student blog

Take it from me… Take 6 is phenomenal! / Melissa

Long before I was born, Take 6 captivated audiences from all over the nation.  In fact, right as I was welcomed into this world, the ensemble performed in our beloved Hancher Auditorium in 1991.  For nearly three decades, this pronounced a cappella group has continued to revolutionize music and provide audiences with a unique music experience.  On March 24th, 2011, the group reacquainted its impressive live performances with the Iowa City community.  Even though this was my first time witnessing a Take 6 performance, it was quite easy for me to recognize the group’s endless range of talents, which highly distinguishes them from any other music ensemble.

In just ninety minutes on stage, Take 6 incorporated its musical influences, religion, personality, energy as well as some of their most celebrated tunes from the start of the members' successful journey.  On top of all that, each member of the group displayed a phenomenal vocal range.  I honestly have never heard such a diverse set of singers all on one stage before this performance. 

Their personality and energy was definitely the highlight of the performance.  There was not one dead moment in the entire ninety minutes.  All six performers took part in interacting with the audience and sustaining a contagious energy.  While they commented and sang about their religious backgrounds, they were continuously cracking the audience up.  When do you ever hear someone say they laughed at an a cappella performance? That just goes to show that it was in fact a unique experience! 

One aspect of the show that was particularly captivating for me was the fact that none of the performers seem to be the lead vocalist. They strongly withheld the essence of their group and remained in unison when it came to featuring both their personality and gifted voices.  Even though all six singers shared the same amount of stardom, the performer who caught most of my attention was the bass vocalist Alvin Chea.  Although they all proved to have incredible vocal ranges, Chea was by far the most unpredictable with his range because he was bouncing back in forth from the highest to the lowest possible registers.

All in all, I was deeply impressed and enthralled by Take 6’s Thursday night performance.   So impressed that I even “liked” their Facebook fan page and have been watching their YouTube videos for the past week. iTunes, here I come!

—Melissa Carroll

Take 6 Review / Jenna

When I first heard about Take 6, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I thought it would be an a cappella group that only sang gospel music and that sort of thing. So, I looked the group up and was pretty impressed by their musical talent and the fact that they were reviewed by The New York Times. I was pretty excited to be able to go the concert and see what the group did live, and I was more than impressed again!

Take 6's stage presence and chemistry were wonderful, and it made a fantastic show for the audience. It was so great to hear such a variety of music genres, my favorite being jazz of course, and it showed the genuine musicianship of the singers. I was having a blast at the show, laughing at their jokes, clapping when they wanted us to clap, but I was fairly surprised with the lack of audience participation. Here was this exciting show where the audience was encouraged to participate in the fun and be part of the excitement, and hardly anyone would clap along or dance. There was an awkward part after one of their songs, I don’t remember the song but it was really entertaining, and the whole right side of the audience was standing and the middle part of the left side was sitting down. I felt bad for Take 6, because they were trying so hard to keep things alive in the ballroom.

Take 6 had great energy no matter what song they performed. I was most impressed with their ability to blend. It gave me chills a few times! It’s also great that they are not afraid to express their beliefs, which is very admirable. Not only was the concert exciting, but it was great to see the two a cappella groups from campus, TakeNote and Intersection perform before and TakeNote after the concert as well. The performances definitely made people pumped to see Take 6! Overall, the concert had a cool and classy vibe and I was more than happy I decided to attend.

— Jenna Wilson

I love Questlove / Elizabeth

After feeling really sick for the past two weeks, I really needed something to bring my spirits up. Luckily, The Roots was what just what the doctor ordered!

This show was seriously off the chart. The group was extremely energized, which in return made the audience go crazy from the moment they stepped on stage.  The main rapper is so incredibly talented and makes the task of rhyming at top speeds seem like a walk in the park. I secretly wish I had the ability to rap, and after watching this show, I may just have to start learning! I also wish I could dance in a hip-hop style (as many of the interns and my friends have probably heard me say).  I think it may be easier for me to take a hip-hop class, so perhaps I’ll master the dance before the rap. ;-)

Because I’m a dork, one thing I really, really, loved was the sousaphone. I had no idea that it was used during their set, and was immediately filled with joy when I saw the musician pick it up and play it for the entire show.

 Being completely honest, I have to say that my favorite part of the show was watching Quest work his magic on the drum set. There is something so incredibly hypnotic about watching a great drummer, and from the moment the show began, my eyes were glued to him.

I kept turning to Erin, our Educational Programming Director, and saying things like “I just really want to go up and give him a big hug” or “He is just such a cutie”. Probably not the typical response from the audience, but leave it to me to feel that way!

Great show, great audience, great night! I sincerely thank The Roots for coming to our campus and giving an amazing performance. Definitely going to be a hard act to top.

 — Elizabeth Schlegel

 

Wu Han, David Finckel, and Philip Setzer / Sarah C.

Before I begin my review on Wu Han, David Finckel, and Philip Setzer, let me just point out that I am a dancer and an artist, but by no means am I a musician. My mother made me take piano when I was in 2nd grade and I enjoyed it up until about 5th grade when I realized I loved sports and dance much more. After that the only instrument I considered learning to play was the drums, and that was only because I could hit something.

Therefore, before I went to see Han, Finckel, and Setzer perform the Schubert Piano Trios I had no idea what to expect. I had done a fair amount of research on the musicians for the Hancher Intern video, and I knew that they were world class, highly acclaimed, etc, etc. But what does that mean for a musician? I mean, if you hit the right keys on a piano, does it not sound the same for you as for anyone else? And if you pull the bow across the violin, the effect is the same, is it not?

No.

As soon as the three began to play their instruments I knew that I was in for an unexpected and beautiful experience. They didn’t just play their instruments they danced with them. Wu Han would toy with her head as she interacted with the piano. During high or fast notes her head would move back and forth with the music, and during the dramatic parts of the piece she practically jumped off of the bench. (I would bet money that her bottom did leave the bench at least a few times.)

Wu Han’s husband, David Finckel, was continually making faces towards the audience as well as his fellow musicians. (He and his wife would exchange a few words here and there). He often smiled, and when he had a brake from playing, he would listen to the other two, and then make a face that seemed to say, “Do you hear that beautiful music? I think I’ll play along.” And then he would begin again.

Philip Setzer was a different story entirely. The only time that I saw him smile at all was during the bow. When he was with his violin, it was all business (or maybe “passion” would be a better word). He was so serious, but it was incredible to watch. Here is a man who could be anyone from an ex-football player, to a businessman, to a chef. But as a large man, he plays this –what seems to be – tiny instrument in an incredible way, and the effect is riveting.

During about the first half-hour of the performance I was completely captured by the artists in front of me that I lost track of where I was. But I didn’t care. All that mattered was the music, and the musicians playing it. After a while, however, I was able to “come back to earth” and realize that this is what makes a great musician: the ability to capture the audience. And no, it does not sound equivalent if I play the same note as Wu Han, or if I take the bow across the violin in the “same way” as Philip Setzer. For, the effect is not the same. Those musicians have passion and their passion can be heard in their music.

— Sarah Carusona

Reflecting on Merce Cunningham / Sarah C.

It has been almost two weeks since the Merce Cunningham Dance Company came to Iowa City, and yet almost every day in my ballet or modern classes, one of the teachers mentions their talent and strength. That’s the kind of impression I believe those dancers leave to any audience. Some dance companies leave an impression of beauty, passion, and grace. Others leave the audience with a story to remember. None of this is present in Cunningham’s work, and that was exactly how he wanted it. No emotion, no storyline, no presumed beauty; nothing but the movement, which was often created by chance. And that movement is extremely difficult, but the company dancers tackle it with pure strength and ease. They truly are some of the greatest dancers that I or any other audience member will see. Because of Cunningham’s use of chance choreography, he created some absolutely amazing techniques of dance that will be used (I believe) for hundreds of years to come. And those techniques created and will create some pretty talented dancers, to say the least. However, leaving the talent of the dancers aside, this show may not always be exciting to the non-dancer audience.

Cunningham was an extremely innovative individual, and because of that he is will be remembered as one of the greatest choreographers in dance history. As an artist and dancer, I respect and appreciate everything that Cunningham did; I am inspired by his work and I love watching the execution of his difficult movement by extremely talented dancers. However, for the common audience member who is maybe not a dancer or an artist in any way shape or form, this show may not be the most entertaining. I have been lucky enough to see the company perform at two different times, but to be completely honest, there were long moment during the performances where I found myself thinking about my homework, or friends, or my plans for the week to come. And to be frank, I was bored. 

This is not to say that I do not enjoy watching the company, for I love their skill and the movement. I simply don’t enjoy watching it for that amount of time. Let’s be honest, people watch a performance, or a movie, or read a book for the emotion that it possesses. Reading that book, or watching that movie made you laugh, or cry, or think about something you never had before. And that’s why you watched or read it. Cunningham purposely took all that away. (Which was obviously extremely unusual! But unusual or weird in the art world usually means that you are remembered). He said that if the audience member wanted to put a story, or emotion, or some type of meaning on his work, they were welcome to do so. He just never deliberately put any there.

Taking all of that emotion, or storyline away from a performance is extremely bold (and difficult), but that’s not to say that it is the most entertaining. Would you read a book that was composed of words, sentences, and passages that had been randomly picked and sorted from 1,000,000 different books, poems, billboards, newspapers, and magazines? Probably not. Cunningham’s work is a bit more complex than that, but the audience’s reaction is about the same. If you want to try and find a meaning or reason to the randomly sorted words, sentences, and passages, go for it! But that’s not to say that you will find any, for the reality is that the book is completely random!

To put it simply, I truly appreciate and respect everything that Cunningham did for the dance and art world. I believe anyone who gets the chance should go see the company before the end of their legacy tour. If nothing else, you will see some amazingly talented dancers. And maybe you will also admire and find value in Cunningham’s “unusual” and innovative take on dance.

—Sarah Carusona

Farewell Merce – You will forever be remembered / Melissa

 
In nearly 60 minutes, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company performed 60 years’ worth of legendary Cunningham technique and choreography. This historical, final tribute to Merce Cunningham’s renowned position in the dance world was nothing less than sensational. As a dancer, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to witness the last production of one of the most iconic individuals in dance history. In all honesty, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from this performance. Therefore, I decided to attend the performance with an open mind—which is certainly what Merce consistently encouraged his audience members to do. Because I have studied Merce Cunningham in some of my previous classes, I had somewhat of an idea of what the repertory would be like; however, with the MCDC on stage, no one can ever know what to expect.   

Tuesday night’s show was no ordinary dance performance. The MCDC yet again distinguished itself from all dance companies across the nation. Not many dance companies out there have the Director of Choreography perform alongside the other dancers or have live music inspired by a music legend, John Cage—one of Cunningham’s frequent collaborators. Even more out of the ordinary, no other dance company has attempted to gather 60 minutes worth of choreography and establish the order of which it is performed until the night of the show. Because this whole performance was ultimately left to chance, these dancers followed this criterion as closely and most distinctively as Merce would want it to be. Many of the audience members may have recognized the contrast between the dancers’ facial expressions and their movement. One dancer—Andrea Weber—smiled about half the time she was on stage, appearing as many would say, “not present,” or “in the moment.” As unprofessional this may seem to be for a dance company, Tuesday’s audience members seem to accept it and associate it with Cunningham’s “chance” method. For sixty years, many would attend MCDC performances and anticipate something refreshing and rare. I’d say that the standing ovation at the end of Tuesday’s performance certainly meant that the people of Iowa City recognized the company’s innovation.

Although I haven’t had the privilege of watching Merce on stage, I was able to recognize that every movement was derived from Merce’s incredible movement variations. The choreography was continuously filled with the most abstract lines, facings, and shapes that can only be seen through Cunningham technique. The MCDC members sustained the most controlled and elaborated quality of movement throughout the entire sixty minutes on stage. You would be kidding yourself if you didn’t recognize how impressive these dancers are.

Similar to many dance legends like Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Doris Humphrey, and Erick Hawkins, Merce Cunningham greatly contributed to the development of the most expressive art form in history, modern dance. Merce was extremely gifted in creating the most innovative works in modern dance and showing the world new ways to think. After experiencing my first and last MCDC performance, I feel inspired to follow the same approach to my dance technique and choreography. 

The MCDC may be near the end of their 60-years of performances, but Merce Cunningham and his company’s legacy will undoubtedly live on forever. 

—Melissa Carroll

can't wait

With only a few short weeks until the Merce Cunningham Dance Company performs in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union, my anticipation builds. I am anxiously awaiting February 8th!  Because of its reputation for being a top presenter of dance, Hancher is honored to be included on the list for this legendary company’s final performance tour.  As a longtime fan of Cunningham’s work, I feel so privileged to get to see this company perform live!

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s influence spreads worldwide, greatly impacting and developing modern dance, choreographic processes for dance making, and music’s relationship to dance. This company is controversial, but also inspiring and intriguing, and for these reasons, plays a profound role in dance history.   After Cunningham’s death in 2009, talk of the company disbanding immediately was a real fear; however they have continued performing and restaging his works.  This achievement, as well as the achievement of the longevity of the company, will be celebrated in their final tour, The Legacy Tour.  This event is the show that I have been most enthusiastic to see out of all of Hancher’s delightful performances.  I can’t believe they will be here in less than a month!

—Kim

celebrating the beginning of the season! / Rachael

Now that you're all back in school mode (whether you're happy about it or not...I'm not) it's time to start thinking about what to do in your spare time. Sure, there's the whole traditional tailgating thing and a plethora of bars downtown, but if you're looking for something more cultural, educational, and (frankly) much more interesting, Hancher is the place to go.

I'm not just saying this because I'm an intern and writing for this blog. I swear on Bono (that's a big deal).

Hancher's season kicks off next week with Papa Grows Funk, a band that began in 2000 in New Orleans. If you haven't heard the group before, here's a YouTube video (I know, I'm YouTube CRAZY) that will get you started (and hopefully grab your interest). I can honestly say I'm not that into the funk or jazz genre (though I can appreciate both, believe me), but there's something captivating when I'm listening to PGF. I don't know exactly what it is but I find the smooth melodies incredibly calming.

If you're just not feeling the funk tunes, Hancher is bound to have something that will interest you at some point this year. After Papa Grows Funk, Ballet West II will make an appearance (I've talked about the company at length in a previous blog post and so I now shamelessly say go read it).

But honestly, my own personal highlights for the season include Fiddler on the Roof, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Merce Cunningham Legacy Tour, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. What are your personal highlights? Which performances are you aching to see?

Now, I promise this isn't yet another seemingly hopeless attempt to get you guys to comment (but seriously, I love comments), but all I want you to do is think about it. Think about which shows interest you, which ones don't, which ones you just have to see because they're going to be so unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime that you just can't live without.

Think about it, then go out and get cultured!

—Rachael