers, ballet isn’t simply a form of movement, but a craft as well. Students become well-rounded artists and nourish their intellect and hearts, Verdy said. “The academics are the intellect and dance, which is the music, is the heart,” Verdy said. “If you just have the mind, it’s dry, and if you just have the heart, it can be disastrous. You need to have a combination of both.”As lights went down, two dancers appeared on stage. The man wore a fedora hat, while the woman donned a black gemstone jacket. Both snapped their fingers with their glittery gloves, and unexpectedly the song “Come Together,” a Beatles cover sung by Michael Jackson, started blaring while the dancers moved with style, funk and strength, showing the ballet dancers’ fun side. “I expected to see a lot more traditional ballet,” senior Gina Ricci said. “I appreciate that they have so much variety and more modern dance. It’s very entertaining.”The show also had traditional pieces of classical and contemporary ballet. Some fused ballet with contemporary music, and others used the traditional classical music and classical dance. The choreographers told stories about love, death, friendship, sex and fun. There will be another performance at 7:30 p.m. this evening. “In spite of the difficulties, they have the magic formula which opens many doors in life, not just dance,” Verdy said. “Dance is really civilization.”
(04/19/11 2:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Ballet at the BCT: The Choreography Project” opens at 7 p.m. today at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater and will also run Wednesday. The show is free and open to the public.As the dancers gathered at the edge of the stage to receive notes, the young choreographer approached the stage. She wasn’t the choreographer the ballet students were used to. Instead, she was one of their peers. The piece was sophomore Alison Koroly’s choreographic project. “We are required to choreograph twice before we graduate,” Koroly said. As the dancers approached their choreographer, other dancers warmed up to go onstage next. People were going in and out as each group rehearsed its piece.Instead of the one-set ballets some are used to at the Musical Arts Center, the BCT program will have a variety of different pieces and is not restricted to classical ballet. “There is this big mix this year,” Koroly said. “Everything is diverse. We have choreographers doing contemporary ballet to jazz to classical ballet. My piece is set to Michael Jackson music.”The dancers at the ballet department train in a variety of disciplines outside of ballet, including jazz, contemporary and modern. The choreographers’ projects give them the opportunity to incorporate their own movements and preferences of music into dance, senior and choreographer Brette Benedict said. “It’s fun to see you’re able to put your movement into others dancers’ bodies,” Benedict said. “Sometimes it’s even better than you imagined because the dancers look so much cooler than what you envisioned. But sometimes it can be a big disadvantage and challenge to explain how to execute your vision.”As the dancers walked off stage, they were attentive and happy to take the notes and choreography of their peers. “It’s cool to see how professional the choreographers get,” freshman and dancer Colleen Kerwin said. “You don’t just see them as your fellow classmate. Seeing the preview of the entire show yesterday was also an eye opener. It’s interesting to see how different everybody is. You can look at a piece and see the choreographer in it. You look back and say, ‘That is so Brette.’”The dancers left to take a dinner break, but they would be back. They had to finish rehearsing each piece and run the entire show. “This is great because as a dancer you get two more shows,” Kerwin said. “Plus you get more rehearsal time, which means more dancing.”
(04/18/11 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As some students were having fun at the races and preparing for one of the most epic weekends at IU, others were hastily working before the Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa concert Friday night. Dancers were backstage rehearsing, braiding each others’ hair and getting ready to open for the two hip-hop artists. Three different dance groups performed: Off Beat Hip Hop, InMotion Dance and Hip Hop ConnXion. “I’m very excited to open before Wiz tonight,” Off Beat dancer Marni Pozan said. “I’m seriously obsessed with Wiz and so excited about the people who will be here.”As concert time was approaching, the opening time delayed a bit as the line extended down the sidewalks. However, the delay only heightened the anticipation and excitement of the audience. The crowd was pumped and ready to hear Mac and Wiz. Then, as an answer to their requests, Mac came storming onstage with his entourage. The crowd members pumped their arms in the air and jumped in unison as Mac brought the party, exclaiming his love for IU and “the best day ever.” “Everyone at college shows are always cool,” Miller said. “For a long time I always thought that college crowds wouldn’t like me. College crowds are fun, they like to party and it’s cool to perform for a crowd that knows your songs and sings along.”Mac said he performed in Bloomington a couple of years ago for another Little 500 concert. The rapper said it was the first time he had performed for a crowd that was bigger than 10 people.After Mac performed, the lot was packed and the VIP section was completely full. Backstage, the path was to be cleared for Wiz. Suddenly, Wiz and his friends appeared from the greenroom and made their way onstage. As Wiz walked on, the crowd all congregated as close as possible to listen to “On my level.” “Hit the club spend this money up, roll another one, drink, act a fool / That’s what I have to do.” The lyrics resonated with the festivities and feel of Little 500. “A lot of college kids listen to him because they can relate to what he’s rapping about,” senior Dre Kates said. Wiz rapped about “getting on his level,” and his laid-back demeanor connected with the crowd. After rapping different songs from his new album, Wiz turned to the crowd and mentioned his love for Pittsburgh, and everyone knew what was coming: the song that has skyrocketed him to the top. The entire crowd started yelling in unison, “Ah ha, you know what it is / Black and yellow.” “I love it,” freshman Erin Robertson said. “I’m a huge Wiz fan. I think he’s just really chill.”Tickets were completely sold out and the concert was a success, concert coordinator Derrick Cowit said. “This is an incredible experience,” Cowit said. “I love being responsible for everyone’s good time. It’s a pleasure doing it.”
(04/14/11 2:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Guests happily lined up in the lobby of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Wednesday waiting to witness the marriage of dance and music at the Modern Dance department’s annual production of “Hammer and Nail,” which continues today.The show was free to the public, but the department requested monetary or food donations for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. As people made their way to their seats, the theater was filled with the sound of musicians warming up and excited guests chatting about the upcoming performance. “I love the freedom modern dance has,” audience member Gail Kincaid said. “It gives you a freedom to move your body when you watch it. And the form, the energy — all that makes modern dance great.” “Hammer and Nail” began in the fall when student choreographers from the IU School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation met student composers from the Jacobs School of Music. Once they were paired, choreographers and composers worked closely together to find the right music and tempo for their pieces. “It’s been really interesting,” violinist Anastasia Falasca said. “Before this I didn’t know much about modern dance. It’s a lot like ballet, but it’s more intense than I thought. It’s hard core and really great.”Students composed all of the music, and the senior choreographers designed the lighting cues, costumes, stage setting and choreography.“I’m looking forward to the lighting and watching the dancers,” audience member Erick Ferrer said. “I’ve never seen modern dance or been to this theater, so I’m excited to see how it turns out.”As the house lights turned down, the audience grew quiet while waiting for music and dance to take their vows and become one. “This show is the combination of two different art forms that come together and make something unexpected,” freshman trombonist Kevin Garza said. As the stage lights turned on, one dancer walked out dressed in white with grace and power. As the music joined her dance, other dancers accompanied her, and the celebration began. “Modern dance has a freedom of expression and creativity,” Kincaid said. “With modern dance you can express yourself in all ways. It’s not restricting, it’s freeing.”
(04/14/11 1:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You know what it is! Little 500 weekend is on its way, and so are the many concerts associated with it. Mr. Green and Yellow Lil Wayne might be the Union Board concert and one of the most prolific rappers now, but Mr. Black and Yellow Wiz Khalifa is making his mark in the music world as well, and not just in rap but also in hip-hop dance music. Bloomington and Wiz had ties before he became world famous and was on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Wiz came to Bloomington two years ago when he was the opener for Young Jeezy. Wiz even covered for the fraternities a year later by performing after Fabulous and Twista canceled. “He came out with no shirt and a backpack on,” said Derrick Cowit, Zeta Beta Tau member and All Around Entertainment concert coordinator. “Normally a person would leave a concert like that angry, but I left impressed, wondering who he was.” A year later he is now the headliner for this year’s ZBT/Sigma Alpha Mu Little 5 concert.The Wiz Khalifa concert is a part of the Campus Consciousness tour and will take place in the Sammy lot at 1500 N. Jordan Ave. “It’s going to be a great show,” Cowit said. “I consider Wiz to be a dance hip-hop fusion. It’s the type of music for people who are laid-back and down to party.” Cowit has had a lot of experience planning concerts. His company All Around Entertainment helped bring Snoop Dogg to the ZBT/Sammy lot last year. If people enjoyed the concert last year, they are sure to have a good time this year, Cowit said. A big factor of the concert is also Campus Consciousness, an organization dedicated to putting on concerts and bringing environmental issues to college campuses around the world. The concert will not only have music to party, but it will also have booths to inform people on staying green and recycling bins to keep the lot clean. “I personally believe that Wiz is such a different rapper than Wayne that I think it will be great to get people to see both concerts the same week,” ZBT member Zach Silverberg said. So if you’re down to party and want to learn how to be a little more green, the concert at the parking lot of ZBT and SAM is the place to be.
(04/13/11 9:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During the past few years there has been a wave of strong, female fighting machines. However, none of them compare to Hanna. Unlike other female fighting characters, who are usually sexualized and therefore weakened, Hanna lacks knowledge of society or ideas of femininity. What Hanna lacks in social skills, she more than makes up for with fighting and survival skills. Hanna’s father has isolated her in the snowy tundra of Finland, where he has trained her to be an assassin so that when the time comes, she can defeat her arch nemesis, Marissa Wiegler. After Hanna feels she is ready, she flips the locator switch so that Marissa can come find her. Unlike other action films, “Hanna” is not just about fighting. It has very interesting dialogue and well-developed characters. The audience experiences through Hanna’s eyes the wonders of technology and the beauty of humanity; plus, they get to see two very strong women. “Hanna” has hints of whimsy and lots of ass-kicking, leaving the audience fully satisfied.
(04/12/11 2:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On a rainy Monday afternoon, original music could be heard from the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as dancers were rehearsing for the final senior choreographic show, “Hammer and Nail,” which plays Wednesday and Thursday.There will be two programs on both nights; Program A will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Program B at 8:30 p.m.A hammer and a nail are two essential tools needed to build something. One is not useful without the other. For senior choreographers of the dance department this metaphor was taken to heart. “The name ‘Hammer and Nail’ seemed to fit because they are both tools used to create something,” said modern dance professor and mentor Selene Carter.The show is a collaboration between original music composed by students of the Jacobs School of Music and dance majors. “In the fall, there is a sort of speed-dating meeting where all the choreographers and all the composers meet and discuss what they would like to do,” senior choreographer Kate Page said. “From there each choreographer and composer is paired up.”Choreographers also must also choose the costumes, type of lighting, dancers and set. The live music is composed by their Jacobs collaborators. “It teaches you collaboration with a different artist,” Page said. “Our language is a little different. I know some music, but I don’t completely understand the language of the composer. Working like this with a composer better prepares us for the professional world.”The show has also been a performance opportunity for dance majors. All the choreographers had auditions for their pieces. After consulting with their faculty mentor, a cast is set, and students rehearse twice every week. “I grew up a competition dancer, where we always use CDs” freshman dancer Andrew Phillips said. “So to have to work with live music you have to get the tempo right. It’s kind of tedious and very different, but a great learning experience.”As dancers and choreographers were running away from the rain into the warm building, a sense of magic and excitement for something new could be felt.“When students first come here, many have no choreographic experience — they take two or three years of classes to prepare them for choreography,” said dance faculty member and coordinator Justin Zuschlag.After the rehearsal many took a break to eat, but it wasn’t the end of the day. For many, there was a preliminary rehearsal to use the space, and later a full rehearsal for the entire show. Because of the individuality of each dancer, each piece is to be very different and varied, Carter said.“I love to see when walls become doors. Sometimes limitations and obstacles can be creative outlets,” Carter said. “This is one of the first times they get to be on their own. It’s nice to see the finished product fully performed.”
(04/11/11 12:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sun, beautiful women in bikinis and 70-degree weather were the ideal conditions to transport Brazil to Bloomington on Friday at Jake’s Nightclub for the annual Bloomington Brazilian Carnaval. As the evening cooled outside, the party was heating up inside. Salsa and samba music played, followed by live music from Latino jazz band Fuego Lento. Among the diverse crowd were people from Brazil and other parts of the world. “Carnaval is for anybody,” said former Rio de Janeiro Carnaval dancer and graduate student Mazinha Hauskrecht. “In Rio, you see older people and kids all dancing and partying in the street. It’s a family event.” By 10 p.m. the drinks had been passed out, and everybody was waiting for what some would consider the main event: the live Brazilian percussion music.“It’s not the same thing as Carnaval, but for some it’s the closest possible experience to go abroad and experience that culture,” said Portuguese and Spanish professor Luciana Namorato. “It’s also a good way for people who are studying Portuguese to experience the culture and practice outside of class.”To celebrate, some were dressed in colorful wardrobes, beads and masks.As the night went on, Jake’s dance floor was flooded with people dancing and swaying. “I came because I know people who are going to be in the performance group,” said graduate student Miguel Angel Marquez. “I love the music, and I understand a part of it because I’m taking Portuguese.”Right before midnight there was a performance from aerial dance company Flight Club as well as a performance from Flores do Samba dance company, but what really got the crowd going was the IU Brazilian Percussion Ensemble.Jake’s became a sea of people jumping and dancing to the music. “Carnaval is about celebrating life, fun, friends, family and being together,” Hauskrecht said. “It’s about forgetting your sadness and having fun.”
(04/07/11 2:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Imagine an ice-cold glass of clean water. Imagine having to walk 3.7 miles to get that glass of clean water. Water.org member Erin Swanson spoke Wednesday in Chemistry 122 on the global problem of water and water sanitation. The event was presented by the University Coalition for Global health. “We decided to discuss water because water is a very tangible issue,” said junior and president of UCGH Rachel Warsco. “It is an issue which is a lot better to understand than the economy.”Swanson discussed the issues of water sanitation and how Water.org is helping with the issue. According to the website, 884 million people worldwide lack access to safe water supplies. Water.org seeks to work with various countries around the world to help them make a difference in water sanitation. Among its programs are water education, water technology and water credit. Swanson encouraged the audience to take action. “This generation has a lot of power and potential to make a difference,” Swanson said. One of the most successful programs Swanson spoke about was water credit. Water credit is comprised of small loans given to individuals and communities to have sanitary water systems. The credit helps people address their own water needs, and in turn helps their economies. Many of the people who deal with the water issue are women. Once women have access to loans, they don’t have to spend hours getting water, Swanson said. They are then able to start a business and make more money with the time they would have spent fetching water.Swanson encouraged audience members to take action by “donating” their Facebook or Twitter statuses, which would raise awareness and help raise money from sponsors.“The biggest action we can do right now is awareness,” Warsco said. “Once awareness is raised we can go in to change legislation and make a difference. One of the things we focus on is water scarcity and the global impact. If we don’t do anything about the problems internationally we will feel it in the States.”According to Water.org, 3.575 million people die each year from water-related diseases. “If you think about how much money we spend on defense and how much money we spend on water it really puts the water issue in perspective,” Warsco said. “It’s a problem that is killing millions of people but it’s solvable.”
(04/06/11 10:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington has a long history with stand-up comedy. It has had some of the biggest names in comedy grace the IU campus at one point or another. Whether it’s at the IU Auditorium, The Comedy Attic or Bear’s Place, Bloomington has shown that it does indeed have a sense of humor. “One of the things that makes Bloomington a great place for stand-up comedians is partially the responsibility of Bear’s. For 28 years, Bear’s was the place to go see stand-up comedy,” Comedy Attic owner Jared Thompson said. “A lot of comedians who are big names now played at Bear’s when they were lesser known.” Bear’s Place started doing the Comedy Caravan on Monday nights on Jan. 2, 1983. It was once named by USA Today to be one of the 10 best spots in the country to watch stand-up comedy. It also featured the longest running one-night comedy show in the country, which made the Guinness Book of World Records. But what makes Bloomington one of the greatest places in the country for stand-up comedy? “Smart audiences,” Comedy Caravan head Tom Sobel said. Audiences in Bloomington understand good humor and aren’t afraid to tell their true feelings, Sobel said. Comedian Roseanne Barr even wrote about her experience performing at Bear’s from when she was starting her career in her autobiography. Audiences booed her off stage in her first performance, but a year later she returned and killed, Sobel said. “Bear’s has an iconic room in the comedy industry,” Sobel said. “It has a magical feel to it all, the stage is in the corner and it’s the center of attention to the audience.” Bloomington has not only been a place for celebrity comedians to show their stuff, but it’s been a place for comedians to get their start. Barr, Steve Harvey and Ellen DeGeneres, just to name few, performed in Bloomington long before they made their mark. “Our job is to know the next generation of comedy stars long before the general public,” Sobel said. Sadly, the run of Comedy Caravan at Bear’s has ended following the show’s move to be part of the DunnKirk, where the legacy will continue. But it’s not just the Comedy Caravan that is showing up-and-coming comedians. The Comedy Attic is also making its claim to Bloomington’s funny bone. “I think the things that make a show on campus successful are what make a show at the Comedy Attic successful,” Thompson said. “Audiences in Bloomington are more open-minded than the average Midwest towns.” What makes Bloomington a great place for comedy is its passion and acceptance of stand-up comedians. Bloomington has a passion for stand-up comedy, and it is always ready for the next joke.
(04/06/11 4:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The atmosphere of the IU Auditorium was buzzing with excitement as audience members came by the dozens to see the Joffrey Ballet on Tuesday.“They look incredible,” junior Hana Slevin said. “There is something so raw and passionate about the Joffrey.” As the audience members were taking their seats, dancers backstage were warming up and preparing to go on. Some dancers were tying their point shoes and doing the final touches of their makeup while others who were not performing that night were getting massages with the physical therapist. While the dancers were preparing to perform, the audience members were eagerly looking for their seats and waiting for the performance to begin. “I’m from Chicago, and we always went to see ‘The Nutcracker,’” freshman Erin Kilhefner said. “It’s spring, and there is nothing better than ballet in the spring.”As the audience members waited for the show to begin, backstage the atmosphere was filled with excitement and tension. One of the dancers, Lucas Segovia, was not able to perform as scheduled. A niece he was very close to had passed away. As dancers were expressing sympathy to Segovia, the unfortunate tragedy was a reminder that the dancers the audience was so eager to watch were human. However, the show had to go on, but in the ballet world everything is double cast, so as some dancers empathized, others put on their game face and prepared to dance. “It takes a lot of discipline and a lot of determination to be a dancer,” company member Valerie Robin said. “It requires passion. If you’re not passionate, you shouldn’t do it.”The dance menu of the night included a mix of contemporary and classical ballet dances. “Classical ballet is beautiful, but now what we are seeing more in the dance world is an experiment,” Robin said. The Joffrey ballet trains with classical ballet every day, Robin said. However it was a major part of Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the original founders of the Joffrey, to include new and experimental works, said Robin. As the lights dimmed, the curtain rose and dancers rushed on stage in simple white leotards and flowing dance skirts. While the performers danced, the audience was transported to another world, where a universal language of dance and movement was used. “It’s live art. You don’t get to see that anymore. Now everything is digital,” Robin said. “It’s living, breathing human beings creating art. You can’t get better than that.”
(03/28/11 2:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Full houses were entertained and inspired at the John Waldron Arts Center for the “This is Tango Now” dance concerts this past weekend. The show was created and presented by the Artango Dance company and Minetti Productions.“I thought the show was amazing,” senior Stephanie Umstot said. “They really did a great job expressing the romance and passion of tango, but they also played with gender roles and identity.”The show opened with the musicians playing traditional Argentine music. With smoke on the stage and different forms of lighting, the show transported the audience to a different place and time — a place where there was comedy, curiosity and passion. “I’ve never been to a place where there was so much talent in one room,” audience member Byron Sanders said. “I drove from Evansville. I’m on my way to Chicago, and I thought I’d stop by and check it out. This was my first experience with tango. I was not anticipating to get as much as I got.”Along with the lighting and music, the show had a variety of colorful costumes. The choreographers, Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, expressed tango dance with quick footwork and controlled fluid movements to show the sensuality, love, joy and fear of the characters.“I think the public really liked it,” Merlo said. “The great thing about this show is that you can leave with your own conclusions and opinions. Tango isn’t just about being sad and dramatic, but there are also happy and joyful moments in tango.”
(03/25/11 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From pubic hair water fountains to exploding from her father’s penis hole, Sarah Silverman did not shy away from any socially awkward topic in Thursday’s performance at the IU Auditorium. The Union Board-sponsored show was well received with a packed house of students, community members and local comedians excited to hear her jokes and wait for the unexpected. “I am very excited about the show,” audience member Dani McPherron said. “There are not a lot of female comedians, so it’s great to see female comedians who are successful.”Silverman is an actress, comedian and writer.She is known for writing and starring in the film “Jesus is Magic,” as well as “The Sarah Silverman Program.” She has also been the host of the MTV movie awards. Silverman has been known to poke fun at controversial topics and say what she thinks.“I think she’s very brash and kind of out there with everything she says,” audience member Kristen Barrow said. “She doesn’t apologize for what she says, and that’s kind of inspiring as a woman.”The show was a part of Silverman’s book tour for “The Bedwetter.” The book is a memoir in which Silverman prefaces, “If young women can read (Paris) Hilton’s book and become heiresses, they can likewise read my book and become anxiety-ridden bedwetters.” During her show Silverman poked fun at topics such as why people make fun of Scientology and her dog aging, among other things.However, Silverman did not tour alone. Along with Silverman were openers Todd Glass and Tig Nataro, who were both equally welcomed by the audience. As the audience was warmed up by the show’s openers, the auditorium was filled with almost chair-wetting laughter, and audience members were ready for Silverman when she came onstage. “I love Sarah Silverman. I was the first person to buy a ticket to the show, and I’m very excited,” audience member Ben Goldenberg said. “I can’t really explain why I like her. She’s crude, I love her, and if I could ask her anything, I would ask her to marry me.”
(03/24/11 1:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The sound of Argentinian music filled the air of the John Waldron Arts center as dancers, musicians and electricians rehearsed and prepared for the opening of “This is Tango Now.” The show premieres at 8 p.m. Friday.One of the lead dancers, Fernanda Ghi, moved with grace and power as her arm went in and out of the marionette costume strings while George Furlong rehearsed on stilts, playing the domineering puppeteer. The show centers around a marionette, a puppeteer and el duende, also known in English as a sort of goblin or spirit. In the story, the marionette doesn’t know she is being controlled by a puppeteer until she accidently frees her arm one day. The rest of the show is about her journey to becoming the type of woman she wants to be and her inner inspiration, el duende.“We chose to do this show because theatrical shows of tango are disappearing,” Co-Artistic Director and Producer Alfredo Minetti said. “We use Argentine tango and music as a platform to tell a story.” The show looks at three main components: willpower, passion and how we identify ourselves, Minetti said. “There are many people who have the ability to do what they like while other people don’t have that,” Minetti said. “I believe it’s important to have a passion for something, that passion where it is almost obsessive to do something. I don’t understand young people who aren’t passionate about something. I always asked my students, what moves you? What makes you want to live?”The passion of the show is personalized with el duende. The duende is a spirit that overtakes you when you are on stage, Minetti said.“In flamenco they say when a person sings and they feel like their heart might rip out of their chest, when the voice moves the audience, she has el duende,” Minetti said. “It’s the spirit of inspiration.”This idea of doing what you are truly passionate about carries throughout the show. “Life today is very artificial,” dancer Jairelbhi Furlong said. “Many times we worry about what other people will think and do things we don’t necessarily want to do, but what other people want us to do. You have to do what you want to do, not what society wants. If you do what you love you will always be successful.”The show will have live music to accompany dancers, as well as an array of lights. For the participants of “Tango Now,” everybody is an equal part of the ensemble. “I treat the stage as a canvas,” Lighting Director Anibal Réa said. “It’s something that comes from inside. I use the energy of the dancers and the musicians and express it through lights.”Through lights, dance and music, the show aims to inspire all to find their passion.“Passion is everything,” Rea said. “If you have creativity, technique and talent but you have no passion, you have nothing. It’s 60 percent passion, 40 percent everything else. The rest you’ll learn along the way.”
(03/21/11 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As spring comes to IU this week, so does tango. “This is Tango Now,” the Argentine dancing show from Artango Dance Company, is preparing to sweep the John Waldron Arts Center stage. In order to prepare for the festivities, organizers of “This is Tango Now” have declared this week to be Tango Week.To start off the festivities, lead dancers from the show had a demonstration of some of the dances at the Bloomington Arthur Murray Dance Studio on Sunday. “This is Tango Now” features world renowned dancers Fernanda Guillermo and Ghi Merlo. Guillermo and Merlo are the founders of the Artango Dance Company and have been dancing together for more than a decade. They are producers, teachers and choreographers; have taken their shows to Germany, Spain, Hawaii and France; and were the first non-Asian people to dance at the Japan’s most important stage: The Imperial Theatre. For “This is Tango Now,” the artists are looking at identity and willpower. The show is set to ask the questions: “What have we become?,” “Who sets our agenda?” and “Who decides our destiny?”The show will have three central characters including a marionette, who suddenly realizes her life has been controlled by a domineering puppeteer. The puppeteer is also working under the guidance of the Duende, a character whose name stems from a Spanish word with definitions varying from an “elf-like creature” to “pertaining to the arts.”Tickets are available for pre-sale online and will be for sale at the door of the John Waldron Arts Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students with ID. The dance concert will be the culmination of Tango Week.