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(09/09/13 1:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Friday's WonderLab visitors had the chance to get vertical with members of Flight Club Fitness, a local hub for group aerial fitness classes and private training. The performers spun and twirled in the air with silk fabric, simultaneously getting a workout and entertaining guests.Participants enjoyed performances from Flight Club experts and learned some guided basics of the aerial artform.Juliana Burrell, a professional aerialist since 1992 and master instructor at Flight Club, said the event was a success for the children trying aerial activity for the first time.“They had that kind of look of amazement and excitement in their eyes,” Burrell said. “Because it’s a kind of different thing to do but still very attainable, so I think they were proud to be able to try it.”Even though there were many at Wonderlab, small children are not the only focus at Flight Club. Burrell said the fitness and aerial arts center caters to every age and ability level, and many of her students have no experience starting out. “You can just try any class on any day because every time a person is on the silk, they’re individually coached for their level,” Burrell said.Burrell said working out with aerial silks is rewarding in terms of fitness and creating art with the body. She said she believes anyone can participate and have an enjoyable experience.“You don’t have to be a gymnast, you don’t have to be super fit, but you will get super fit if you do it enough,” Burrell said. “It’s just the kind of thing that you get hooked on.”Follow IU Cinema reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(09/06/13 2:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To commemorate their 2009 opening, The Bishop Bar will have its Fourth Anniversary Celebration at 9:30 p.m. Friday.Making their return to the Bishop to perform as part of the bar’s festivities is the Coke Dares, a locally-founded rock group known for their short but intricate numbers. Jason Groth, guitar player and vocalist for the Coke Dares, said the group’s pieces can be as short as 20 seconds and comprise of a verse, chorus, bridge, guitar solo and even harmonies. Including a single phrase set to music is also a common method for the group, Groth said.“The idea behind the band was always to cut out all the crap and just make songs where only the good stuff existed,” Groth said. Groth said showcasing their short melodies in the birthplace of their band is a priority to the Coke Dares’ members, who have been living in different parts of the country. Groth said the group originally wanted to be a successful cover band but changed their course during rehearsals.“We ended up playing songs in our rehearsals, and they tended to be a little short, so we ended up writing more songs that were flushed out but just weren’t long. We would play something like 25 songs in 25 minutes and that would be our set,” Groth said.Getting back to the group’s roots, Groth said the band is thrilled to headline at the Bishop Friday.“We started the band in Bloomington and have a lot of ties to the town, so anytime we get a chance to play together is exciting. The Bishop is an important place for the Bloomington music scene, so we’re honored to get back together and help them celebrate the fourth anniversary,” Groth said.Jay McClurg, who works at the Bishop, said he is also looking forward to having the Coke Dares join them this evening.“They’re great guys and longtime Bloomington musicians,” McClurg said. “Come out and have fun.”Joining the Coke Dares are the Impossible Shapes, a pop-punk band from the Hoosier state.Members of the Impossible Shape also play in the Coke Dares and John Wilkes Booze. Group members Chris Barth and Aaron Deer also maintain solo projects on the side.After celebrating its anniversary, the Bishop has a full lineup scheduled for the rest of the month.Acts, like Paul Collins, Jackson Scott, Titus Andronicus and Houses are all scheduled to perform throughout September.For more information on the Bishop, visit thebishopbar.com.Follow IU Cinema reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(09/04/13 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Ballroom Dance will hold its fall callout meeting at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Alumni Hall. Attendees can expect performances from the club’s professional coach and group members, as well as a free cha-cha lesson from the club’s president, Crystal Wespestad, and the club’s captain, Brandon Rhodes. Along with the cha-cha lesson, group members will also perform in a mock-competition, which provides newcomers with an idea of what a typical ballroom competition would resemble.Wespestad said she believes the club’s callout is a great way to get its information out to the school and allows the talent of the group to be showcased.“To me, it’s our biggest chance to get people’s attention and let them see who we are,” Wespestad said. “It gives them a chance to try it and see how much they can learn in such a short amount of time.” Starting off with no dance experience, Rhodes said he remembers attending his first callout meeting and seeing Wespestad perform with her partner, Nate Wavle, and feeling encouraged to join.“There are a lot of people that go to the callouts that have no idea how to dance,” Rhodes said. “I specifically remember seeing Nate and Crystal go out and, after knowing they had only been dancing for half a year, being like, ‘Wow. I think I can do this, too.’”Another important point club members strive to advertise is the cost-effectiveness of the club. The club charges around $60 per semester for new members’ weekly lessons — $80 for returning members — whereas the typical studio could charge the same price per lesson.“If you ever wanted to try it, now’s the time,” Wespestad said. “Indiana University Ballroom Dance is the best price for how much you learn, and you learn faster than at any dance studio.” Not only can the club be a money-saver, it also caters to students of all dance levels. Rhodes said dancers with little to no experience are always welcome.“I never thought I would be able to dance, even at half the level,” Rhodes said. “After my first three weeks I was dancing socially at parties like it was no big deal.”Along with weekly lessons, the club offers its members the chance to show off their skills at competitions around the Midwest.Wespestad said attending the callout meeting and watching the mock-competition is a good introduction to ballroom competition.“They’ll be performing the tango, and people will get to experience a little of what competitions are like for us,” Wespestad said.For more information about the callout and IU Ballroom Dance, check out the group’s Facebook page, IU Ballroom Dance.Follow reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(08/30/13 5:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Four seasoned and local bartenders gathered for a Mix Off at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Thursday night. The bartenders came armed with one-of-a-kind cocktails in competition for the Best Bartender in Bloomington Award. Their drinks were judged not only by a panel of judges but also the night’s audience.The Signature Cocktail Award went to “Ghost Light,” created by Colin Boilni, proprietor of House Bar and The Rail. Boilini also won the Best Bartender in Bloomington Award.The third award of the evening, the Best Film Award, went to “Sympathy for the Petal,” produced by Brave New Productions.Emmie O’Connor, one of the contenders and creator of the signature drink, “The Last Cadenza,” is the assistant bar manager and lead bartender at Malibu Grill. She said she always had enthusiasm for bartending. She earned a finalist position at the Speed Rack Chicago competition and is a member of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild. “It just kind of fell into my lap,” O’Connor said. “It’s just one of those things I thought was interesting and I thought could further my knowledge into what I’m doing. It just sucked me in.”Her cocktail was an eclectic mix of local liquors and fresh ingredients, including Indiana sorghum and Butler Winery blackberry wine. For a floral touch, she added St. Germain elderflower liquor with some fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, and sparkling wine to top it off. O’Connor said going local with her ingredients is an important element when creating recipes.“I at least wanted to incorporate Indiana and small distilleries and try to emphasize how well they can make a good product aside from a big name product,” O’Connor said.Another competitor was Ben Zemel, a bartender of about 10 years and the Wine & Spirits director at the Scholars Inn Gourmet Café & Wine Bar. Zemel’s original drink, “Sympathy for the Petal,” was a take on the classic cocktail, “The Aviation,” which consists of gin, maraschino liquor, crème de violette and lemon juice. Instead of sticking with gin, Zemel mixed Absolut Hibiscus with pomegranate juice, along with homemade simple syrup and fresh lime.“A lot of people don’t know that Absolut products are actually infused, they’re not flavored, and they’re all organic,” Zemel said.Along with retaining an extensive amount of mixology and bartending knowledge, Zemel said another part of his job description is experimenting with different liquors and wrestling with common recipes to create original drinks.“When you come up with cocktails, you get your representatives from different companies to bring you products, and then you play around with them and see where you’d like to go,” Zemel said. “Sometimes, you’ll take a classic cocktail, work some new products into it, then remove things and change them around.”After taking the steps to blend and perfect his recipe, Zemel said he believes his cocktail is a sure win because of its drinkability and exotic flavor.“I think it’s nice and easy to drink,” Zemel said. “You can definitely throw back a few of these with no problem. It’s not too powerful but it still has delicate nuances like the flowers.”The Best Bartender in Bloomington Award went to the competitor with the highest combined score in three areas: the signature cocktail competition, the “Knock Your Socks Off” cocktail competition and the “Drink On Demand” competition. The grand prize was one rent-free use of the Theater.Follow reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(08/28/13 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Channeling the sounds of their newest album, “The Lion The Beast The Beat,” blues/folk rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals took the stage of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Tuesday night. The Vermont-based group has performed together since 2005 with their debut album, “Nothing But the Water.”Seven years later, after hundreds of gigs and radio hits like “Paris (Ooh La La),” GPN has continued to prove their dedication to perfecting their craft.Potter’s main influence for the 2012 album comes from the way many people interpret the lion as opposed to the beast — the lion acting as a strong, powerful animal while the beast plays the opposite role as a frightening and unattractive pariah.“I’m fascinated by the idea that we all hold such a broad spectrum of impulses and how we choose to act on them makes us who we are,” Potter said.A relatively new fan to Potter’s music, Emily Porter understands Potter’s explanation of the album.Porter, an Evansville resident drove two hours to see GPN’s performance.Even though Grace Potter is not quite a household name, Porter said she appreciates Potter’s more conservative demeanor.“I think the reason she’s not always in the spotlight is because she’s not doing things that normal celebrities are doing to promote themselves, like being vulgar, racy or provocative,” Porter said. “She’s very reserved, which I think works in her favor.”Porter’s partner, Mark Katterhenry, said he agreed.“She’s clean and sexy, which is very hard to come by these days,” Katterhenry said. “Unlike, you know, Miley Cyrus.”Saints of Valory opened for GPN. Its members come from all corners of the globe.Lead vocalist and bassist Gavin Jasper and Godfrey Thomson met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as young boys and grew up playing guitar together before meeting who would become their drummer, Gerard Labou of France.They were later united with keyboardist Stephen Buckle, who was born in Greece to an American mother and Canadian father.Jasper said he likes the chemistry he feels with the crowd when performing.“And I thought, ‘If I can feel this in this room, then we can actually offer this to people and they will feel it, too,’” Jasper said.Follow reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(08/23/13 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While IU fills Welcome Week with events around campus in an attempt to bring students together after a long summer, there’s more to Bloomington than the campus. This weekend, downtown Bloomington is the place to be.From international cuisine by local eateries to live music and craft fairs, the events give new students the opportunity to get a feel for the community. For those returning, it’s the chance to get reacquainted with Bloomington’s charm, and who can deny free admission to some of these events? Take a look below and start planning your weekend.FRIDAY1. Oleanna 7:30 p.m.Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts CenterCome see a two-character drama about the struggle between a university professor and one of his female students. Admission is only $5 with a student ID. 2. The Lights of Kirkwood6 p.m.The VenueCome appreciate the paintings of Sayuri Helm, a woman whose artwork reflects her time spent studying all over the world. The Lights of Kirkwood is her first show in Bloomington, the place she now calls home, so come out to admire her work and welcome her to the community.SATURDAY3. Grant Street Jazz Festival11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.Grant Street between Kirkwood Avenue and Sixth Street, in front of Cafe DjangoA community event for decades, the festival exhibits local jazz talent of all ages for no charge. Featured performances include those by IU Jazz Faculty Septet, Postmodern Jazz Quartet, Jazz Fables Quintet, Monika Herzig Acoustic Group, Craig Brenner Duo and many more. Hungry? Grab something to eat and drink from vendors like Oliver Winery, Big Woods Brewing Co. and Cafe Django.4. Flavors of Fourth Street5 to 11 p.m.400 Block of East 4th StreetBecause Fourth Street is known for its international cuisine, what better way to try more than a dozen multicultural restaurant flavors than at this food sampling festival? Once your taste buds are satisfied, enjoy singing and dancing from scheduled street performers. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students, and food samples are $1 each.5. Upland Brewery’s 15th Anniversary Carnival4 to 11 p.m.350 W. 11th St.Enjoy 15 specialty beers in honor of local favorite Upland Brewery’s 15th anniversary. The carnival-themed celebration will feature Freakshow Foley, the World’s Strangest Strongman and Sword Swallower. There will also be carnival games, great food and, of course, beer. Something else to enjoy? Free admission.6. 25th Annual Salsa Contest 10 a.m.Bloomington Community Farmer’s Market, Showers Plaza at City HallThink you know good salsa? Help the panel of expert judges decide by tasting different homemade salsas, as well as recipes made by Bloomingfoods chefs. Gregg Rago of Nick’s English Hut will lead a salsa-making workshop at 10:15 a.m. Kick up the heat a little more by learning salsa dance from members of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Want to enter your own recipe? Contact Marcia Veldman for more information at veldmanm@bloomington.in.gov.7. Makevention 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bloomington Convention CenterAbout: Explore inventions from local and regional makers in this family-friendly event dedicated to the trending Maker Movement. This is an excellent chance to get in touch with your creative side, learn a new skill and mingle with some inventors. Be sure to bring a t-shirt or other pieces of clothing to the textile booth where you can up-cycle it into something new.8. Gathering11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Blueline GalleryAbout: Check out this one-day pop-up shop, where more than 30 local artists will display their work. Still hungry? Just walk outside to enjoy food from local vendors and live music.SUNDAY 9. National Dog Day Celebration1:30 to 4:30 p.m.WonderLabDog owners and dog lovers, come to the WonderLab museum to play with dogs, learn about dog care and surround yourself with all things related to man’s best friend. Admission is $7, and after playing with the dogs, check out the museum for no additional charge.10. Krista Detor at Bryan Park6:30 to 8 p.m.Bryan ParkThis is the last in the Bryan Park Concert series, so come out one last time to listen to musician Krista Detor sing into the night. Admission is free.Follow reporter Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia.
(08/22/13 2:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Spanish writer and director Pedro Almodóvar’s 2013 comedy “I’m So Excited” kicks off this fall’s International Arthouse Series, co-sponsored by the Ryder Film Series and IU Cinema. The partnership should help both organizations build larger audiences, IU Cinema Director Jon Vickers said.Almodóvar’s latest film takes place on an airplane destined for a crash landing. To maintain composure, the crew decides to knock out several flight attendants and the entire economy section with muscle relaxants, leaving the business class completely conscious for the crisis. The business class patrons are left to the accommodations of three campy, fabulous flight attendants, serving up laced liquor shots and The Pointer Sisters lip-synch's. “Even though it’s campy, it also has a dark side to it as well, so I think it’s a classic Almodóvar,” Vickers said. “If anybody’s familiar with his work, I think they’ll enjoy it.” Some critics, including the New York Times’ Manohla Dargis, claim the film is not a total winner from start to finish.“It hasn’t gotten glowing reviews,” Vickers said. “[Almodóvar] is, what I’ll say, a master filmmaker, that even a not-so-stellar film from him still has a lot to love.” Still, Vickers said Almodóvar’s work should be showcased whenever possible, especially when his films have such a slapstick, playful feel.“I think he is someone we should continue to put in front of audiences as his films get distributed, and I think we don’t screen enough comedies in our series, so it was another opportunity to screen a comedy that fits this program well,” he said.Other films being screened as part of the series include “Drinking Buddies” by Joe Swanberg and “Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction,” a documentary on the legendary American actor.“He’s probably one of the most recognizable character actors of independent film over the last 20 years,” Vickers said.Another film Vickers recommends to students is “Prince Avalanche,” directed by David Gordon Green and starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch.“It’s a great little character study that follows these two that are out in the wilderness doing roadwork, and they’re trying to find themselves,” Vickers said. “It’s an odd couple pairing of the two characters, but it’s very heartwarming and also kind of bizarre.” With about 110 film titles scheduled for this semester, the variety is sure to please the community, Vickers said.“There’s absolutely something for everyone on this campus in the cinema this semester,” Vickers said.Follow Olivia Williams on Twitter @obwillia
(02/22/13 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After performing at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater last year, IU’s InMotion Dance Company will return to the stage for a second time.The troupe will perform its show, Fusion, from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. The BCT associate executive director Maarten Bout said it is always exciting to have the repeat event, especially since last year’s performance went well. “We always look forward to hosting student groups and they vary a lot in terms of turnout,” Bout said. “I believe they had a very good turnout last time and they will repeat that this year.”Bout said it is a good idea to cheer on friends dancing in the show because the show is performed by a student organization. He encouraged those interested in dance to participate as well.“First of all, if you have friends that are performing, always go support them,” he said. “Secondly, the group is very good, so I would strongly urge anyone who likes dance to come see this show.”Joe Musiel, who majors in kinesiology and dance, said he encourages people toattend. A second-year member of InMotion, Musiel said he’s performing in two group routines and two duets, which he helped choreograph. He said he remembers last year’s performance as a positive one.“It was a great experience,” Musiel said. “Because I’m a dance major, I’m used to the stage and really love performing for everyone.”Musiel will also join sophomore Mindi Hirsch on Saturday. This is the dance major’s first year performing with InMotion and chose to participate in the company.“When I saw them perform and saw their talent, I knew their company was something I’d really like to be a part of,” Hirsch said.Since joining the group, Hirsch has attended numerous rehearsals for shows like Fusion, which she described as time-consuming and sometimes difficult.“Rehearsals we’re very stressful, long and exhausting,” she said. “I had rehearsals on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and sometimes on Sundays. I started my days at 9:30 a.m., and some nights going until 9 or 11 p.m. was very tiring, but when you love something so much you make it work.”Hirsch said she is performing with InMotion because of tough rehearsals and learning choreography. “What I’m looking forward to most about the show is performing for all our friends and family,” she said. “We have worked so incredibly hard and put so much effort into preparing for this show. I just cannot wait for everyone to see our hard work.”
(02/14/13 2:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you don’t know where to take your valentine tonight, perhaps they’d prefer the indie scene of Portland, Ore., more than a paper-cut heart.At 9:30 p.m., the Bishop Bar will host indie rock duo Menomena. According to the Bishop’s website, Menomena’s sound is “tragic and intimate, comic and endearing, personal and motivated.”The group, combining Justin Harris and Danny Seim, represents Barsuk Records, the same label housing Death Cab for Cutie and Ra Ra Riot.Bloomington’s Fort William Artist Management oversees Menomena’s affairs. We sat down with the band’s intern, senior and journalism major Eddie Suarez, for more information.IDS: What do you do for the band?EDDIE SUAREZ: I’m with the management company and help with the Facebook updates, general online stuff and whatever else needs to be done. IDS: When did you start listening to Menomena?SUAREZ: There were part of my management before I got there, so I’ve been listening to them for over a year.IDS: Why choose Bloomington as a stop on the tour?SUAREZ: It’s a great place to play. Bloomington has always been welcoming to artists and students know the scene really well, especially the indie music scene.IDS: What sets them apart from other indie rock bands that you’ve heard?SUAREZ: It’s really just their sound. Their current album is a little more aggressive and they use a nice blend of music like flute and cello. They have their own distinct sound, and they can put on a hell of a show. They also really get the audience involved.IDS: Do they have a successful future ahead of them?SUAREZ: Of course. With the new sound they have, they’re going to have a bright future. Their live shows are amazing, and their new music is outstanding. I really think this show will get their name out to the Midwest.
(01/18/13 2:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Chicago-native and electronic dance music artist Nick Zanca of Mister Lies will perform with Hunter Child at 11 p.m. Friday at the Bishop. Dan Coleman, the Bishop’s talent buyer, said he discovered Zanca through his agent.“I was really into what he was doing, a kind of down-tempo, chill sound that I was totally on-board with,” Coleman said. “I played his stuff to some other people and they really liked it as well.”Coleman has booked other EDM artists, such as Tom Krell from How To Dress Well. He said the Bishop has a good market for the EDM genre. Because of this, Coleman said he expects a good reaction.“He’s still young and hungry,” Coleman said. “He also has a YouTube video with over a million views, so he has a very wide audience.”The video, “False Astronomy,” was published last March. Zanca said he is proud of the video’s success.“That was one of the first tracks I put out under my alias, and it took less than a year for it to reach a million views,” Zanca said. “It was great that I had that advantage”Those YouTube videos led to many performances and worldwide tours. Even though Zanca has performed at larger venues, he said he likes intimate settings like the Bishop.“There’s more of a margin to connect to the crowd instead of people going to a larger show,” Zanca said. “The bigger the crowd is, the harder it is to connect with them.”Bloomington resident Aaron London said Mister Lies has good taste in vocal samples, allowing for a more individual style.“I really enjoy how laid-back it is, and, as a person who loves hip-hop, I really like the drum samples that he uses for his beats,” London said.London said he believes Zanca will succeed in the EDM market because of his sound.“He has all the potential that he needs and the fanbase built up,” London said. “As long as he keeps going in the direction that he is right now, he’ll be up there.”Even though London enjoys the echoes of EDM, Zanca said he does not try to categorize his music into one genre.“I’m not focusing on a certain genre when I’m producing,” he said. “It’s more of a matter of environment and an atmosphere than anything else.”Tickets for Friday’s show are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
(01/10/13 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Mathers Museum’s exhibit “Picturing Archaeology” presents the research and fieldwork of 13 IU archaeologists through a series of stories and snapshots. April Sievert, director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, said the museum is in a transitional period due to the rehabilitation of old exhibits and the process of creating new exhibits for the future, which makes “Picturing Archaeology” a reliable exhibit in the meantime.“We have so many archaeologists doing different things, so this seemed like a great time to bring it all together so people can learn about the scope of archaeology through various outlets of anthropology,” Sievert said.Sievert said she hopes the exhibit’s visitors come away with a sense of not only what archaeologists and anthropologists do, but how they can get involved.“What this does overall is present so many different perspectives,” she said. “It shows not only what you can do but also see what some of the archeologists work with different nations and different people.”Sievert said she believes most archaeology is very inclusive and includes a wide range of different people with interests in the field such as children who come to learn about fieldwork or retirees who help out at events.“It’s a physical activity, but it’s also a very exciting and intellectual activity, and it’s a very social activity as well,” Sievert said.In addition to Sievert, anthropology doctoral student Erica Ausel is a graduate research fellow at the Angel Mounds Field School in Evansville, where she taught three archaeological field classes during the summer, which is documented in the exhibit. Her position includes studying human skeletal remains and paleopathology, the study of ancient diseases and health.“The stuff that I’m doing has a lot of research potential, and there has not been a lot of physical anthropological work on it, so I’m adding to it,” Ausel said. He also said she believes the exhibit is valuable for the public, as it allows visitors to learn about the inner workings of the field. “It’s all part of a public outreach,” Ausel said. “People know it’s important, and no one knows about it unless we present it. It also lets people know about the variety of archaeological projects in Indiana involving prehistoric and historic archaeology.”Ed Herrmann, a graduate research assistant at the Glenn A. Black laboratory, is another exhibit contributor. In addition to Laura Scheiber, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, Herrmann took part in a project on the Great Serpent Mound in Ohio, gathering research on how hunter-gatherers moved through the landscape and mapping archaeological sites. Herrmann said the exhibit is an excellent resource for students.“The exhibit is meant simply to be an opportunity for students to see the kinds of research being done and possibly turn them on to archaeology,” Herrmann said.Upcoming events at the Mathers Museum include the Lotus Workshop’s “The Power of Pattern: Simple Block Carving” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 and a Research at the Mathers Lecture Series program, “Research on the Quilts of the Mathers Museum” from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 1.
(12/07/12 3:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dance major Britta Olson is drawing inspiration from French philosopher René Descartes for her senior showcase.“Last semester, I was reading a lot of philosophy and Descartes and was really inspired by his meditations,” she said. “He kind of toys with himself and said that he cannot have any beliefs until he doubts everything.”Olson’s piece, “Is That a Fish?” is the story of two ice fishermen competing with each other to capture a prized fish. One of the dancers tricks the other into believing the fish is not real.“That’s kind of my main inspiration for this piece,” she said. “You even have to doubt the most basic things, like your senses, and even material objects before you can build upon things.”Dabbling in dialogueOlson will be experimenting with speaking roles during her performance by having her dancers introduce themselves and explain their characters. Olson said even though speaking in dance doesn’t happen often, it can flow with the choreography if done correctly.“I don’t like speaking in dance if it’s just random or abstract,” she said. “I like it to be within character.”Olson said she has always wanted to try speaking roles in choreography and was inspired by a performance she saw in Brazil by Nir de Volff.“His piece included both theater and dance, and it was just so inspiring to me,” she said. “It’s so rare, but it’s becoming quite popular with modern dance.”Even though she has incorporated speaking into her routine, Olson said it was difficult to choreograph due to her lack of experience with theater. To help with the process, she took some of the information she learned in an improvisation course with a section on speaking in dance. Still, Olson admits it was a struggle.“I’m not a theater major at all and haven’t studied it, so trying to incorporate it is hard at times,” Olson said.Rehearsals Olson decided to keep her showcase to a three-dancer limit due to scheduling issues from a performance of Paul Taylor’s “Esplanade” at the IU Auditorium on Nov. 4.“That was difficult to work around, because those rehearsals were taking up our time for all the senior concerts,” she said. “We just had less time than previous years.”Along with working around different schedules, Olson also dealt with choreographing for the first time.“I remember my first rehearsal,” she said. “I was so nervous and didn’t know if I could do it, but after that rehearsal, things went great, and I was able to convey my ideas to my dancers, and there was such a high afterwards for me.”Olson said she is confident in the performance and choreography and wants to continue creating routines.“A lot of dancers love to dance, or they love to teach, or they love to choreograph,” she said. “But my passion is definitely choreographing.”
(11/04/12 11:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There are two common college living experiences: the dorm room and the house or apartment. Though there are obvious differences between the two, they share something in common: They can easily get messy. A room can look cluttered because of an unbalanced stuff-to-space ratio. Add a roommate or two and it can be rather difficult to make that room look livable with two or three beds, desks, dressers and other items each roommate attempts to throw in the mix. Here are some tips to save space along with must-have items found in most department stores.Push your desks together This is an excellent idea for dorm rooms. By pushing both desks side-by-side, you create more space for moving about.Know your laundry options The first, and perhaps most common, route is the mesh hamper, an excellent choice because of its flexible material. These hampers easily fit into any space and fold down when needed. Another option is the wheeled hamper, ideal for those who hate hauling clothing to and from the laundry room.Embrace shoe racks For those with handfuls of shoes: Stock up on these great space-savers. Many different types of shoe racks are on the market, but all of them serve the same purpose — to keep your shoes neatly organized and away from gathering dust on your closet floor.Dresser organization Getting tired of digging for that matching sock? Keep your top-drawer items organized with labeled plastic bins. For jewelry, ties, belts and any other accessories, try plastic accessory trays.Get hooked Over-the-door hooks almost seem necessary, especially in winter months when coats and other cold-weather layers need a grab-and-go spot. Hooks can also be used for handbags, keys and towels. Try a stepladder bed standUnlike a typical bed stand, a small stepladder allows for more storage of your favorite items, such as books, as well as your essential alarm clock and lamp.Invest in some under-bed drawers Though it’s not the most glamorous place to put things, the space under your bed allows for extra storage that might be hard to find elsewhere in a dorm. Drawers are great for storing summer-wear during the colder months or just extra sheets and blankets.Textbook storageProper textbook storage is especially important for those renting or wanting to sell their books each semester. In a dorm, try placing bookends on your overhead desk compartment. They’ll help keep your textbooks in excellent condition during a semester of wear and tear. In an apartment or house, a bookcase is the way to go.
(10/04/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The opportunity to perform with his band members in Bloomington is a big deal for South Jordan lead vocalist Michael Hall. “We’re super excited to come back here,” he said. “It’s weird when you come back to IU because you’re not really ‘in the loop,’ but it’s a great experience coming back because we haven’t had many opportunities to do so.” This pop group, originally from Bloomington, will play a free show at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 in Dunn Meadow as part of the week’s IU Homecoming events sponsored by the IU Student Alumni Association in conjunction with Union Board. Senior Kara Brooner, IUSAA vice president of Homecoming, said she is happy to showcase South Jordan.“I’m really excited to present the South Jordan concert as the finale of Homecoming Week 2012,” Brooner said. “I’m hoping we can start the tradition of a Homecoming concert similar to the Little 500 week concerts. I think this is going to appeal to a variety of people, and I think it’ll be a special event for students, alumni and the Bloomington community. We also want the concert to pump the IU community up for the Homecoming game on Saturday.”Bloomington beginningsIU graduate Bobby Campbell, South Jordan’s keyboardist, said that when the group started out, dance marathons were popular venues that provided a way to spread its sound.“How we got started originally as a band was playing at a lot of the dance marathons around all the colleges in the Midwest, and it was just a great way to get in front of people and start making fans,” Campbell said. South Jordan played a set at last year’s IU Dance Marathon. Hall said performing at the event is always a positive experience.“It’s always such an awesome event to be a part of,” Hall said. “You feel like you’re doing something really good, and if we can keep people awake during the hour that we’re playing, we’re doing our job.”Moving to the musicOther than last year’s IUDM and the Oct. 5 performance, South Jordan rarely has the chance to play in Bloomington. The group relocated to Nashville, Tenn., in 2011 to collaborate with other songwriters and producers such as Nathan Chapman, a country music producer who has worked often with Taylor Swift, and songwriter Josh Kear, who wrote Lady Antebellum’s Grammy-winning hit “Need You Now.” Hall said the group has had a busy year touring with indie pop band He Is We and recently opening for the Parachute concert at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. “It was really cool for us because we’ve been crossing paths with them for a while, and to finally meet them and play a rockin’ show is sweet,” Hall said.South Jordan is currently gearing up for another opening performance for Andy Grammer next month. “It’s awesome to share the stage with amazing performers like that,” he said. “I’ve never seen him live before, so I’m excited to see that as well.”As far as new music goes, Hall said the band is currently working on releasing a slew of songs, including a music video titled “Love Like Suicide.” “We’re looking forward to the future and especially to our new video, which we will be pushing within the next month or two,” Hall said. “Our new music is a big departure from our old music, and we’re sort of rebranding our style. We hope to gain lots of new fans from this.”
(09/21/12 1:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many rappers rap about violence, material objects, women and money. Bloomington rap artist and IU senior Dee Greene stays away from those kinds of lyrics. “TheRealDeeGreene” has more than 470,000 views on his YouTube channel and his lyrics contain no foul language and promote a positive message.Greene’s inspiration is the 2010 film, “The Social Network.”“I thought it would be cool if I could do all my own stuff online, that way I wouldn’t have to pay someone for album covers, websites, blogs or anything like that,” he said. “It’s another way to make money, plus it’s a great school as far as job placement goes.”Greene said his affection for rap music began in the fourth grade while listening to one of his biggest musical influences of the era, Bow Wow.“I was like, ‘Dang, a little kid can do that,’” Greene said. “I didn’t think that was possible.”By that time, he had already begun writing lyrics and getting a feel for the art of recording.“Obviously, I didn’t have too many software opportunities back then,” Greene said. “I did have one of those little cassette tapes that you could record on, though.”Now, Greene’s influences include popular artists such as Kanye West, Dom Kennedy and Drake.He said he appreciates their work because it is heavily based on their own thoughts and ideas and differs from the topics covered by many rap artists.“Even if I don’t necessarily agree with them, they rap about things that they care about,” Greene said.Greene said “Cool To Be Good,” which began production last November, is his first professional mixtape. He previously created two other mixtapes. He deleted them from the Internet, though, because they didn’t compare in sound quality.“I was really not even looking to do a mixtape at the time,” he said. “I had rapped before that, but I really just stuck with making beats.” Greene said he had the chance to work with a sound engineer on his latest work, which greatly improved the sound quality compared to his previous work. “It was an actual process that took time, instead of it being a week of just doing whatever,” he said.One of the hardest aspects about making the mixtape was working with multiple people, Greene said.Greene’s friend and fellow rapper, Bryce McCloud, was one of the people he collaborated with on “Cool To Be Good.” McCloud, a junior and economics major, said he considers Greene to be an exceptional talent. “I have never seen somebody more prepared to want to be friendly in a collaboration and also be prepared to do long and hard work,” McCloud said. McCloud said he believes that “Cool To Be Good” has the potential to boost Greene’s music career. “I think had he been a more established artist that mixtape alone would have been pivotal in the underground rap scene and possibly the mainstream rap scene,” McCloud said. “The day I met Dee, I absolutely knew that he would be discovered, major or minor label.” Greene said another difficulty was creating lyrics he felt were adequate enough to be recorded while not rapping about women and money. “It’s easy to rap about that stuff,” he said. “Once you start doing that it’s easy to get used to it.”Greene said the mixtape does not support negative behavior and it is against the norm by producing a mixtape with a positive message.“I’m really just telling people to do whatever they want to do,” he said. “You don’t have to do bad things to fit in with everyone else.”
(09/14/12 1:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For those wondering why female students are roaming campus with denim shorts worn higher around the waist, here’s the answer. It’s a trend appropriately called the “high-waisted short.”This trend, among countless others, is prominently featured on collegefashionista.com, a place where curious fashion-forward students draw inspiration from what’s “in” at different college campuses.Junior Lauren Jerdonek is one of CollegeFashionista’s style gurus, social media interns and manager for the IU section.As a social media intern, Jerdonek said she spends most of her day posting new content and interacting with viewers on numerous social media outlets.Her responsibilities as a “style guru” include snapping photographs of stylish men and women around campus.“It’s pretty much just making high fashion look accessible to college students and acknowledging the effort they’ve put in to dressing on campus,” Jerdonek said.Campus trendsFall is considered the peak season for the latest fashion trends.After trekking through the streets of Bloomington, Jerdonek said three major trends have surfaced. The first is a nod to military style.“That’s everything from hunter green to gold buttons to lace-up boots,” she said. “The military vibe is definitely making its way onto campus, and it’s something I’ve been noticing on both girls and guys.”Another popular trend, especially while the weather is still warm, is print on print.“Growing up, I remember it being a rule that you were not allowed to mix and match prints, and that just isn’t the case anymore,” Jerdonek said. “I’m seeing lots of (polka) dots mixed with animal prints right now.”Yet another is denim on denim, which made its latest debut in the fashion world last spring.“This involves mixing different washes with acid and chambray,” Jerdonek said. “It’s an interesting trend because it’s cool to see what can be done with it.”Woman in chargeJerdonek said she enjoys many aspects of her job, but what she enjoys most does not come from a rack of the latest styles.She explained she treasures the time she spends meeting other gurus across the nation.For this, she thanks Amy Levin, CollegeFashionista’s founder and creative director.“There are hundreds and hundreds of gurus across the nation and the world,” Jerdonek said. “The community that Amy has built has made us gurus seem much closer than we really are.”Levin, an IU graduate, had the concept for CollegeFashionista during her senior year in 2009.In August of that year, the website was launched at five campuses and has since expanded internationally to more than 300 campuses.“The idea just came to be that I was simply inspired by my peers in Bloomington, Ind.," Levin said. "I feel kind of disconnected from the fashion industry being located in the middle of nowhere and I wanted a way to, you know, channel all of my interests in the industry to feel connected.”Another important vision of Levin’s was to provide college students with an opportunity to share their ideas about fashion in a global community while developing their writing and photography skills, she said.“When these students graduate, they’ll be able to go into the industry and have a better idea of what it’s about,” Levin said.Levin said she created CollegeFashionista when she first entered the world outside the Sample Gates.“I created it because I wanted an opportunity like this in college and didn’t feel there was anything out there," Levin said.