National French Week presents engaging educational events

As designated by the American Association of Teachers of French, National French Week took place from Nov. 4–Tuesday Nov. 10 and was celebrated on the Geneseo campus. It was a week dedicated to celebrating French and Francophone cultures around the world.

Assistant professor of French Kathryn Fredericks played a huge role in planning the campus events that recognized this important week. Fredericks explained that National French Week was developed by the AATF and many college campuses around the country participate in cultural festivities during this week.

National French Week events are not strictly geared toward language students; they are meant to appeal to all students and faculty around the campus. According to Fredericks, you can typically expect to find different events during National French week at Geneseo such as “guest speakers, film screenings, study abroad presentations from students who have recently studied abroad, in the past and this year we have a French spelling bee that’s going to happen and a group dinner to close out the week … sometimes we have alumni speakers come, as well.”

Fredericks revealed that she tends to really enjoy the guest speakers “because we get to invite people from other universities with diverse topics to discuss.” She added that the student study abroad presentations are also really successful.

Despite what people might think due to the misnomer, France is not the only country recognized in French week. “French Week celebrates [not only] French culture, but also Francophone culture—Francophone meaning countries where French is spoken around the world,” she said. “So each year, we try to highlight a different part of the Francophone world—of course focusing on France from time to time—but also Canada, parts of Africa, the Caribbean and this year, we’re focusing on North Africa.”

University of Florida associate professor of French and Francophone literature specialist and guest speaker Brigitte Weltman-Aron visited the Geneseo campus on Tuesday Nov. 10 to present on Algerian writer Assia Djebar. Weltman-Aron explained that Djebar was born in Algeria when it was still a French colony, so she learned to read French at a young age.

Since this year’s National French Week focused primarily on North Africa, hosting Weltman-Aron to speak was both appropriate and insightful as she shared Djebar’s experience growing up in a Francophone culture. “It’s a good example of how things intersect culturally and geographically, as [Fredericks] said,” Weltman-Aron noted.

Regardless of whether or not you have any personal connection to the French culture, it’s still important to recognize and respect the French and Francophone culture. Fredericks herself doesn’t come from a French background, but this has not hindered her from studying French for the past 20 years.

National French Week isn’t just about observing the basics of French culture—it involves looking at various aspects of French and Francophone background such as literature, history, film, philosophy, sociology and geography.

“Trying to teach various aspects of all of those to our students is our goal and something we enjoy very much,” Fredericks said. “It means [trying] to understand how French and Francophone culture is represented today, but also to learn about the histories of Francophone countries around the world and to see what history has taught us about present movements, present societies and present-day situations.”

Over the past decade, National French Week has brought together faculty and students alike to appreciate the many features of French and Francophone cultures around the world.

If you missed the previous events this week, you still have an opportunity to participate. There will be a French spelling bee on Thursday Nov. 12 and you can join other French enthusiasts for dinner at Aladdin’s Restaurant in Pittsford on Friday Nov. 13.

Staged reading conveys personal narrative with warmth, insight

Junior Brodie McPherson directed a staged reading of Paula Vogel’s “The Baltimore Waltz” on Thursday Oct. 29 in the Robert Sinclair Theatre. The play was centered on the developing relationship of a brother and sister dealing with a tragic illness. The play starred some familiar faces from past staged readings on campus. Senior Lea Pandoliano—who played Anna—and McPherson both starred in “Death and the Maiden.” Additionally, sophomore Clayton Smith—who played the “third man”—was also in “Mr. Marmalade” earlier this semester.

New to the staged readings and Geneseo productions was freshman Sean Ryan, who played Anna’s brother Carl. Transfer student sophomore Maria Cento—who played the narrator—was another fresh face for Geneseo staged readings.

In “The Baltimore Waltz,” Anna and Carl travel around Europe looking for a doctor in Vienna who could help Anna with her imaginary “Acquired Toilet Disease.” It was not until the end of the play that it is revealed that Carl was in fact ill while Anna was simply living the plot in her imagination.

As the “third man,” Smith was just about every character that Anna and Carl encountered on their journey. Smith comically played characters from different countries, expertly speaking in various European accents like French and Dutch.

During the question and answer portion that followed the reading, one audience member asked Smith about how he was able to learn and produce such accents. “I always liked doing accents for fun, so that helped,” Smith said. “I would say definitely just going about watching videos on how to do accents.” Smith also added that the comfort of slipping into accents and different characters came from his experience in improvisational comedy, which helped him to perform as a versatile character in this production.

McPherson discussed the background of the play and how it echoed the reality of the playwright’s life, since Vogel’s own brother Carl was diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s. Before his death, he wrote to his sister requesting that she go on a trip with him to Europe. Unaware of his illness, she turned him down. When he passed away in 1988, she deeply regretted her decision.

“The Baltimore Waltz” is Vogel’s tribute to her brother. “I think the main point is that it’s a very cathartic experience for Paula Vogel to write this,” McPherson said. “It gives her a chance to experience something that she wasn’t able to with her brother.”

“[Anna’s] brother and the ‘third man’ are all these different people in her head and this is how she’s dealing with what has happened—her brother’s death,” Pandoliano said.

According to McPherson, what drew him to choose “The Baltimore Waltz” was that “I think I really fell in love with the fact that it’s very different from the other plays about AIDS that I have experienced.”

“I’m really glad I did this [play],” McPherson said. “It was a really fun experience. It was a lot, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Although the content of the play may have been difficult or sensitive to deal with, McPherson—along with the help of his student actors—produced a comical and enjoyable presentation of Vogel’s melancholic play.

Potential music festival threatens thriving local businesses during Gov. Ball

Music festivals have been rising in popularity all over the country. With events like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, they’re becoming a large source of profit for both artists and the companies running the festivals. Coachella—one of the most well known festivals—is run by the Anschutz Entertainment Group—specifically, their division AEG Live. Rumors have recently circulated that the management group is considering bringing a new massive event to New York City, with “Panorama” as the tentative name. It would take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park—the site of the 1964 World’s Fair—and it would also take place two weeks after the local Governors Ball Music Festival, held the first weekend in June.

It’s unfortunate that a huge corporation would want to run a small, local company out of business for the sake of raking in more money. Holding a proposed event around the same time as the Governors Ball will likely bring popular acts away from it, drawing crowds away from the festival.

Every year, the Governors Ball employs city residents and brings in local food caterers—a great way to contribute to the economy. It would be a shame for all of that wonderful effort to be erased by corporate-backed greed that—besides getting permission to use city-owned property—likely wouldn’t care nearly as much about giving back to the community.

I vividly remember standing in the Governors Ball crowd last June and watching The Black Keys perform their headlining set. Being able to sing along to my favorite songs—as well as listen to some that I hadn’t heard yet—was only one of the many factors that made the day as great as it was. Along with eating from the food trucks, admiring the artwork and meeting fellow Geneseo freshmen, the festival was definitely one of the most incredible experiences of my life. As I was leaving Randall’s Island to return home, I couldn’t wait to return the next year. The mere idea of having that opportunity taken away is very upsetting and I’m sure that many other Governors Ball fans would agree.

The Governors Ball has fought back against the notion of Panorama, starting a petition to ask New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to reject the event, with a possible solution of holding Panorama at a different time in the year. That way, neither event would cause a conflict with the other.

Hopefully, Governors Ball gets the signatures and support that they deserve and a larger corporation doesn’t overshadow this thrilling music festival.

Cultural Harmony week highlights non-western traditions through steel drums

As part of Geneseo’s Cultural Harmony week, two drum workshops were held at the Knight Spot on Oct. 21 and Friday Oct. 23. Cultural Harmony Week is an annual occurrence that takes place during the week of United Nations Day, which is on Oct. 24. Cultural Harmony Week addresses a variety of community and diversity issues and emphasizes the importance of non-Western traditions. Steel drum player Ted Canning offered a hands-on experience for the students who wanted to learn how to play his instrument. Canning began by teaching simple notes and chords, with each element he taught coming together at the end for one full song. While he aided every student in order to make sure they were playing correctly, many students were seen helping one another learn the instrument.

Canning placed a particular focus on making sure each student was enjoying themselves, as well as encouraging a positive collective dynamic. He had an entertaining sense of humor—it’s clear that he enjoys working with students.

Canning has been directing the Steel Alchemy Community Steel Band since 2001. Anyone who is at least 13 years old can join. The band has played at various concerts, including Geneseo festivals and concert series.

Canning and his wife Karen are also members of a smaller steel drum band called Panloco, which formed in 1995. The band features both the steel drums with vocals and percussion. Besides playing at private parties, they have also offered workshops for colleges in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Karen Canning also spoke of how her husband made steel drums with kids—which taught them both about music and about mat because of the acoustics in the instrument.  “[The steel drums] are easier for kids to play because they are [physically] not difficult to play,” she said.

Ted Canning seems to have gotten the best experience in learning and playing the steel drum because, according to his wife, he learned and played them several times in Trinidad—where the instrument originated.

“We both studied African, Ghana[ian] and Caribbean history and culture,” she added.

Ted Canning seemed very enthusiastic and successfully got all of the students involved in his teaching of the steel drums. Although it might have been difficult for some students to get the hang of playing at first, the songs they all performed came together almost perfectly in the end.

This musical workshop was a great representation of Cultural Harmony Week at Geneseo. Each student involved got to work with an instrument from a different part of the world, all while collaborating with their peers and a great teacher.

Indie folk duo blends musicality, romance

Geneseo Late Knight brought the indie folk pop duo So Long Solo to the Knight Spot on Saturday Oct. 17. The couple performed a mix of covers and original songs as their 1-year-old son Rockwell walked around the stage. Mark Miller and Heather Miller make up the personable pair. The two performed an array of covers including Ingrid Michaelson’s “Take Me the Way I Am.” The Millers claimed that Michaelson is one of their biggest musical influences. Other covers ranged from Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again” to Amos Lee’s “Sweet Pea” and Imagine Dragon’s “On Top of the World.”

So Long Solo’s inspiration also stems from the richness of classical music and musicals. Mark Miller is classically trained; he explained how both he and Heather Miller enjoy music that tells stories.

It was clear that the duo was very musically inclined; they both played a variety of instruments including the ukulele, melodica, shakers and the cello. Mark Miller’s method for playing the cello appeared very unusual—it was strapped onto his body rather than played in the classic sitting position.

Besides covers, So Long Solo performed some of their original songs such as “Under the Bridge,” “End of the Rainbow,” “Little Rabbit,” “Middle of Love” and “What If?”

Each song they composed had a special backstory. For example, “Under the Bridge” was a song about women in Uganda who were left as single mothers when abandoned by their lovers. Other songs such as “End of the Rainbow” and “What If?” had more sentimental and personal meaning to them.

The Millers studied music separately and worked in distant places such as Tokyo and Uganda. Mark Miller was a solo artist when the two met. On their honeymoon, Heather Miller decided to quit her job and join her husband in the music business. Since then, the two have been touring coast to coast, primarily on college campuses.

The So Long Solo duo have been married for five years. They share a common love for music and for each other—it was refreshing to see such chemistry between a couple. They are not only doing what they love, but they are doing it with whom they love.

“End of the Rainbow” conveyed that love, and it was the first song that the Millers wrote together. This song is about meeting that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with. It was lighthearted—like many of their songs—as Heather Miller skillfully played the xylophone with their harmonies.

“What If” was the last song of their set, speaking of the possibility of the duo never meeting each other and never having their wonderful family. The song was cheerful and carefree as the two bounced around as they sang.

Despite their obvious connection, the Millers commented on how unalike they are in certain regards. Heather Miller was Mark Miller’s first girlfriend while she was previously engaged twice. They dedicated the Michaelson cover to their relationship, with Heather Miller explaining how she can be herself around her husband and he “takes her the way she is,” unlike her previous significant others.

The two of them promote themselves as a “family business” as they bring their son on every tour they embark on. “It’s amazing to travel as a family,” Mark Miller said. “[It’s amazing to] make people’s lives better.”

Heather Miller also discussed her favorite part of touring. “[The best part] is the interaction with the listeners and seeing them affected by our music in some way,” she said.

The Millers are a caring duo and enjoy getting to know new people. The duo spoke and personally introduced themselves to nearly every audience member at the event.

So Long Solo provided a kindhearted and relaxed presence to the Geneseo campus. Their sound was lively and original, and it was rewarding to see such personable people who live a crazy lifestyle of travelling around the country and performing.

Ominous theater atmosphere offers prime venue for horror flicks

As Halloween rapidly approaches, many people are reaching for their laptops to watch either classic movies or contemporary horror films. Online streaming marks a shift in the way some people view their favorite scary movies. It’s less common for people to visit movie theaters mainly due to their inconvenience and outrageous prices. Surprisingly, Forbes published “Theaters Are Wrong to Boycott Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension,” which voices disapproval toward theater chains like Regal Cinemas for refusing to screen Paramount’s Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension this October. The opposition shows that theaters still have some distinct value compared to online formats in regards to viewing horror for the genre’s avid-watchers.

According to the Forbes article, certain theater chains don’t want to play the newest film in the Paranormal Activity franchise because it will go digital only 17 days after it leaves cinemas. The standard time of release dates is between three to four months. Cinemas prefer to have films that follow this time format because they believe it is the best way for them to maintain a valuable profit. Theaters argue that Paranormal Activity will take the spot of a film that will show exclusively in theaters for several months.

People against this decision, however, argue that most films make their biggest profit on the opening weekend. Because of this, it shouldn’t matter that online streaming would be offered.

For most, scary movies are all about the experience. Suspenseful films give viewers an adrenaline rush. Paramount hopes to increase revenue through theater screenings and the digital format, which presents differing atmospheres.

The theater offers an enclosed space, mostly absent of distracting sounds such as phones ringing or cars zooming past. Surround sound fills theaters, amplifying the drama and suspense central to storylines in the genre.

Many people also favor either complete darkness or the theater’s dim lighting, which can be more difficult to replicate in a house. Watching something in the privacy of your home can provide a sense of comfort. You can curl up under mounds of blankets, vastly contrasting a single cushioned seat in a movie theater. It’s harder to find a comfortable position, which aligns with the goal of most thrillers: to cause discomfort.

Horror lovers enjoy the genre because they can experience the same visceral effects—sweaty palms, increased heart rate, tense muscles—as the movie’s characters who encounter some type of threat. When scenes are so vivid that the film feels real, the audience becomes engrossed in it.

In contrast, when people use online streaming services, there’s always a chance that poor Internet connection can disrupt a dramatic scene. Poor connection results in the unpleasantness of the entire movie’s characters suddenly stuttering before a pixelated background. Lower quality can detract from the experience a theater is able to create.

When comparing the theater and home experiences for watching thrillers, viewers have more control. They can pause, fast forward or simply stop the movie whenever they please. In contrast, people visiting the movies don’t have these options, leading to a greater immersion in a chilling environment.

While movie theaters compete with online streaming services, it’s all about personal preference when it comes to deciding how to watch a recent film.

If you appreciate the craft of horror movies, however, you should venture to a local theater to experience the unsettling and exciting effects of a darkened atmosphere with high quality sound and picture.

Student director puts modern spin on Shakespeare comedy

VegSOUP and Cothurnus presented William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” on Thursday Oct. 15 in Sturges Auditorium. Senior Isabella Dixon—a previous student director for the staged reading “Death and the Maiden”—skillfully directed another excellent play. Sturges Auditorium was beautifully lit with tea and fairy lights as well as paper lanterns. The simple yet elegant set design added to the romantic aura of the play. Dixon designed the set along with juniors William Gfeller and Brodie McPherson.

The play starred senior Lea Pandoliano as Beatrice and senior Noah Pfeiffer as Benedick. Pandoliano was a familiar face, as she was the lead of Dixon’s staged reading “Death and the Maiden.”

The plot of “Much Ado About Nothing” centers around two couples dealing with opposite situations of deception. First, there are Beatrice and Benedick, who are tricked into confessing their love for each other. Then, Claudio—played by junior Adam Brown—is misled into thinking his fiancée Hero—played by junior Olivia Knowlden—is being unfaithful to him.

The musicality used in this version of the play was very intriguing. Rather than having music you would expect to hear in a Shakespeare play, Dixon decided to incorporate more modern tracks. For instance, senior Phoebe Phelps sang a modern rendition of The Ink Spot’s “If I Didn’t Care,” with the background track arranged by senior Lauren Zehner. There was also a cover of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” played in the background, sung by former American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart.

Another contemporary feature in this interpretation of Shakespeare’s play was the costume choice. As opposed to normal 16th-century attire, costume designer sophomore Claire Johanson chose modern suits, dresses and leather jackets for the characters to wear alongside their less modern masquerade masks.

Shakespeare originally wrote the characters of Dogberry—played by junior Chase Watkins—and Verges—played by freshman Leeann Bruetsch—as a constable and deputy of the castle. In Dixon’s version, however, she chose to make the characters more relatable and comedic by labeling them as “Neighborhood Watchmen” with whistles and T-shirts to fit the part.

Dixon’s integration of modern music, clothes and the “Neighborhood Watchmen” assisted in making the play written in Elizabethan English more understandable and relevant to her audience.

In Dixon’s director’s note in the program, she acknowledged the fact that the intricate language in Shakespeare plays could sometimes hinder people from understanding the whole play. She hoped that the actor’s pronunciation and dialect of words—as well as the physical action of their acting—would help the audience follow the performance.

The actors superbly portrayed the meaning of the dialogue, speaking slowly and with appropriate emotion to make themselves comprehendible.

“Much Ado About Nothing” is one of Shakespeare’s comedies, so it was much more light-hearted than his famous tragedies like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” The actors—specifically Pfeiffer, Watkins and Bruetsch—evoked laughs with the execution of their lines, interaction and eye contact with the audience.

The chemistry between the characters—especially the couples—was believable, which is an absolutely vital component of theater. The casting choices seemed well thought-out, which made the production even more enjoyable to watch.

Dixon’s decision to incorporate modernity into the centuries-old Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing” was perfect for an audience full of college students trying to follow and relate to the Elizabethan era work. The play was a success and a confident student director led the superb cast.

Shyamalan’s horror flick fragmented, dissatisfying

Despite all the hype around M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie, The Visit proved to be more of a failure than a victory. Like all Shyamalan movies, The Visit contained a classic, unexpected twist. The twist, however, could not make up for the poorly developed plot that dominated the film. The Visit tells the story of aspiring filmmaker Becca and her younger brother Tyler, played by Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould respectively. The story begins with the siblings setting off to meet their estranged grandparents in rural Pennsylvania. Becca brings her video camera to try and seal the rift that happened years ago between her mother—played by Kathryn Hahn—and her grandparents—played by Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie.

During their stay, Becca and Tyler come to the realization that their grandparents are not whom they first appeared to be. In order to figure out the truth, Becca and Tyler decide to document their “visit.”

Despite the promising synopsis and director, The Visit is only pleasing from the surface. This movie is full of flaws, bringing about its downfall. A significant problem is that the film tries to stretch across multiple genres. Horror, documentary and comedy combined do not create a good setup for a Shyamalan film. There are times where it is not clear whether the audience should laugh or cringe. Even the horror aspects of the film were not terrifying—just disturbing.

Furthermore, the characters were underdeveloped. Becca—who is barely 15 years old—is using vocabulary so far past her age it seemed awkward and out of place. Tyler is a cocky 12-year-old who believes his rap skills surpass any YouTube sensation. Both children are too precocious, simply becoming aggravations to the film rather than compelling protagonists.

Another issue with the film was that too many themes were brought in and then abandoned halfway through. The children have inner demons that they struggle with after their parents’ nasty divorce. Yet, this very problematic detail is rarely brought up as the children go through traumatic nights with their insane grandparents; even though the resurfacing of these issues would have helped the characters develop.

By the end of the film—despite the unforeseeable twist—there was a sense of incompleteness. An anticlimactic feeling rose within audience members because of all the loose ends the movie did not tie up.

One positive aspect of the movie, however, is that there were no dull moments—even if the movie did prove to be a letdown. In some way—whether it is puzzling over Becca’s word choice, reeling from the grandparents’ creepy behaviors or listening to Tyler attempt to rap—it was undoubtedly entertaining to watch.

WOW Cappella showcases unique vocal talent

The MacVittie College Union Ballroom was bursting with talented voices on Saturday Sept. 12 as Geneseo’s a cappella groups performed at the Geneseo Late Knight WOW Cappella event. The ballroom was packed as attendees sat on the floor to watch the artists perform their distinct renditions of popular music.

Between the Lines was the first group to take the stage. The group is one of three co-ed a cappella groups on campus with Exit 8 and Emmelodics. BTL’s last song—Muse’s “Uprising”—featured a talented male soloist. The group gave strong support as they came together in perfect harmony at the end of the song.

Next up was the only all-male group: Southside Boys. President and senior Aaron Weintraub brought in two alumni from the group for one more performance. “Good Ol’ A Cappella”—their most popular rendition—heightened the energy in the room with stomping and clapping.

The various soloists featured in the song complemented the energy with their powerful vocals and heartfelt performances. Their second song—a cover of “Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic—featured Weintraub, who entranced the audience and jumped off the stage to serenade several of the attendees.

Emmelodics followed Southside Boys. Despite the fact that they were missing 11 members, they were not discouraged from rocking the event with their strong harmonies. One of the highlights of their performance was the energetic beat boxer, who hit each beat with confidence and remained completely in the zone.

Hips ‘n Harmony performed fourth. Their first song was ZZ Ward’s “Put the Gun Down” and featured soulful lead singer senior Nicole Peinkofer. The second song they performed was Ella Henderson’s “Ghost.” This track featured intense beat boxing by junior Hannah Fabiny, whose talented voice made it feel like there was a strong bass hidden behind the curtains.

The last group to perform was co-ed group Exit 8. They performed Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,”—the same song that they presented last year at the Regional Quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella at Syracuse University, where they came in fourth place. In their second song, Exit 8 performed a lively mash-up of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and MTKO’s “Classic.”

What stood out about this entire event was the sense of community amongst every a cappella singer. Each group had high camaraderie and had strong connections to all of the other groups.

Hips ‘n Harmony president senior Victoria Colozzi reinforced this notion of camaraderie amongst performers. “These guys are my family,” she said. “Everyone has a place where they can unwind and be themselves. Sometimes in your major, you don’t get that, and before I joined [Hips ‘n Harmony] I wasn’t getting that. I’m doing what I love with these girls.”

GLK’s WOW Cappella event did an exemplary job at showing potential new members how strong the a cappella community is at Geneseo.

Bhangra workshop provides intense, rewarding experience

If you’ve ever seen Geneseo Bhangra perform, you know how exciting and difficult the performances are. I can attest to this firsthand after attending a Bhangra workshop on Monday Sept. 14 at the Knight Spot.

Team member junior Varna Nair explained that her favorite part of being in Bhangra is that “we’re just basically a huge family.” I could tell that the team was very close from the start. They all chatted and laughed comfortably with one another.

We introduced ourselves while stretching then jumped right into learning a routine. The Bhangra captains showed us a couple of the basic moves to start. As I struggled these “easier” moves, I knew this was going to be even harder than I thought.

One move that the Bhangra captains taught us is called “pataka.” They nicknamed this step “the firecracker” because it’s powerful and most often used in explosive parts of routines.

Another move we learned is called “faslan.” This is one of the only moves in Bhangra that allows for arms to flow in a more fluid manner—the majority of Bhangra steps are clearly defined and sharp.

As a former dancer, I enjoyed the fast-pace nature of Bhangra––the captains taught us a whole routine in just a half hour. Prior dance experience didn’t help me with Bhangra, however; it’s such a unique form of dancing with which I was entirely unfamiliar. I certainly didn’t have the routine down pat, but I was exposed to a lot of fun new moves.

The music of Bhangra is also appealing and entertaining—the songs all utilized beats that made me want to get up and dance. The way the team members used modern songs with an added Indian twist seamlessly blended the traditional Bhangra culture with contemporary culture.

Though this music is less conventional for a Bhangra dance, Nair explained that the clothing they wear during a performance is indeed traditional garb. “Bhangra is from the state of Punjab in India … the outfits that we wear are from back in the day, [and they] represent the different colors and how the state itself is very colorful,” she said. Dynamic dancing in vibrant colors certainly attracts a large audience.

Nair explained that the team captains will teach a combination during their upcoming audition dates on Sunday Sept. 20 and Monday Sept. 21 from 3-5 p.m. After that, those auditioning will have a chance to work on the routine with help from team members.

Bhangra is undoubtedly a highly energetic activity and it was much more fun than I expected. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do any of the moves, but once I got into the rhythm, it was a lot easier to grasp the choreography. Bhangra dancing is just as entertaining to participate in as it is to watch.

Summer 2015 in review

Every summer, there are songs, albums and films that catch the attention of the entire country. The summer of 2015 was no different. It was filled with strong artists and cultivating filmmakers. As the summer comes to an end, it is important to look back on what made this summer so great from an entertainment standpoint. Here’s a glimpse at some of the highlights:

Songs

Taylor Swift lit up the summer with her remixed single “Bad Blood” featuring Kendrick Lamar. The suspenseful music video—which featured celebrity cameos from Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham and Jessica Alba—helped land the single at the top of the music charts. The song is intense, upbeat and delivers a powerful message to stand up against adversity. It’s no wonder why Swift received the 2015 Video Music Award for Video of the Year at the end of the summer.

Another song from a driven female artist was Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.” Like Swift, Platten delivered a strong message through her heartfelt and empowered song. It was the summer’s biggest song; an impressive feat for a female artist who was working independently without any billed collaborators. Not only did Platten’s hit reach radios all over the country, but it was also featured in a Ford commercial.

Male artists had many outbreaks this summer as well. Andy Grammer’s “Honey I’m Good” and Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance” became instant hits on the radio fairly early in the summer. The upbeat vibe allowed these tracks to gain widespread popularity throughout the country. These songs were—and still are—the perfect songs to blast in your car on the way to the beach or the mall.

Movies 

Hit movies this summer ranged across genres from action to comedy to documentary. Probably one of the most lucrative films of the summer, Jurassic World, revived the famous Jurassic Park films and reawakened our love for the dinosaur theme park. Action and suspense were driving forces in this film and lead actor Chris Pratt delivered a stunning performance that left viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film.

Another summer favorite was Inside Out, Pixar’s first movie since Monster’s University. What really drove this film was the creative and extensive world created by the moviemakers. It was interesting to see how an animated film dealt with the visualization of concepts such as personality, abstract thought and dreams. Amy Poehler voiced Joy, the energetic and happy-go-lucky emotion that tries to right every wrong that her polar opposite, Sadness—voiced by Phyllis Smith of “The Office”—creates. Like one of Pixar’s previous films, The Incredibles, Inside Out dealt with complex themes while still being family-friendly.

Trainwreck—written by and starring Amy Schumer—on the other hand, put a quirky take on a rom-com. Portraying an awkward and comedic female protagonist, Schumer allowed the hilarity of the film’s premise to shine through. Bill Hader—portraying Schumer’s boyfriend—helped add to the light and humorous comedy.

Among the action and comedy, moviegoers were also treated to an inside look at the life of Amy Winehouse in the documentary Amy. It celebrated her career, but also showed the hardships she faced. The film featured many of her songs, which meant that viewers could appreciate her hits while learning about her career.

Albums

This summer allowed many new artists and well-known veteran singers to shine. X-Factor 2012 contestant Bea Miller came out with her first album Not an Apology in late July. Her distinct, strong and raspy vocals stand out in songs such as “Fire N Gold” and “Dracula” and are the driving force that makes her unique amongst the throng of modern pop artists.

In a different genre, Pitbull came out with his ninth studio album on July 17. Dale features Spanish singers such as Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Fuego. The rhythmic album is a primarily Spanish-language work, Pitbull’s second such album.

Art from Abroad: London presents innovative theater experiences

People say that traveling abroad is life changing. I had the opportunity to discover this firsthand when I studied Humanities II at Oxford University this past summer. Seeing incredible landmarks and attending plays made the experience even more worthwhile. During our first weekend, our group traveled to Stratford-Upon-Avon and took a tour around Shakespeare’s hometown. We saw his wife—Anne Hathaway’s—original cottage surrounded by a scenic garden. That evening, we saw Shakespeare’s “Othello,” a play I hadn’t read since high school, but enjoyed nonetheless. The seemingly modern comedy incorporated into the play made it laugh-out-loud funny.

After spending time in Stratford-Upon-Avon, we made our way to London. One noteworthy experience from London was visiting Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is filled floor-to-ceiling with luxurious art and hundreds of years’ worth of history. I didn’t realize how many people were buried there—it felt like the abbey was packed with tombstones of important historical figures. Kings and queens were buried alongside famous writers like Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll and Charles Darwin.

While in London, we also went to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and saw another Shakespeare play, “King Richard II.” This play also had a contemporary feel, similar to “Othello.”

I think that the actors in these plays portrayed their comedic parts in modern ways in order for the play to be more relatable for audience members. The actor playing King Richard definitely stole the show—he had the perfect balance of a pompous yet wimpy attitude that had the crowd cracking up whenever he took the stage. Due to the spectacular performances from those actors, I preferred “King Richard II” to “Othello.”

After my program ended, I was lucky enough to stay right in the heart of Piccadilly Circus, which is comparable to Broadway in New York City. Everywhere you looked, there was a different theater showing a play. The final show I saw was thankfully not a third Shakespeare play, but rather Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone’s “The Book of Mormon.”

I essentially went in blind to this show and decided that the mystery of the synopsis made it more thrilling. I’ve seen many shows and this is—by far—one of my favorites. The spunk of the characters, the spot-on mockery and the inappropriate, outlandish behavior all merge to form a hilarious play.

At home, I would never decide to go see a Shakespeare play, but this trip gave me the opportunity to enjoy something that is slightly out of my usual interests. I would recommend to everyone, particularly college students, to travel while you can and see as much as possible. You learn more about yourself than you’d think and it is an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life.