A&E

Dancers compete for cash in weekend showcase competition

Senior Sarah Wilkins found herself $1,000 richer Sunday after dancing the afternoon away. Wilkins competed in Bloomington's first Showcase of the Arts Competition in Contemporary Dance this weekend in the dance studio at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The competition is part of the Showcase of the Arts series, which will award more than $15,000 to performers this year alone in the areas of visual arts, dance, drama, literature, music and musical theater.

Student designer shows off creations

To the background of birches, Individualized Major Program senior Katherine BonDurant reinvigorated timeless pieces in her fashion show "Winter in Red Square" Feb 5 at the Bloomington Convention Center. By contrasting stiff equestrian styles and fabrics with satin and silk in addition to delicate nuances, BonDurant softened her otherwise traditional line.

A model consumer

Concert to honor Black History Month

Composed of 80 or more members, mostly nonmusic majors, the African American Choral Ensemble has vast performance experience. Opening for performers like The Blind Boys of Alabama and Ray Charles and performing throughout the area, the ensemble is much in demand.

Nicaragua portrayed in photo exhibit

Lillian Casillas welcomes people into La Casa, or "the house" in Spanish, as though it is a home. Every academic year, about 8,000 people step foot into Casillas' "house," but only about 800 Hispanic students attend IU, making it a home not just for students of Hispanic background, but also for people interested in the culture.

Bigger fest compels chocoholics to eat more

A family with children walked out to their car Saturday evening. "We ate all the chocolate in the world, chocolate in the world, chocolate in the world..." they sang as their parents led them across the parking lot and away from the eighth annual Chocolate Fest.

Production reviews Arthur Miller's work

Words written more than 50 years ago take on new meaning as Bloomington High School North Theatre and Advanced Theatre Productions present "An Evening with Arthur Miller."

'Bacchai' receives facelift, new spin

When most people think of a Greek tragedy, they conjure up images of formal white robes. Check those preconceptions at the door, though, as the IU Department of Theatre and Drama presents "Bacchai" at the Wells-Metz Theater, beginning today.

University gives opera 'legs'

Fans of the opera will experience a modern twist on an old format as the IU Opera launches into its spring season. William Bolcom's "A View From the Bridge" comes to the IU Opera Theater this weekend and next, showing at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, with additional performances Feb. 11 and 12.

Chocolate cook-off to benefit charity

Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" isn't due out in theatres until this summer, but Bloomington residents can get a real cocao fix this Saturday at the Bloomington Convention Center.

Rastafarians descend on Ethiopia for concert lashes with Ethiopian culture

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Throughout his life, Bob Marley looked to Ethiopia as the spiritual home of his Rastafarian faith.

Institute raises cultural awareness

This year marks the African American Arts Institute's 30th anniversary at IU. In the 1970s the Institute debuted as one of the first performing arts programs in the country. Now it has an office in the Neal-Marshal Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordan Ave.

IU faculty member gives talk , advice about photography

Tuesday evening a group of photography enthusiasts were treated to a 'work-in-progress' view of IU professor and former National Geographic magazine staff photographer Steve Raymer's most recent work on the Indian Diaspora.

North Korea wages 'hair war' on people who grow it long

SEOUL, South Korea -- The order to shaggy-haired North Korean men couldn't be clearer: Get a trim like Kim. The reclusive communist country is waging a hair war, telling its male population to lose the long locks, cut the coiffures and mow the mane to conform to the "socialist style," which is no longer than 2 inches. Even hair-challenged, authoritarian leader Kim Jong Il has trimmed his famous pompadour. One exception, however: Comradely comb-overs are OK for older men.

Jury selection begins for Michael Jackson case

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson stood and smiled as he faced the first prospective jurors in his criminal trial, a group roughly split between those willing to decide his fate and those hoping to avoid a role in the latest trial of the century. Jackson, dressed in an all-white suit and a jewel-trimmed vest and belt, rose and remained standing as two groups of prospects, about 150 in the morning and another 150 in the afternoon, filed into the courtroom Monday.

IU Auditorium hosts 42nd Street musical

The story that began the musical genre of "a star is born" and spawned a slew of movie musicals during Hollywood's depression era comes to the IU Auditorium Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. Although "42nd Street" originally was a 1929 film, Warner Brothers remade it as a musical in 1933 with choreography by Busby Berkeley and introduced a number of classic Hollywood stars.

Chefs gather for 'The Art of Chocolate'

BSO celebrates anniversary with concert

On Saturday night, a musical staple of the south-central Indiana community celebrated its 35th anniversary. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra rang in its 35th season with a concert entitled "The Composer and his Orchestra," featuring works by composers from the Bloomington area who are involved with the BSO under the baton of guest conductor Christopher Ludwa.

'Pride' film festival includes panel talk, after-party

Following the PRIDE Film Festival screening on Friday, the stage was opened, rainbow-colored fabrics hung from the ceiling and the lights turned down low as the after-party began. The event featured three separate showings of different films, as well as an after-party -- one of several new features to this year's festival -- and panel discussion with the directors.

Orchestra marks 35th anniversary

A volunteer orchestra made up of students, amateurs and professional musicians will take audiences from Vienna to Israel while celebrating its 35th anniversary at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra's concert will present community-tied pieces written and preformed by local musicians.