Final Essays: Writing About the Arts

Post Malone Concert: Sway

Bryan Early

On Monday October 21^st me and my fellow classmate Cole took a trip to the BB&T center to watch one of the best artists right now Post Malone. His shows are so fascinating from his beautiful style of music, the crazy clothes he wears, and the ability to use lights to create such an effect for his music. From the first song he played Hollywood’s Bleeding as smoke rose from the stage and the soft melody from his voice echoed through the arena he had the entire stadium hooked onto his vibe. This was my third time seeing him the others being Chicago and Paris but at each show what stayed consistent was his energy. He wants people in his environment to feel free and use his music as uplifting spirit to make people feel good inside.
One of the ways he creates this environment is his crazy use of lights. Through the entire show there was an assortment of lasers showing soothing coolers such as white, blue and red. Being in this environment everyone around you is dancing without a worry in the world and as a community that’s very good because that doesn’t happen too often. Throughout everyone of his concerts in between songs Post interacts with the crowd a little bit to give a connection between the performance and the person. Because a lot of Post’s songs are about his hard times and different emotions in his life the audience is more empathetic and really feels the true meaning behind his music.
One of my favorite parts during his concerts is when he changes from the high paced energy of jumping around and getting crazy to bringing out the acoustic guitar. This has been one thing he has done at every one of his concerts, it allows himself to settle and take a deep breath because of how tired he is. Although he is resting it also gives the crowd a chance to reflect on the concert, the arena, and the environment around them. When he starts the strum the guitar for his infamous song “Sway” the crowd slowly begins the go into a lull swaying back in forth in unison with everyone around them. As the song goes on people will pull out their cameras creating an amazing wall of flashes around the stadium lighting up the stage as if the lights were turned on. This is always my favorite part because it reminds me of when I used to go to Summer Camp back in the day in upstate NY. One year my counselor was really good at guitar so in our bunks at night he would play the guitar and me and my friends would sing along to old songs. It’s not that big of a memory, but watching the performance made me think of all the good times I’ve had in my life because of the spirit that is in the room.

Overall after seeing Post 3 times I’ve realized his concerts are different from today’s rappers. Most people care about raging and mosh pits, but his goal is to make sure everyone’s night is the best one ever. And he does this through his amazing music, soothing light fixtures, and ability to create a worry-free environment because stress and other mental blocks can prevent you from enjoying the moment that you are in.

It Takes Many Pieces to Create a Masterpiece

Will Shields

I attended the Kaos dance performance on campus. It demonstrated how many different sights, movements, and sounds can come together to form one cohesive unit. This cohesive unit not only captivated the crowd, but it showed the attention to detail that comes with dance performances as a whole. These details were seen through the music, choreography, lights, and audience.

The music at the performance consisted of mostly high hop music. This includes item typical with the genre such as a heavy bass and fast-paced lyrical verses. The music was all from within the last couple years. Additionally, the songs that were picked tended to be songs that the audience either recognized or knew the words to. This helped to bring the audience into the performance because it was music that many individuals listened to and were familiar with.

The choreography often changed from fast paced and slow movements. This drew much attention to performance. This aspect of the performance truly showed the need for synchronization and the difficulty of the dance. At times, there were upwards of 25 to 30 individuals all on the stage moving at the exact same time. Not only did they have to change pace together, but they did so with difficult movements that require extreme flexibility, muscular endurance, and technique.

The lights along with the music simply added to the performance. While the motions of the dancers were fascinating, the lights added a dynamic that the dancers could not create on their own. The lights allowed for individuals to be almost spotlighted, whether this was their entire group or solely their silhouettes. Additionally, it typically changed with the beat of the music or motions of the dancers. This act got the crowd more into the performance than they already were and helped to keep them engaged.

The Audience included mostly individuals aged twenty-three to nineteen with some exceptions. The Audience helped bring the whole performance into one cohesive unit. For example, the music was geared towards the audience and performers. Once the audience was there, the lights and music and helped keep them captivated in the performance, so much so that a crowd formed around the rock and it became standing room only. Furthermore, the audience was formed by many individuals from all specs of life and the country. This is important as it shows how a dance performance such as Kaos can bring a large group of different kinds of people together.

The entire performance shows how many pieces must work together to create a masterpiece. Without any of the aspects, it would not create the entire piece. If any parts such as the individuals, music, lights, choreography, or audience were missing, the Kaos performance would not be a performance. This reminded me of the music lesson that was taught in class. Each individual had a different instrument, but without them all working together, the sound and rhythm were always off. You need each part to work in unison to create the end result.

Cities of the Mind: Art Observation

Brennan Prusak

For my observation, I chose to go to the Lowe Art Museum on campus. The two exhibitions being showcased when I went were “Cities of the Mind” by Carlos Estevez, and “The Pasts of This Afro-Cuban Present” by Diago. While the later was a stunning exhibit in its own right, I will be going in depth on Carlos Estevez’s work as I found it fascinating.

To start, this was my first time at the Lowe museum, and I was blown away. I had always thought that it was one or two rooms showcasing student art, but it was so much more, The building itself was enormous, and housed multiple exhibits in addition to the two listed above that are temporary. While I thought I would need about 30 minutes to get through everything, I would end up spending closer to an hour and a half and could have stayed for much longer. There were Native American artifacts, works from ancient china and other Asian countries, and a room full of what appeared to be renaissance pieces spanning over a few hundred years. I will definitely be going back next semester and am looking forward to seeing what new exhibitions they bring in, along with getting to take a closer look at the permanent exhibits.

“Cities of the Mind” was a fascinating collection, with each painting representing a different city. This exhibit consisted of nine large-format paintings that reference the artist's fascination with city plans. He drew inspiration from the Havana of his youth, the Medieval European cities that he has traveled as an adult, and his interest in symbolic cosmology and origin stories.

Each installation is the same size, and the same medium. Each was created using oil and a watercolor pencil on canvas. This in it of itself was baffling to me as the designs on these pieces were so detailed and intricate, consisting of multiple straight lines. I found it very interesting that each piece took a very different approach in its inspiration, along with what it was trying to emulate. For example, “Imaginable City”, is drawing inspiration from the ruins of Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Lindos, and many others in an attempt to demonstrate architecture, music, philosophy, politics, astronomy, mathematics, and ethics: the disciplines of human life. It consists of sharp lines and perfect circles, all combining to create larger square. It is very precise and there is not much of a bend to shape of the piece.

On the other end of the spectrum, his piece, “Citadel”, has almost no uniform shape, but instead bends and flows over the canvas. The inspiration for this piece is Avila, a perfectly preserved city in Madrid, known for its semicircular towers and nine gates. This city is shown as a anthropomorphic city map with a “body” and two “heads”. I believe that this is what gives this specific “city” a more fluid feel and doesn’t seem as rigid as any of the other installations. In fact, all of the other paintings that I saw had either a strong circular, rectangular, or square shape. While each piece had a very rigid shape and outline, “Citadel” was the outlier and instantly stood out.
I do not consider myself an expert when it comes to art, in fact I know next to nothing. However, I was in absolute awe when walking through this exhibition. I wish that I had more time to look at all nine of the pieces in depth and will certainly go back to get a better look. They caught my eye as soon as I opened the door, and it was very cool to try and decipher what exactly the artist was trying to say, although I can’t say that I did. Even so, it was a great.

Annual Thanksgiving Assembly: "Now I Walk in Beauty

Sydney Feyerick

On Monday November 25th, I attended the annual Thanksgiving Assembly at my Alma mater Holton-Arms in Bethesda, Maryland. Holton-Arms is an all-girls, college preparatory school which I attended from third to 12th grade. Every year before parting for the holiday, students and faculty (and special guests/ visitors) convene in the beautiful Lewis Theater to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. The assembly begins and closes in song and selected students share anecdotes about their Thanksgiving traditions.

The lower school students (grades three through six) and faculty were seated on risers arranged in a semi-circle on the stage, facing the audience. The middle school (grades seven and eight) and upper school students (grades 9 through 12), along with the rest of the faculty/ visitors were seated in the audience. The upper school chorus entered after everyone was seated and walked to their designated section at the front, in the center of the audience. Once they filed into the rows of chairs, they turned around to face the audience and began singing “Now I Walk in Beauty,” a traditional Navajo prayer. The prayer reads: “Now I walk in beauty, beauty is before me, beauty is behind me, above and below me.” They began to repeat the phrase as the middle and lower school choruses joined in a round. The ceremonial piece summons the directions to situate the individual among the physical world. The prayer states that beauty is before, behind, above and below us, reestablishing our awareness of the physical world and the impact we have on our environment and vice versa. Having the singers face the audience established a sense of inclusivity among the assembly attendees, and the depth created by the layered phrases added strength and purpose, uniting the auditorium as the angelic voices grew to fill the entire space.

Next, the head of the school Mrs. Susanna Jones welcomed everyone and wished them a happy Thanksgiving. She briefly discussed why she was feeling extra thankful this year, then proceeded to introduced the three student speakers. The first speaker was a sixth grader, representing the lower school, followed by the middle school representative an 8th grader, and the upper school representative, a senior. The three speeches were beautifully written and delivered. Hearing about each girl’s Thanksgiving traditions, what they are thankful for, and how they express their gratitude sparked introspective conversation among and within ourselves, focusing our attention on all the good that the holiday season brings. Hearing from three girls at different stages of life led me to reflect on my life and how far I have come since I was a student attending this assembly. Being surrounded by familiar faces at Holton, a place that has become my second home, and revisiting the fond memories I made during grade school was incredibly humbling. Reflecting on my journey and thinking about those who were there for me through all the ups and downs made me realize that I am thankful for everything life has put me through and all the people the universe has put in my life, because without those things, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

The assembly concluded with a faculty led sing along. Five faculty members went up on stage with their guitars and began to sing Ken Hicks’ “For all the Good People.” “For all the Good People” is a beautiful song expressing gratitude to those that we know and those that we don’t know acknowledging the importance of every human being who has ever walked the earth. The assembly ended with Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” a famous American folk song describing all the great places of the United States. “This Land is Your Land” reminds us that these places belong to all people equally, concluding each verse with “this land was made for you and me.” The sing along was not only beautiful, but incredibly uplifting and unifying. These songs perfectly complemented all that was said in the student speeches and further extended that gratitude in a way that unified the entire audience. Going back to Holton-Arms is always an incredibly special opportunity for me because it allows me to revisit all the wonderful memories and connections I made there and pay my respects to the amazing education I received and the educators from whom I received my education.

Lenticular Panel Painting: Broslo's “Out of the Ordinary”

Caroline Kapp

Over Thanksgiving break, I went on a seven-day cruise to Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas with my boyfriend; we had so much fun. My family cruises a lot, so on every cruise it is a tradition for us to make our way to the art auction where they always have wonderful pieces that you can choose to bid on. On most of the cruise ships, there are serious bidders, and you can spot them out right away. They walk in, extremely quiet, sit down and do not say a word to another person in the room. But on the flip side, there are also a lot of new-bees who do not know what is going on, so at the beginning of each art suction, they state the directions and how it works.

On all of my past cruises, I have never really found any pieces that I truly love enough to bid on, however, this year was different. This cruise auctioned off such modern, fun, and bright pieces that I absolutely fell in love with. The artist who I loved the most was a man named, Broslo, from Norway. Broslo is a Norwegian artist that creates various types of contemporary reliefs utilizing different materials/objects. There were two paintings that caught my eye like no other in the room. One was a relief that was created out of both plastic and rubber; They almost look like a 3D painting. The sculptural paintings created a “bunny” face that looked as if it was angry. The bunny’s eyes were big and wide with his/her mouth open looking as if it was screaming.

The other painting that caught my eye was a painting called, “Out of the Ordinary” which is a lenticular panel painting. Lenticular printing essentially takes each digital image and cuts it into strips that are then intertwined together alternating its order to create a complex image that is of all the pictures together in one. This painting involved three bunnies with their tongues out going crazy and a melatonin pill. The pill had a tongue and eyes as well, and when you walked up the stairs you could see it, but when you walked down the stairs it would disappear.

I loved it so much that I put a bid down for it. My boyfriend and I waited until the end of the auction to see the painting get auctioned off, and at the last second someone put down a higher price that I was unable to beat. Even though I did not win the painting by Broslo, “Out of the Ordinary,” I am still determined to find one of his pieces for my house. My parents are really into modern art as well, and when I sent them a picture of it, they fell in love. I did some research on him once we docked the boat and were on land, and found his Instagram page. I DM’d him asking for more information on his works, and how I can find some pieces for sale and he said that he will get back to me in a couple days as he is traveling right now around Europe for a show casing.

It is so amazing how such an event can bring such creativity, imagination, and inspiration to one room of people. I look forward to following Broslo’s artistic journey and his works. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to be introduced to his bright, neon colored, and creative paintings.

6

Freaky Pat

Sydney Kramer

Patrick McCarthy, Freaky Pat, is a fellow senior at the University of Miami who is an incredible musical artist. Much of his work is influenced by classic artists in the jazz and soul music scene keeping the tradition of the sound alive in a modern way. In the beginning getting to know Pat, I had no idea he was so talented or even a musician for that matter, so seeing his live performance was incredibly impressive and surprising.

I first met Pat as a coworker at a job that does not require or invoke artistic individuality. I spent countless hours with him not seeing his creative side, but instead only experiencing his emotionally intelligent and easy-going personality. One of the biggest lessons and reminders I learned this semester in TAL 324 was that children and adults all learn in different ways and are all uniquely intelligent. This is a hard thing to remember when you are in a STEM major surrounded by students who are clever in society’s stereotypical book smart way. While I knew Pat was smart, I had no idea in what way, or that he was capable of creating such a strong yet relaxing sound.

He then began inviting me and other coworkers to his local shows. The first time we went to be supportive, but then we kept going because we were hooked. There is no one stereotype or appearance of a person that describes what a musician is, but I at first am guilty of assuming Pat would likely perform a more generic sound. At this day and age of the Miami music scene, there is an underlying assumption that young college aged artists are strictly into the Electrical genre. While Freaky Pat does have an electric component to his work, he also adds soulful lyrics and live instruments in the background that layer old school sound with new age technique. As he stood on stage about ready to perform, we all waited patiently with low expectations. Once he began playing we couldn’t believe that we had never heard him play before. Not only was his singing rhythmic and enticing, but also, he had a resounding stage presence that locked everyone in as if he was singing directly to each and every one of us. He was playing music, but it wasn’t just sound, it was communication that was reaching his audience. What he said had a meaning and a message, and you could feel his passion and the labor he put into his work.

Once understanding what Pat was capable of, I was very excited to hear that he was scheduled to perform as a Lakeside Patio Jams guest. This happens every week on Thursday, where students from UM perform live in the center of campus. Lakeside Patio Jams are one of my favorite things about our campus. Even if students might not stop to watch, everyone gets to enjoy as it reverberates all around campus as students walk to class and enjoy the outdoors. Getting to hear Freaky Pat from all corners of campus was incredible, and you could tell how comfortable he felt on stage getting to perform where he felt he was home. I stopped by the patio to see his performance rather than just hear, and with the Lake behind him and smiling visiting tours lighting up with joy, it was truly his most magical performance yet.

Maluma in Concert: 11:11

Susana Bustamante

The art-related event that I was lucky to attend, was the concert of Maluma in the American Airlines in Miami. The concert is named 11:11 and took place on October 11, 2019. I attended the event with my mom, brother, sister, and boyfriend. Maluma is a 25-year-old singer from Medellin, Colombia. However, he’s real name is Juan Luis Londono Arias. I’ve always been a fan of his music and I’ve always wanted to see him perform a concert. For some reason, every time he went to Cartagena or came to Miami I had a trip or something, but it was impossible for me to go to one of his shows. Finally, I was blessed enough to go this day.

Maluma became famous in Colombia in 2011, when he was only 17 years old. I clearly remember his first songs and my favorite one which is named “Carnaval.” The whole stadium was full of people from different places. During the concert, he asked “where’s my people from Cuba? Venezuela? USA? England?” and many different places. I was surprised to see that there were people present from everywhere in a concert from someone from Colombia. I didn’t know how famous he was in the world. The stadium was full and he cried when he was saying “thank you to everyone who came.” He talked about how he couldn’t believe he was able to fill a stadium and how we should follow our dreams no matter how crazy they seem to be. That’s something that I’ve heard a lot of times but hearing someone who really accomplished a “crazy dream” is really awesome. He said how when he was young and talked about becoming a famous singer, many people laughed at him for having that crazy idea.

My seat was located on the right side of the stage and very close to it. I was surprised on how elaborated his show was. Even though I knew it was going to be an amazing concert, I wasn’t expecting so many different scenery changes and dancers. Maluma also changed his outfit more than 3 different times. There were a lot of stage effects made with the lights. My favorite one was with a green thin laser light where he acted as if he was grabbing the light with his hands. He opened and closed the laser lights making a really cool and interesting effect that I’ve never seen before. I’ve been lucky to attend to many different concerts in Miami and this is definitely one of the best ones I’ve been to.

He has many different types of music but most of them are reggaeton style. There was a song that it was the first time I heard it which is very calmed. It’s named “Creeme” and I’m obsessed with it now. Almost all of the songs he performed, I knew them. There was only one or two that it was the first time I heard. The public knew all of his songs, which I was amazed too. His concert was very energetic and cheerful. Maluma has an amazing attitude that contagions everyone who’s watching him. The show took around 2 hours and he had a giant smile on his face. I could see the happiness within him.

This show made me feel proud of being Colombian. I’ve always suffered from the stereotype of Narcos in Colombia. Every new person who I meet mentions the fact that Colombians are Narcos. Even though I try to ignore that, it’s something that affects me. Maluma made me feel proud of coming from Colombia. I love when amazing people like him, come to other places in the world and show that there’s way more incredible people coming from my country. I enjoyed the show a lot and I recommend anyone to go to the show. I liked that you don’t need to know the songs or anything to see his concert. The dancers and stage is amazing by itself.

8

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Natalie Kiboneka

This thanksgiving break I was lucky enough to spend it in New York City with my family. It has always been a dream of mine to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art ever since I was in high school and would watch the annual Met Gala on TV. I did not know what to expect because I did not really look into the museum because when I would watch clips on TV. When I found out that I was going to New York City, I knew I had to force my family to come with me to experience the Met and all the amazing art in all of the exhibits.

When we first stepped out of the subway and walked towards the Met, I was enchanted by the staircases leading up to the museum. I would always hear celebrities talking about how they felt like the stairs felt like forever walking up and it really felt like that. Even from the outside, you felt like you were walking into a special place. When we first got into the Met, I immediately wanted to see the Camp exhibit. After this past years Met Gala having Camp as the theme, it was interesting to see everyone's outfits and how each piece of clothing was truly a piece of art. I did not realize that I was going to walk into the Camp Exhibit and see everyone’s outfits that they wore enclosed in cases all surrounding a pink room. As you would walk through the exhibit you would hear different definitions of “camp” throughout the years.

After leaving the Camp exhibit, we walked through an exhibit that just had rugs from all over the Middle East. They were draped all over the walls and they even had a room decorated as a prince would have it in the 1800’s. When we left that exhibit we ran into their Egypt exhibit. They had made a life size pyramid that you could walk through. One of my life long dreams is to visit the pyramids, and I am happy I was able to experience this before I go to Egypt one day. Also in that exhibit, it was exciting to see that they had all of the different layers of caskets of Egyptian royalty. There was a mummy that was placed in eight coffins and multiple that were in about three to four coffins. I learned that multiple coffins were a sign of protection for the individuals placed in them.

Different exhibit that I went to were all filled with Roman statues. I had never seen such amazing statues in my life; I would only see things like this in movies. As well we also went to the Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll exhibit because my brother is obsessed with music and wanted to see all of the electric guitars. Because of our education class, I learned how instruments really are a form of art. And when I was walking through the exhibit I was able to really capture that.

One of the last exhibits we went to was all about the England military. They had armor from the late 1800’s as well as old guns that they would use and little descriptions of wars that would occur. We barely scratched the surface of the Met, but we were there for over 4 hours. The exhibits were so large and I love reading every description of what I am looking at. After the Met Gala my family and I sat in Central Park and just watched kids play around even in the cold.

The Met was even more than what I imagined. All I had thought was the glamorous Met Gala and did not realize I would learn so much about art through all of the exhibits. I am moving to New York after graduation and I am so excited to go back to the Met when all of the exhibits have changed and it is like a whole new Met. I am really happy that I went to the Met after I had taken this class. I think that I appreciated the Met more because I understood how impactful art is.

The Key West Art and Historical Society

Abigail Codispoti

For my art event, I visited a local art exhibit in Key West, FL called the Key West Art and Historical Society. The Key West Art and Historical Society is a museum which showcases the city’s historical culture through various art pieces. I enjoyed this museum a lot because it was different from the typical art pieces that you see in an art museum in Miami. The museum is composed of various exhibits which take you on a tour of the city’s history.

One of my favorite exhibits was the Old Man and the Sea exhibit because I remember reading the book as a child. This is an important exhibit because Key West was the home of the author of Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway. His historical mark is evident all throughout the city, including this exhibit. This exhibit contains a variety of original sketches by Guy Harvey which depict the novel by Ernest Hemingway, Old Man and the Sea. The sketches, which include sailfish, boats, along with others, tell the story of the Old Man and the Sea in a different art form than Ernest Hemingway originally wrote it. What made this exhibit so interesting was that Guy Harvey was able to take the story and create various art pieces from it to tell a story. Like we learned in class, art is extremely versatile and can be used to tell a story. It was cool to see that in action in this exhibit. The exhibit also includes a famous statue called “Ernest Hemingway in Key West,” which is a bronze statue of the Old Man and the Sea Author. The exhibit also contained a pair of Ernest Hemingway’s old boxing gloves.

Not only was the inside of the museum full of beautiful and interesting art pieces, but the architecture of the building itself was beautiful. This is typical of the city of Key West, as its history and culture is prevalent in buildings all throughout the city. The Key West Art And Historical Society Museum is set in an old redbrick building, that used to be home to a customs office for the city of Key West. The rustic and original brick structure lends itself to the history of the art that is inside the museum. It is very cool that the building itself is an art form to house other pieces of art. The museum itself is a two story building containing both permanent and temporary exhibits.

Overall, it was very interesting and valuable to visit an art museum in person. I was able to experience different forms of art than those we learned in class. Throughout this semester, I learned that art has no boundaries and that art can be created from anything. I really enjoyed being able to learn about the city’s culture through the art that I saw in the exhibit.

In class, we learned about various types of art and dance. However, the amount of forms that art can take is infinite. Therefore, taking the time to visit art exhibits, concerts, and dance shows, provides a new perspective that you cannot fully gain in a classroom. Being able to use that art to learn about the culture of another city was an added bonus.

10

Mirror Labyrinth

Megan Rittenberg

Mirror Labyrinth was created by Jeppe Hein in 2017. It is currently on display at the Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mirror Labyrinth is a three-dimensional work of art with dimensions of 104.25 by 346.5 by 338.5 inches according to the text on the plaque next to the piece. The sculpture consists of vertical poles made out of steel and mirrors. The height of the poles vary and the placement of the poles are a few inches apart from one another, small enough where people can not fit through the gaps between them. Together, these poles create a swirl shape with a pathway that allows viewers to physically walk through the installation with two places of entry (or exit).

When people walk by, they can see their reflection, people currently walking through the piece, other mirrored poles, and through to the other side of the piece. Hein’s has created many works of art similar to Mirror Labyrinth, as many of his previous and current works are interactive and accessible to the public (Jagannath, 2016). This allows people with all socioeconomic statuses to visit his works, i.e. it is free to enter the sculpture garden to view this work of art. This installation allows viewers to observe the work of art, the surrounding area, and the self because of the reflective nature of the material. The artist explained that he is fascinated with mirrors because “viewers become aware of the limitations as well as the possibilities inherent in the act of looking… [and allow the viewer to ask oneself] Why Rittenberg 2 are you here? What are you doing here? How do you observe artwork and space? How are you observed by artwork and space?” (Jagannath, 2016).

This installation is enjoyable for people of all ages: infants beginning to recognize oneself in mirrors, children laughing and screaming as they run through the maze-like path, teenagers taking artsy photographs, and adults wanting to learn more about the architecture, art history, or just admiring art while taking a stroll outside. Being outside, this piece is more family-friendly as it allows viewers to talk at a normal tone as one would not need to whisper like in traditional museums and viewers can run free. Also, because it is located outside, it is likely to be built sturdier as it has to withstand various temperatures, winds, and animals. Mirror Labyrinth allows people to feel lost, yet see themselves and still feel confident in their ability to find their way out.

This installation reminds me of a simplified version of corn maze as it is located outside, can be confusing (due to its reflective nature), and some navigation skills will be helpful. I was caught off guard when I first saw the installation in the sculpture garden from a distance because it seemed so interactive compared to the first few pieces that I walked by. The pieces near the entrance were solid colored and solid sculptures that I could just observe and admire. When I walked up closer to this installation, I was surprised that many people were standing on the cement pathway observing the shiny installation and not walking through it. I realized that because it had rained a few hours prior, people were not walking through the installation because it was located on muddy grass. I think the piece would have been strengthened if it was placed on cement or rubber, rather than grass as it rains often in New Orleans. This would allow people to get the full effect of the creative installation.

11

Lowe Art Museum: A Reminder of Beauty

Samantha Tano

Prior to this assignment, I sadly have never been inside the Lowe Art Museum. I must have walked past it more than a dozen times thinking about going inside, but never having the time to. With all of the pressure and deadlines of school it is easy to forget to stop and take a moment to enjoy the art and all we have right here on campus. Thankfully, because of this class and the new perspective I have on learning, I visited the Lowe Art Museum.

I have never been much of an art connoisseur, but whenever I view art I always try to find a connection to it by seeing what emotions I feel when looking at the piece. There are many beautiful pieces inside of this museum. The outside of the building definitely does not do justice to just how much art there is inside. The first painting that caught my attention was a painting by Frank Stella entitled “Le Neveu de Rameau.” This is a huge acrylic piece with very vibrant colors. I think this is one of my favorite pieces. I love how symmetrical the painting is and how it is abstract and can be interpreted in so many different ways. To me, this painting looks powerful but at the same time delicate with all of its colors and how smooth it looks.

Another painting I really liked is by Chryssa entitled “Americanoom.” I thought this painting was especially interesting due to the material that was used to make it. These materials include aluminum and steel. It just goes to further enhance the point made in class that art can really be made out of anything as long as you put in effort and make it your own.

The steel and aluminum looks like it was carefully molded into waves while still maintaining its original silver color. Ever so quickly a corner of the piece lights up in blue and yellow. While I do not entirely know the origin of this piece it reminded me of the world we live in today. The piece is all grey because we are living in a very hard time, but ever so slightly the light comes on just like the good of the world is able to peak through.

At the Lowe Art Museum, there is also an exhibition entitled “The Past of this Afro-Cuban Present.” This is a series of various different art pieces. Most of these art pieces are painted in dark colors and have various sayings on them in Spanish. Some of the sayings include “no puedo hablar” or “dios cuida.” This collection is supposed to be a reinterpretation of the history of the Afro-Cuban culture in order to explain the discrimination against the Afro-Cubans. Walking through this exhibition it made me feel sad and taken aback because the pieces were so powerful and conveyed so much repression and pain.

Towards the end of the museum, there is another exhibition by Carlos Estevez entitled “Cities of the Mind.” My favorite painting in this exhibition is called “Inner Vision of the Outer Space.” I really liked all of the different bright colors as well as the mixing of all of the shapes. This painting is supposed to reflect a person viewing all of the stars from space. I was really mesmerized by this painting because every time I looked at it my eyes focused on something different! I think it is so interesting to be able to see one piece of art in so many different ways.

Overall, the Lowe Art Museum and its exhibitions reminded me how beautiful art is and how paintings are able to resonate with people and bring out many different emotions in oneself. Although this was my first time going to the Lowe Art Museum it definitely will not be my last!

12

Live Jazz Performance

Sim Vreeland

On November 17^th, I had the pleasure of attending Charlie Christenson’s doctoral recital on jazz vocal performance. The performance took place in Clark Recital hall at around 8:30 p.m. The performance consisted of seven songs all sang by Charlie Christenson himself. He was assisted by Jake Shapiro on piano, Lowell Ringel on bass, Aldo Salvent on tenor saxophone, and both Alex Brandenburg and Logan Smith on assisting vocals.

The first thing I noticed when walking into the recital hall was the stadium seating and wood walls. Not only did these factors enhance the beauty of the concert hall itself, but also caused incredible acoustics. The performers came out wearing all black, which gave the recital a unified element amongst everyone on stage. Before performing the first song, Christenson introduced himself and expressed his thanks to everyone who was there to see him play. He specifically called out and thanked his father and sister for flying into town to see him perform at this special moment. I knew the recital I was about to witness would be something so unique and different from anything I’ve heard before.

To begin the performance, Christenson sang an E.E. Cummings poem, composed by Kate McGarry called, I Carry Your Heart. Before starting to sing, he dedicated the song to his late mother who had passed away a few years ago. This performance included Shapiro on piano, Ringel on bass, and Brandenburg and Smith helping out with vocals. The song ultimately stayed at a low pace. There was a steady cello beat with an overall dominating piano sound. Even though the tone was low and deep, the energy kept building from the combining canon of Christenson and his two vocal assistants. After analyzing the performance for a few minutes, I could tell the vocalist would move their microphones lower and farther away from their mouth to get the lowest tone possible in their voice. After singing the actual lyrics of the poem, Christenson would break out into some scat singing to display his expertise in using his voice as an instrument for melodies and rhythms. Throughout his performance, Christenson was smooth with his movements. This showed that he felt very comfortable playing in front of a crowd.

The second song Christenson sang was called Footfall, he wrote the lyrics himself, but the composer of the song is Linda May Han Oh. He explained before signing that the lyrics were about getting older and how as you age, you start to become more anxious and worrisome. This song was the shortest of the bunch, so he passed out the lyrics for anyone to sing along if they pleased. This I really connected with because although I am young, I can relate to feelings of anxiousness and worrying. For this performance, only Christenson, Ringel and Shapiro were on stage. The song started off with a low base beat which then progressed into high tone piano. The piano melody matched Christenson’s vocals perfectly. The song had an overall bluesy vibe to it, which I really enjoyed. The lyrics, “Our lives are long, (And) we string along. Surviving footfalls, remaining strong (right or wrong)”, proved that the song was thought provoking and meaningful.

The third song, composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, was called On The Sunny Side of The Street. This specific song started with a long scat singing intro before Christenson progressed into lyrics. The inspiration for the style of the tune came from legendary jazz artist Dizzy Gillespie. Only Christenson and Ringel were onstage for this performance, Ringel also had an amazing bass solo. The scat singing and bass start low but then quickly develop into a faster, more cheerful pace. There was a wide range of vocal notes Christenson displayed, while snapping and patting his chest to the beat. Watching him perform this song proved that he’s worthy of receiving his doctoral in jazz vocal performance.

Overall, I thought Charlie Christenson’s jazz vocal performance was incredible. I only describe the first three songs, but the entire concert was very engaging and entertaining. It was very impressed with the other musicians on stage as well. The atmosphere of the recital hall was very welcoming but also quite personal. Throughout the performance, I would stop and think about how talented each musician was. Each artist had the opportunity to show off their skill, which they all delivered impeccably. Even though the night was really about Christenson, he made sure that everyone on stage felt as if it was their doctoral recital as well. I was very impressed with Christenson’s vocals and I hope he gets the doctoral degree he deserves. I am very appreciative of the entire jazz concert experience. I have never experienced something like that before and I am beyond happy to say that this was my first. I was surrounded by friends that also enjoyed this unique experience. I plan to go to another concert even alone possibly before the semester is over, to enjoy the music of smooth jazz.

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Post Malone Concert: "Hollywood's Bleeding"

Cole Masterson

This past semester, I went to a concert for my favorite artist of all time, Austin Richard “Post” Malone. The concert was on October 21^st, the Monday after Fall break. I actually attended the concert with another classmate of mine, Bryan Early, and the concert was located at the BB&T Center up in the city of Plantation. Although I have seen Post Malone three times prior to this concert, this was easily my favorite performance by him as well as any other artist. In the fall, he released his third studio album, Hollywood’s Bleeding and I believe it is his best all-around album. From the array of sounds he uses in the backgrounds of songs all the way to the variety of features he has, the album is extraordinary.

Swae Lee opened this concert before Post Malone came out. I could tell by listening to the crowd that there were a decent amount of people who knew a lot of Swae Lee’s songs. Swae Lee came out in a mint green suit with the same color lights in the background. Lee sang a bunch of his songs from his rap group called Rae Sremmurd who he is accompanied by his brother Slim Jxmmi. He also sang songs that he is featured on including “Crave”, “Won’t Be Late”, and “Infatuation.” I am a huge fan of Swae Lee as well so that is also a huge reason why it was by far the best concert I have ever been to. Swae Lee has a high pitched, smooth, tenor voice which is very aesthetically pleasing to hear.

Post Malone then came out to the song “Hollywood’s Bleeding” off of the new album and the stadium was in awe. There was a huge box on stage that was then lifted slowly with smoke misting through the air as the beginning of the song started. The crowd was going wild and every single person had their phones out ready to record. He then played one of my personal songs from the new album called “Circles.” This song has a very peaceful melody and the lights were light blue and moving very subtly around the stage and crowd.

A major aspect that I enjoy about Post Malone’s concerts is that in between songs he talks to the crowd. He explains with a 15-20 second excerpt about the next song and what the true meaning of each one is about. It is almost as if we’re having a little conversation with him throughout the concert. He also says how grateful he is that he can play his music on stage and that the fans sing along with him in between every single song. It feels like he really wants the crowd and his fans to know how much we mean to him. Post Malone then went on to sing “Take What You Want” which features Travis Scott and Ozzie Osborn. The background of this song was accompanied with fire blown into the air for the entirety of the song. Since the song is a darker and more ominous take on hip hop, the fiery background was the perfect scenery to go along with the melody. Post Malone then brought Swae Lee back out on stage so they could perform their hit song “Sunflower.” Malone then went on to sing many more tracks from his latest album as well as his previous two albums.

Although I had gone to three other Post Malone concerts, this one definitely stood out the most. I came to the realization that Post Malone is not a person who goes on tour and puts on a show for the money. He genuinely enjoys making music and does it for the fans who sing along with him during his concerts because as he said during the concert, “It means the world to me that I can share stories about my life through music and you guys sing it right along with me.”

14

Art in the Dark

Ella Wayne

On November 15th I attended the “Art in the Dark” exhibit that Hurricane Productions had put together. A fellow student and member of Hurricane Productions in my painting class asked everyone to attend, and she even asked me to submit a few of my paintings for the show as well. The exhibit took place in the Breezeway from 8-11pm. I went early to help set up and display my paintings. There were a lot of other artists there, and I got to talk to many different painters and check out their work. I really enjoyed looking at everyone’s art because you could see they were all really different styles, but they still had everyone display their art right next to each other. On one side of the breezeway were the bigger paintings, and on the other side were tables for the smaller pieces.

The first paintings that really stood out to me were the ones directly next to mine. This painter used really bright colors, and her paintings reminded me of a lot of expressionist pieces we looked at in my Art History class. They had very painterly and intuitive strokes, but you could still make out what the painting was of. Her largest piece was a woman in front of a green and orange background. She had very dark hair, which contrasted very well on top of the neon colors in the back. The brush strokes connected the background with the subject, and overall the piece was very coherent and beautiful.

Another few pieces that stood out to me were all of animals, but instead of on canvas they were on wood. This artist would cut out the shape of the animal on wood and then paint on it. This broke the barrier between painting and reality, because there was no background, only the subject. The piece that really attracted my eyes was a giant parrot with beautiful big leaves. This artist used very saturated greens and blues, and you could see all the detail and thought put into each stroke. All the pieces side by side each complemented each other with shape and color. They all shared the same design, and a similar color pallet. Many of my favorite iconic artists choose to paint on other mediums rather than canvas, and it is such a creative and different way of expression.

Along with paintings, this event hosted plant making inside, an oxygen bar, donuts, and an arts and crafts table. I really enjoyed the whole event because all my friends got to come and see my art, which is something they don’t usually get to see since the studio is so far away. I also got to see other UMiami students work, which was really exciting and made me feel a lot more connected to the art community at school that I am apart of. Overall, it was a great, engaging and entertaining event.

The Nutcracker Philadelphia

Rachel Westhoff

Over Thanksgiving break I was fortunate enough to get to see The Nutcracker at the Pennsylvania Ballet. Since I used to be a ballerina, I love going to see any form of ballet. I feel like I can appreciate it more knowing how much work and dedication it takes to make the movements look so effortless. I also love to go to different ballet performances, especially in the winter, because it makes me very nostalgic. It reminds me of those long rehearsals, sometimes 12 hours long, where we would come into the studio bundled up in the middle of December at 6 am and not leave until it was dark.

As for the performance itself, I have seen the Nutcracker more times than I can count. The first time I saw it I was 5 years old and a girl from my studio was cast as Clara at Radio City Music Hall so the whole studio went to support her. I fell in love with the ballet since then mostly because Christmas is my favorite time of year, but also because I love the music in the ballet. My favorite song, still to this day is Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies followed by Arabian Dance. Moreover, I love the Nutcracker because Tchaikovsky is my favorite classical music composer. I also used to play the cello and have played a few of the suites featured in the Nutcracker. This current time I saw The Nutcracker, I was beyond impressed.

The ballerina’s in this specific rendition where absolutely phenomenal in both the way they moved and the expression and emotion they portrayed throughout the ballet. They all moved as if they were floating. It was so mesmerizing to watch, and as I looked around the room, everyone in the audience was captivated. The stage itself was beautiful decorated and the costumes worked perfectly with the set. The ballerinas all had on such elaborate and colorful costumes, which just added to the fantasy-like component of the ballet. I was so amazed at how each of them moved and the pure muscle of their bodies. I always say ballet is one of the hardest skills to master, and after watching these performers, I stand by that statement.

When the show concluded, I could not help but wish it was just one more song, one more dance, longer. On the way home, I looked through the Playbill and looked up the principle ballerinas. I was amazed at how young they were, some only 15 years old, and how impressive and poised they were on stage. It made me wonder if their talent was something that was innate or if they had to work at it, or perhaps both. It also made me wonder if they get nervous before every performance. I remember when I used to be a ballerina I would get so nervous before certain performances, especially my solos. I remember it was a mix of adrenaline and anxiety, and only during dance did I ever experience it.

Reflecting on the performance, I really enjoyed The Nutcracker. Since I have seen it so many times I have been able to pinpoint good and not as good performances, but this one overall was very well put together. The dancers were amazing, the costumes were unique, and the symphony was phenomenal. It made me so excited for the holidays and all the traditions and spirit that go along with them.

Studio Music and Jazz Faculty Concert

Olivia Dobrin

For the jazz concert I attended, three separate musical acts performed. The first was Vocal Centric Ensemble that consisted of three vocalists, drums, guitar, and a bass player. Together they created flawless harmonies that blended together very smoothly. Each vocalist had their strong suit; one has a strong voice, one’s voice was soft, and the other was higher pitched. Together, along with the music them seamlessly blended old and modern jazz. The second performance was a vocalist, Alexandria DeWalt and she performed one of her original songs. Her vocal range impressed me greatly and it reminded me a lot of Ella Fitzgerald. She not only was a proficient singer, but her scatting was just as impressive.

The final performance of the night, and my favorite one, was by Bass desires. This band consisted of a drummer, two guitars, and a bass. You could really tell they were enjoying themselves as they played in a jazz fusion style. This concert was a great example of the similarities and differences in the styles of jazz. While each performance was different and unique, they all shared a lot of similarities in techniques and styles. Each performance I saw managed to encapsulate exactly what makes jazz performances so unique--improvisation. Whether it was the vocalists or the musicians, they all added their own “twists and turns” throughout their performances. One thing I noticed was the way they all stayed synchronized even with the improv. I noticed that each person had their own methods to maintain the synchronicity. They all made active eye contact with one another throughout the entire performance, especially when someone was performing a solo.
More than that however, each performer was actively listening to one another, which helped make the performance so much fun to watch. They also employed techniques such as foot tapping and snapping in order to maintain rhythm. I found this very interesting because when you are just listening to a jazz recording, you don’t get the opportunity to see the word and dedication in each performance. But seeing a concert life really shows how much hard work and dedication goes into being a jazz performer and it increased my admiration for jazz even more. I grew up in a very musically active household, as my father is a professional musician, conductor, composer, and producer. While he is trained to be a classical musician, he always shared with me his love and passion for jazz. I remember him always trying to explain to me all the different intricacies that make jazz music so unique, but I was always too young to appreciate it. I haven’t seen a jazz performance in years that was not one of his, so this helped me bring back my appreciation for it.

Performing Arts Review: Kaos

Lauren Fuster

For my review, I decided to attend the KAOS fall showcase. I attended because I had always heard that not only were the dances entertaining, but being part of the crowd was fun too. In addition, I wanted to attend because I had considered joining KAOS when I entered the University of Miami. However, I never did because I mainly danced Latin ballroom dance, salsa, bachata, and merengue. Since I had always seen small groups perform at different events, I did not expect the KAOS team to be so big. I had never seen the whole team at once. Being able to see the whole team on one stage was amazing!
When I first arrived, I was surprised at how professional the set up was. There was a DJ, professional lights, and even a makeshift backstage where the dancers changed. There were chairs for the audience to sit and even cameras recording the whole showcase. Since they made the set up so professional, I feel like it made the crowd even more excited, involved, and into the performances. The crowd was dancing in their chairs and clapping even before the performances began. They even had an announcer which reminded me of hip hop shows I have seen on TV.

        I love watching dance performances of big groups. It is interesting to see how such a group can be so diverse. From what I saw, there were African American students, white students, Latino students, Asian students, and many more different ethnicities dancing on the stage. I love that they accept people regardless of ethnicity. It makes the dancing even more enjoyable to watch because you get to see how ethnicity does not make you more or less capable of being a dancer. It also allows all people from the crowd to feel represented on stage. KAOS also adds diversity to its group by accepting all types of dancers. What I mean by this is that the group is made up of people on the Sunsations, Hurricanettes, people who had danced before entering college, etc.
        What made the showcase even more diverse was that they also had guest performances between many of the KAOS dances. Guest performances were by the Hurricanettes, Suga Canez, Sunsations, Dillboss, Omega Psi Phi, and Nia Hinds. I liked that the incorporated these guest performances because many of them were different from what KAOS performed. To add, they also incorporated rap artists which I thought was neat. It was nice that they incorporated a musical element to the showcase, making it more entertaining.
      For the showcase, KAOS incorporated outfit changes. There were about four or five outfit changes. They started with neon-colored clothes and ended with everyone wearing all black and a KAOS sweatshirt. I like that they ended with everyone wearing the same outfit. It showed unity; it was almost as if they were one big family. This feeling of being a family was also evident when they cheered each other on during their introductions. The introductions also showed diversity. Each person performed a dance movement of the type of dance they perform best. For instance, some people did flips, others did spins, and others did hip hop moves. This type of dance diversity was seen throughout the performance. Each dance number was different than all others, just like each dance incorporated different dancers. The reason why the dances incorporated different dancers was that not everyone could make it to every practice, so to be fair they only included dancers in a dance if they made it to the practice in which they dance was taught. Each dance was original since they were choreographed by different dancers.

Dance is a way to bring people together. It can be incorporated in the classroom to teach the acceptance of diversity, teamwork, history, and it can be taught as a healthy, alternative way to express emotions.

18

Reggae Sundays

Valerie Izquierdo

For the purpose of this assignment, I attended a place in Wynwood that hosts local artists to perform on Sunday afternoons. The genre of this Sunday’s performance was reggae. This genre of music originated in Jamaica and therefore the event had a sort of tropical kick to the beat of all the songs. I usually listen to this type of music, so it was fitting to my personal preference.

The concert consisted of 3 different reggae bands, each band with about 4-5 artists either playing different instruments or singing. The lighting of the stage was pretty standard. There was yellow light to illuminate the bands. This light would often change from a yellow-white light to green depending on the songs. There were no flashing lights which set the tone of the performances to be more of a relaxed scene than a flickering party scene. The backdrop for the mini stage was a wooden pallet which set a sort of informal and more rustic tune to the performance of the bands. It was interesting to note the wardrobe choice of each person on stage. They were not in costumes, but the colors worn were prominent to the Rastafari and Jamaican flags. Most of the men had dreads in their hair while the women typically wore more of a lively afro. The women also wore bold jewelry, necklaces and earrings for example, which also reflects their culture and roots. I remember one of the lead singers wearing an eye-catching gold chain with the African continent as the pendant. I found it powerful to see how close and passionate the bands were to their roots.

In regards to the actual music experience, the lyrics of most of these songs were not about sex, love, and money as the radio portrays are the common topics of songs these days. Instead, these artists proclaimed about salvation, racial injustice, and related social news. It was very interesting to hear about these topics in an artful musical setting. Also, being in Miami there is a blend of cultures since almost everyone you come across has a distinct background than you. This was especially evident at the concert. One of the reggae bands actually performed in Spanish. I thought it was incredibly interesting to see this Afro-inspired genre in a different language than that which it originated. In my opinion, the Spanish performer was my favorite because he carried a specific energy in his voice that was more of professing equality than actually singing at a concert. It was as though his lyrics was his sermon and he was transmitting his message within the beats of the reggae vibe. The other bands also had very powerful lyrics and energy, but his really stood out to me because you can tell what he was saying was something very personal to him rather than just words he put together to write a song.

I really enjoyed the concert and felt it was a very different experience than the previous times I have attended. I feel as though I noticed many details that I had originally taken for granted. The wardrobe of the musicians and their simplicity really reflects their lyrical message about what’s important to them. By having to pay attention to lighting, environment, and lyrics the concert had a different taste and I appreciate having the opportunity to learn about music through this way. It has opened my eyes and I am excited for the next concert I attend to see it with this new mindset also.

Performing Arts Review: Sunsations Dance Team

Julia Kaplan

This semester I had the pleasure of watching the University of Miami Sunsations Dance team at every home football game. The one performance that I will be reviewing occurred on October 11, 2019 at 8 pm at the game versus Virginia. At this particular game the dance team performed a hip-hop routine to a mash up of current popular hip-hop songs.

The Sunsations ran onto the field with their intro video playing in the background. I am close friends with several of the dancers, so it was cool to see them up on the big screen. Each dance team member was dressed in a black top with a bedazzled orange and green “U” on the front and the word “Canes” written across the back in white. They each had a pair of black leggings on with a black and white flannel tied around their waste. They were also wearing black hip-hop shoes. The costume was a great choice for the performance because it fit very well with the hip-hop genre and style. Their outfits were very fierce and carried a certain swagger that enhanced their routine. Also, they were performing at a night game, so the black ensemble looked amazing under the bright lights of the stadium.

Hard Rock Stadium is a very large venue. There is a loud buzz that one can hear at all times due to the large amount of people in the crowd. This can make it very difficult to hear the music played over the loudspeaker. At the beginning of the dance team’s performance, the music volume was too quiet, so it seemed to throw off some of the dancers. However, they were able to recover quickly and continue on with the performance. It had also just rained, so the dancers had to perform on a slippery surface. Grass itself is not an easy surface to dance on, but the dancers handled it quite well.

This hip-hop routine was filled with a lot of sharp and hard-hitting movements. The footwork was very complex and required a lot of jumping. The choreography included several level changes and over 10 formation changes. The choreography also utilized some groundwork as way to create a unique visual. This made the dance very fun to watch. In the middle of the choreography, one dancer was featured. She walked down the center of the formation in a very sassy and confident manner while everyone else remained still. She then used sharp arm movements to bring the other dancers back to movement. This was definitely my favorite part of the routine. It was very unique and created a cool visual. The music even went along with her sharp movements, as it used the sound of a knife slicing to go along with her movements. The dancer did a great job of carrying out the movements with a confident swagger. In that moment, I wished I could be as fierce as her.

The music chosen was definitely a crowd friendly choice. It was a remix of several popular hip-hop songs released within the last few months. This really appealed to the fans and spectators at the game. I could see fans around me dancing along to the music because it was familiar and had a great beat. The music also enhanced the choreography’s hard-hitting movements.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching the Sunsations perform their dance routine. It was very exciting and fun to watch. The music, choreography, and costumes all helped to create a powerful and fierce piece of art. Performing in front of such a large crowd can be intimidating, but the dancers handled it very well. The dancers were also able to overcome a few challenges to put on a successful performance. I am excited to see the dance team perform again during a basketball game this year.

20

Kaos Performance Review

Kayla Pournazarian

I have always I attended Kaos’ performances, University of Miami’s hip-hop/dance team because of my love for dance and to support my friends. They always perform at the rock, which I believe is a perfect location for this showcase. It is outside, in near perfect weather, with a strong and wide stage so everyone could see. It encapsulates the spirit of the university with the U statue so close by.

My first time attending the Kaos showcase was my freshman year because I was so interested by the performers on stage when I noticed them while walking out of the library, I am so glad I walked by. Then, I followed up on the team with various Instagram and YouTube videos that got me excited to watch them every year.
I have danced my entire life and was even captain of my high school dance team. However, when I went to college, I learned that while I loved dance, I no longer wanted to perform, which kept me from ever auditioning for Kaos. Now as a senior, I sometimes regret not putting myself out there and simply trying it out. I loved their choreography, costumes, style, and all around swagger that they carry with every move. However now, after watching my last Kaos recital, I’ve become a lot more comfortable with my decision. I found things in college that I am passionate about and I would watch Kaos’s showcase with joy and admiration instead of regret and to truly support my friends who are a part of the excellent dance team.

I convinced all my friends to come with me to showcase on Wednesday. The songs and dance moves were incredibly on trend and in style. Everyone in the crowd knew the songs and bopped along to the lyrics and sound. The performance was electric. The groups of dancers throughout the show were incredibly precise and fast-paced, never anyone out of timing or the wrong step. All of the dancers were stepping to the beat and not just the lyrics which is incredibly clever chorographically in my opinion. I was as if their bodies were in tune with the beats and sounds and they used every unique dance style to incorporate the sound.

I always love when at these performances the dancers bring people from the crowd dance with them. They get the crowd involved and excited to see who will go up and what they will do on stage. It was clear that the dance moves done in the part of the show this was all improvised which I loved. It allowed the dancers to be creative and get a sense of the environment and vibe from the volunteers. While the volunteers may have been embarrassed, the dancers did an excellent job making them feel comfortable and also to have fun about it.

I loved when the dancers introduced themselves with a short movement. It really gave me a sense of who the dancer was and what type of style they enjoy or identify with. All of the dancers showcased their personality through this introduction which I thought was a very special and unique.

All in all, I am really happy that this was my last Kaos Showcase to watch from the crowd. It inspired me to choose what I am passionate about and to just go with it. It helped me relive my dancing days and to always be on top of the new dance trends and styles. One thing that I have always enjoyed about is that everyone who was dancing just loved to be there and to dance. They had so much passion and love for their sport which is something that inspires me every time I would go see them.

Performing Arts Paper: Mystère. Mystère

Annie Stockel

Over the course of the curriculum we engaged with all kinds of arts. Ranging from the utilization of the outdoors, coloring, movements, teamwork to music. Throughout the semester, we coupled the arts with education. That being said, we turned whatever activity we had done each day into a lesson plan that could be practiced in the classroom environment. This paper will be an example of a performing arts event that I have attended and in it, I will give a review on what was seen, the meaning behind it, and how I viewed it.

The event that I will be covering is one that I got to attend over our Fall Break. During that time, I was fortunate enough to have traveled to Las Vegas. Being in Vegas, I felt that I had to attend a Cirque du Soleil since I was in one of the most well-known places for them. The one that I attended was called Mystère. Mystère is the original must-see Cirque du Soleil in which combines high-energy acrobatics and dramatic dance sets to the thunderous rhythms from the Taiko drums. The production started out pretty slow and as time went on, the music created more and more drama as more and more people entered the stage to create an intense environment.
The interesting thing about Cirque du Soleil’s is that they are long performances, usually the same length as a Broadway play would be (around two to three hours). However, the unique aspect is that the whole length of the production, there is no speaking. Actors and actresses are meant to portray a story through the use of movements, sounds, and music. It is a very cool way of expression. One of which we have focused on quite a bit throughout this semester. It kind of reminded me of the one lesson we did with instruments. The whole class sat in a circle, all facing each other and were handed different instruments and we all were told to create our own beat. The way that we engaged with each other by listening to other sounds and trying to collaborate, created an environment that was synchronized. I felt that this lesson kind of resonated with the idea of Cirque du Soleil’s.

In these productions, it is a lot of working together in order to create an artistic masterpiece. Seeing how actors and actresses can move their bodies in these insane forms through aerobics is quite entertaining. At first, I thought sitting through a “play” with no words for two whole hours was going to be strenuous and quite boring. However, realizing that you can watch something without any dialogue and actually become fully engaged, is a very cool experience. The talent and arts behind the orchestration of the production is extremely entertaining.
Throughout the production, a story was told through the creation of a few different acts. Each act had its own meaning to it. The first was the aerial straps duo in which a pair of dancers performed twists and turns as they flew over the stage while hanging only onto strings. The second act was a Chinese pole and hand balancing act. During this, a group of acrobats, dressed in Chinese attire expressed the art of balance. The third act was to portray strength. Two artists worked together to show the crowd how through the use of stamina and teamwork, unimaginable ways of engaging your body could be done.

I don’t full remember all the rest of the acts, since it was so long, however one that stood out to me was the Taiko. This utilized both artists who danced and artists who played these Taiko drums. Taiko drums are native to Japan and a true form of art. It was astonishing how many different sounds and rhythms could be created by one instrument. The show finished with a flying trapeze which was something that I have never seen before. The way that these acrobats could balance, engage, and use their strength to stand on one another was incredible.

Overall, this was an amazing experience. I got to watch a play that going into I wasn’t so excited about, but when leaving I was thrilled. The way that actors can express art through sound and movement was astonishing. It was definitely a must-see if ever in Vegas!

Interactive Art Installation

Shannon Lerner

The XYZT: Abstract Landscapes, at ARTECHOUSE, an innovative digital art space dedicated to 21st century artists and audience, was an interactive installation that allows the audience to immerse themselves into the art. This digital installation not only showed different landscapes, but was displayed all around the walls and floor. You were also able to interact with the piece through touch. The touch aspect allowed the audience to manipulate the artwork through touch or by moving. The four dimensions of the piece gives it its name XYZT for: horizontal, vertical, depth, and time.

I originally went to this exhibit after seeing it on social media. A piece of art that is able to draw in a younger generation is impressive. And the exhibit fulfilled expectations as it was far from boring. I was also drawn in by the digital aspect of this piece, which was created by a computer scientist and graphic designer. I have chosen a career path in business technology, which I hope to use in a more creative career path. This art showed the use of technology and creative expression. Looking at the piece, I felt the amount of programming must have been extensive. Programming is very boring and repetitive, so it was amazing that the piece was anything but these things.

When I usually go to a museum, I tend to be the type of person that reads the description of each piece. This causes me to usually fall behind the other people I am with, so I am rushed and do not get to appreciate the art. This piece was completely different because I was completely immersed in the work. There was no reading as every wall you look at was art, which was completely captivating. You also become part of the artwork as the light from images shine on you. As you stand in the middle of the piece surrounded by the artwork it is completely captivating.

Another aspect of the digital art was the fact that it was in black and white. Usually I think of modern art as colorful with bold lines and I think of black and white as a still, somber image. While there were no colors, the contrast of black and white caused the designs to pop out. This contrast along with the moving design, that moved with you, was striking. The color choices also made the audience stand out. I felt the audience was supposed to be part of the art, you became the only color in this piece.

I really loved a wave pattern that moved like water as you touched it. The image was still until you touched it and ripples formed under your fingers. There was also a floor that offered a similar sensation. This floor had flowing white lines that moved like a wave beneath your feet as you walk. Another very interactive piece was a black wall that formed a reflection of you in white on the screen. This reflection of you was shown through tons of bugs that formed together as an image of you. This image moved with you, making you a part of the piece. Everything flowed, perfectly syncing with your movements. Another piece was a black room that surrounds you with little white dots. These dots were everywhere, even appearing on you body. As you move the dots will move as if impacted by the force you exert. The more forceful your movement the greater impact on the movement. Everything was in sync with movement.

I loved this art exhibit, and would highly recommend going. This is something that, while was really impressive when I saw it on social media, was a completely different experience in person. The artwork flowed beautifully and incorporated the audience into the piece. Everything moved with touch or movement, made the audience a part of the art. The interactive, digital piece was immersive and captivating.

23

21 Savage Concert: Homecoming

Jonathan Garvin

I want to talk about going to the 21 Savage Concert that was on campus not long ago. The experience I had with the concert was interesting more than anything, what was interesting about it was the way my peers behaved, the atmosphere itself, and how others felt at the end of the concert. I honestly want to go to another one because, before I begin to speak about this concert, I’ve experienced better and by all means concerts are wonderful. Because Savage, the rapper, just played his music and let the crowd sing his songs, the concert wasn’t the best, but it was still an experience that I enjoyed.

Behavior, specifically of my peers, is what I’ll speak about first because lord knows, outside of them, the security was terrible and the workers were uptight. My peers were mostly excited, high, and drunk. I wasn’t sure if most of them would make it home, but the crowd mainly consisted of unruly underclassmen. They were overly excited to go to their first big collegiate event and it showed with them being under-dressed, constantly screaming and being obnoxious, and the drugs and alcohol they were using. These kids were out of their minds and it didn’t make the experience pleasant at all; in fact, it contributed to the reasoning behind the conclusion of my paper.

The atmosphere was pleasant prior to the drunkenness and obnoxiousness. It was nice people were smiling, taking pictures, interacting with each other, singing and dancing. It was a night that was warm and comfortable and good music was playing although the artist was late to his own show. It was fine, though; everyone was having a good time and it made it pleasant overall for me personally, even when there wasn’t much art or music to enjoy.

Peoples’ experience outside of mine didn’t affect my own too much, other than the underclassmen. Really, everyone said the concert was pessimal and most people left early,but to me it was fine. The reason being was all the concert did was provide a chance to interact and meet new people outside of the encasement of our cell phones. It was a good experience for me; I met new people and found friends I really enjoyed being around and have things in common with. The way I view the concert is different from everyone else, I look at the positive aspects of it and decided it was good, which is all that matters to me in my book.

In conclusion, I enjoyed my experience at the concert. The showing wasn’t exceptional but the overall experience was good for me. Concerning the rapper, he just played his music and let the crowd sing his songs, which the crowd quickly grew tired of. So, there wasn’t much art or music to enjoy before everyone decided to leave and yet, I had a good time.

24

Vous Church Worship: Spending Time with God

Robert Burns

A city like Miami offers many musical events for the wandering eye. Yet that is a problem within itself because there are too many options at times. For example, just walking past the university’s breezeway you might see skillful performers showcasing their best. Another great example is that each year around this time, Miami Art Basel takes place. It's a showcase of the world’s best artists and painters.

Yet, I chose to review neither of the two. My focus in this essay is on Vous Church Worship. Vous was spun out of Trinity in 2015; it started as a young adult and youth ministry program within Trinity called The Rendezvous, later shortened to The Vous. Vous incorporates elements of contemporary popular culture, as other ministries aimed at young people have done in the past. Vous Church Worship is a musical religious experience. In church language, to worship means to spend time with God.

The beginning of the worship was loud and quite colorful, but so is the neighborhood in which it takes place. Little Haiti is a small town neighboring Wynwood and the Upper East Side. The town’s name comes from its huge import of Haitian immigrants who settled there many moons ago. The music that accompany the worship reflects the diversity of Miami’s worshippers. The coolest thing about this worship is that it is a participatory experience.

At many concerts, one might just sit down or stand and engage at a minimum. At traditional concerts, the audience is judging the performer and enjoying the night through eyes that critique the performance. Yet at this worship night, most people’s eyes were closed and the music is just a guide to engage with God. On stage, the performers sang “Holy, Holy, Holy” as the crowd repeats the chorus.

Behind the singers are people dancing just as the people in the audience are dancing. What is quite noticeable is that it is the audience that dictates the pacing and the length of the performance. Traditionally it is the performers that dictate how long and how intense they will perform but in this setting, those rules are changed. Overall it was a beautiful time and an eye opening experience that holds a space for those in need of spending some time with God.

The New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker

Melissa Marion

I went to see The Nutcracker while home on Thanksgiving break because one of my family friend was dancing in it. The New Jersey Ballet's production goes on up until Christmas, but starts around this time to give people ample amounts of time to see it. The Nutcracker has been one of my favorite performances ever since I was little, mostly because when I used to do ballet, we put on a production of it as well. The thing I liked the most about this performance was the costumes. They were absolutely stunning and so well put together. The tuts that the ballerinas wore had incredible beading and beautiful colors, and the scenery was very well put together as well. Although it was just a ballet performance for younger children (up until the 8th grade), the backdrops and costumes were still incredible.

I also loved the music a lot, and the choreography. The way the ballerinas were able to match their movements with the rhythm of the music playing was absolutely fascinating (especially because they were so young!) Aside from the costumes and scenery, the ballet was so intriguing because of the plot. They were able to tell a full story solely through movements and without a single word, yet the entire audience still knew what was going on. Additionally, the chemistry between the dancers was unmatchable and really contributed to the cohesiveness of the entire ballet performance. Something I found interesting was how the divided the age groups. In the Nutcracker story, there are older characters in it which were given to who I assume are the eighth graders, and they had the youngest children do the basic roles. It seemed to work perfectly with the chemistry.

My two favorite parts of the performance were the dance of the sugar plum fairy and the snowflakes dancing in the snow forest. These two were my favorites because they were so elegant, and the costumes and scenery went perfectly with the movement of the ballerina(s). The skills that these ballerinas have at such a young age are incredible, considering they are able to listen to the music and match the movements fairly perfectly. The two scenes I mentioned above were some of the best executed. In the snow forest scene, there were about 7 or 8 ballerinas all dancing together. They were able to match each other’s movements almost perfectly and I was incredibly impressed. In the sugar plum fairy scene (which has always been my favorite), the dancer is alone so it appears more intimate. You are able to focus more on her singular movements which becomes so interesting to watch because every movement has a particular meaning to the story line. The girl who played the sugar plum fairy was incredible, she did a great job going along with the music and from what I could tell, didn’t mess up once.

Overall, even though it was not a professional ballet performance, I loved it a lot. One of the main reasons I enjoyed what I saw so much is because it natural and showed how these young ballerinas are capable of so much. This relates to what we learn in class because the ballerinas were in the same age group of some of the lesson plans we targeted in class, so you could see how these children were embracing the arts and making it into something great. The performance was absolutely beautiful, and so impressive!

New York, the Birthplace of Rap

Shaquille Quarterman

The South Bronx has been in a state of struggle quite a long time; in fact, it is currently one of the five poorest Congressional Districts in all of the United States. Mostly Jewish, the South Bronx saw a huge transformation at the coming of World War I that also brought about what is called “White Flight.” This gigantic migration trend moved whites out of the South Bronx into locations both, south like Manhattan, and upper New York. By 1960, a majority of the people living in the South Bronx were African Americans and Puerto Ricans. With the neglect that followed “the White Flight” came a true decay of the South Bronx with massive landlord abandonment, already high gang activity, and recurring crimes to property. Further destruction was brought about by a man named Robert Moses, perhaps unintentionally, whose urban renewal plan included construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway straight through the middle of the South Bronx.

The project displaced thousands of already impoverished Blacks as well as Hispanic people that were living in its designated path, and pushed them to move further into the South Bronx and even to other areas like Brooklyn and Queens. These severe elements set up the perfect condition for the expansion of hip-jump to occur, similar to a rose that developed from the concrete. The young people of the South Bronx were brought up in a general public that made them feel unwanted and so they took these sentiments of anger and abandonment and transformed the negative energy in an entire new culture that thrived from it. From the “party abandoned houses” to “block parties,” to the careless NYPD that gave mercy for “spray painting to shading” the Bronx, these conditions cradled an option that is bigger than a music classification; however, they rather made a culture and social development.

Soon the hip-hop movement reached beyond the South Bronx and even beyond New York City, and soon enough it arrived in the West Coast. Today is a worldwide phenomenon. In the United States, hip-hop music began to move away from the dance floor and focus more on rappers by the mid-1980s and 90s. There was now an emphasis on the lyrical content of the songs and the rapper’s rhythmic delivery, which was often aggressive, harsh, and profane. Rappers’ lyrics often described the destitute conditions in which their fans lived in and were often the voices of activism and dramatic change. “Gangsta Rap” was now a tool for Black and Hispanic youth to use for their voices to be heard. Groups like Public Enemy, NWA, Ice-T, Tupac, would reach national fame during this time, known as the “Golden Age of Hip-hop.” The Golden Age was a time characterized by great albums like “The Low End Theory” by A Tribe Called Quest, “Enter the Wu-Tang Clan” by the Wu-Tang Clan, and “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay Z.

The time of the “Golden Age of Hip-hop” is generally considered to have taken place between the 1980s and early 1990s because of the genre’s innovation, diversity, and international influence. MTV’s Sway In The Morning says, “The thing that made that era so great is that nothing was contrived. Everything was still being discovered and everything was still innovative and new.” Publisher William Jelani Cobb says “what made the era they inaugurated worthy of the term ‘Golden’ was the sheer number of stylistic innovations that came into existence… in these golden years, a critical mass of MC prodigies were literally creating themselves and their art form at the same time.” The neglect that followed “the White Flight” in the South Bronx was one of those instances in which a negative becomes a positive. This sad aspect of New York’s history turned into a golden cultural era in which street dance, poetry and music gained the admiration and appreciation of people all over the world.

Whitney Museum: Rachel Harrison’s Life Hack

Olivia Steinberg

Growing up in the suburbs of New York City, I had the fortunate experience of visiting and experiencing the cultural and artistic melting pot of New York City often. The city contains many museums and have always been one of my favorite things to visit. One of my favorite museum is the Whitney Museum of Art. The first time I went I was in High School and the museum immediately stood out as unique and special. As a person who has an interest in history, I enjoy learning the historical background and significance of things as much of it is manifested through the medium of art.

The museum’s history can be traced back to the Vanderbilt family, who earned their fortune in the shipping and railroad industries in the 1800s. Gertrude Vanderbilt, born into the family in 1875, married businessman Harry Payne Whitney, whose family amassed fortune. Gertrude started her studies in art and she eventually became a major patron and collector of the arts. The Whitney was established to collect and conserve the progressive American art for the public enjoyment and education.

Over Thanksgiving Break, I went with my family to the Whitney. The location is art itself, located between the High Line and the Hudson River. Although this is not the original location of the museum, this area of the Meatpacking District is very cool and trendy. Before you even walk in the museum there are artistic manifestations everywhere, even the building is art itself. Inside the museum the focus is 20th- and 21st-century American art, featuring a permanent collection is made up of upwards of 23,000 different mediums of art such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, films, videos, and collections new media thousands artists.

While the museum was filled with breathtaking art, the museum also features temporary exhibits. The exhibit that stuck out to me was Rachel Harrison’s Life Hack. The exhibit was an entire room dedicated to depicting a timeline, from the early 1990s to the present, of her career. The room-size installations filled with autonomous sculpture, photography, and drawings allow Harrison to delve into complex societal issues in an engaging way. The room was filled with people looking around and thinking, coming up with their own interpretation. The ability to capture the attention of people of all ages in this day and age with social media is important. Harrison's complex works bring together the breadth of art history, the impurities of politics, and the artifacts of pop culture. This created an atmosphere that suggest allegories of the contemporary United States, all through the manifestation of art.

Art is an engaging and effective way to continue to educate people of all ages. Studies have stated that participating in art, music, movement, and storytelling activities not only develops language, mathematics, science, and social skills, but these activities also strengthen the connections between synapses and brain cells. Research shows that these synapses grow stronger through active participation in the arts. These essential activities at an early age can actually create new neural pathways and fortify those that are already present. The Whitney provides opportunities for young and emerging artists, art students, and theorists to study and develop their art

Discussion of the KAOS Showcase

Sheila McAndrew

Last night, I attended KAOS’ Annual Semester Showcase. To say the night was lively and exciting is a bit of an understatement. The event took place at The Rock at The University of Miami. Students, faculty, and local community members of all ages took their seats with pure excitement as they were wondering what amazing routines KAOS would showcase that night. I have eagerly attended this showcase since the Fall semester of my freshman year. It is always something I look forward to and rarely disappoints my expectations. It was especially exciting this year as I was able to attend the performance with my good friend Will Shields.

The night began with the introduction of the entire dance crew. Each dancer was dressed in very vibrant, neon colors. As they announced the name of each dancer, they would pop out from the circle and showcase unique dance moves in segments. I thought this was a perfect way to start the night as each individual was able to express themselves. Many of the moves were very quick, high intensity motions. The neon colors and fresh dance moves definitely set the perfect tone for the rest of the performances. While hip-hop is the main focus of this dance group, various genres of dance were incorporated into different routines. I thought it was incredible how students were the head choreographers in this showcase. It definitely made it more fun to see students my age doing something that they are so passionate about. Their hard work paid off as the entire showcase was performed so smoothly and so synchronized.

My favorite number of the entire showcase was the closing routine. Each member was dressed in black pants and a black KAOS hoodie. I thought this created a very spooky moment, filled with uncertainty. The type of dance style was hard to depict, as often the outfits earlier in the night would act as some indicator of whether it was going to be a high-intensity dance, more of a Carribean-Afro feel, or straight up hip-hop. The movements of this dance focused on a lot of isolations, almost robotic in nature. I think the outfits, strobing lights, and popping movements was very in sync. In addition, you could tell how close the members of the crew are with each other. It was very evident that the group collaborates well and that people are having the absolute best time on stage. The showcase also enlisted the talent of local student musicians. Two students performed their own rap music and collaborated with other students as well.

I thought this showcase was a great way to show the diversity of our entire school. With various genres and dance groups being presented, it depicted how easily art can bring people together. It was incredible to see the community come together, at the busiest time in the semester, to show appreciation for how talented our students are and how much they have to offer the world. After taking this class, I have a greater appreciation for the arts and how to teach others about them. I now have a greater understanding of the importance of education and how crucial it is to be a motivated, dedicated, and passionate educator in today’s day and age.The TED talks were all truly inspiring and presented a call to action to the students in my class, including myself, in telling us that we need to change the nature of education and have it focus on the students, their needs, and what they find to be interesting. In addition, I learned how crucial it is to get kids up and moving in the classroom. Dance, yoga, or any type of movement oriented activity teaches students a lot about perseverance, dedication, time management, and hustle. In these activities, we are able to teach students lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.

30

CAM Fest Fall 2019

Mercedes Gray

Earlier this semester I attended CAM Fest, where the performers were: Sunshine State and Cafe con Leche. This is a Festival on campus which features different genres of student musical ensembles from the Frost School of Music. This particular showcase featured both a Latin music group and a country music group.

The first to perform was Cafe con Leche which was a Latin ensemble including guitar, bass drums, and Coach with lead vocals performed by Julia Calvo-Junkin. The entire program was compiled of original songs written by Julia. The first song she performed was “Dejalo Ir” and had a strong steady drumbeat. It also had a slight reggae music undertone feel and reminded me of bands like The Police. Another stand out song to me came two songs later when she performed a song that was reminiscent of vintage pop called “Que Me Pasa” which was inspired by the Talking Heads. This was a mix of Spanish and English and I loved how up beat and fun it was. You could see how much the band were loving performing and it created such a great atmosphere throughout the audience.

It was overall a great performance especially as I very rarely listen to Latin Music and so was a new experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She did seem more nervous than the country group which is to be expected when performing in front of an audience however, it was great to see her confidence rise as the set went on. She had a great stage presence especially as her confidence increased and she was dancing and moving around the stage and even had the audience involved clapping along.

The next set was performed by Sunshine State again all original songs. I was very excited about this as I personally love listening to Southern rock and modern pop country music. The ensemble included three female vocalists, drums, piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, and violin.

The first up was “Runnin’ Home” performed by Christie Page. This song was incredible with great lyrics that sounded very country and fantastic vocals. Page also brought a lot of confidence to the stage which is very fitting with how we see many female country singers such as Dolly Parton. Her voice and style of the song also reminded me a great deal of Janice Joplin. I loved that this song had two great instrumental solos, the first on the guitar and the second was a very impressive violin solo. It was great seeing how the entire ensemble supported each other and how all the different musical instruments and elements came together to create such an authentic country sound.

The next song that really resonated with me was “City Noise” performed by Danielle Jacoby. This again had very strong vocals performed with a lot of confidence. It was one of the most upbeat out of the entire set and it was certainly more of a modern country/ pop sound. The fast beat and rhythm reminded me the kind of music I love to listen to. It also really told a story in a way that only music can, which was so engaging, and resonated with me about moving to a city like New York where you are surrounded by people and noise but it can still feel lonely.

My favorite song of the entire set was “My Favorite Bar” performed by Chrisite Page. It sounded like old, soul country music and had the best lyrics with a catchy chorus and incredible and confident vocals. It told the story of a girl’s favorite bar and why she loves it, but more than that, the lyrics really just spoke about how it was really just an ordinary bar but it was her friends and the memories she made there that where why she loved it so much. I also loved the speaking in-between the singing, it gave the song a more real feel and truly felt like it was being performed by a famous country singer and made the audience feel more engaged.

Overall the entire set was great. The fact that they all wrote the songs themselves is overwhelmingly impressive. Music has such a way of telling a story and connecting with people and this was something I felt overwhelmingly with this especially as all the performers were my age and in college writing about their own experiences and I felt I could really connect with it.

31

Black Marjorette

DJ Dallas

Majorette dance is a mostly African American dance style mostly done in the Bible Belt states, namely the South of the United States. Majorette dance originated in the 1970s and was originally called grandstand, which was first put into motion by Shirley Middleton, a former member of the Prancing Jaycettes, (currently called the J-Settes) at Jackson State University. The majorette style of dance consists of a mix of parade dance, lyrical dance, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. Majorette is a key piece of HBCU culture. HCBU stands for historically black colleges and universities, which were established before the landmark Civil Rights Act in 1964 with the ongoing mission of educating black Americans.

Some of the most renown troupes of Majorettes come from Schools like Southern University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Howard University, Tuskegee University, Alabama State, and Jackson State; all public, historically black universities in the South. The majorette dance style even trickles all the way down to the youth. Many different teams of young women have formed all across the South. The most significant team has been the Dancing Dolls of Jackson, Mississippi. The Dancing Dolls work as a feeder team to these different colleges because many of their teams' girls continue on to become collegiate majorettes.

The Dancing Dolls even have their own TV show under the direction of their coach Dianna M. Williams. Because of that, majorette dance in recent years has become even more mainstream. It has also become more widely accepted in today’s society since the girls have become role models to other girls their aga. Many people outside of the HBCU culture see the dance as too grown up or risky, meaning that the moves and complex and demanding. Personally, I find nothing wrong with the dance, on the contrary, it keeps girls and young women physically fit. My mom was a majorette and now my twin sisters are majorettes. Thus, I feel the culture has been passed down to the next generation of majorettes.

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