Wrapping two long chains of tiny jingling bells around both ankles, she prepared to dance. Her long black dress, embroidered with brightly colored patterns of beads and thread, cowrie shells, tassels and an assortment of small reflective charms, seemed to have a life of its own.
The six musicians, dressed in white clothes accented by bright orange and red woven vests and turbans, sat queued in a row behind her. Then, standing up, they smiled as the music began. The formerly stoic musicians jerked into motion, and the dancer stomped her bare feet, jingling the bells in time with the music, spun with graceful determination across the stage, her glimmering golden veil a blur of iridescence, and danced as if the movements were as natural as the beating of her heart.
The six musicians are part of the Merasi caste, a lower caste of musicians who live in Rajasthan, the Northwestern region of India. These musicians are descendants of 37 generations of unbroken musical lineage (approximately 800-1200 years old) are at the brink of total extinction. Pinkudi Nath, the dancer described above, belongs to the gypsy community that often collaborates with the Merasi. Nath performed traditional dances with several of the compositions.
This year’s Ellsworth speaker, esteemed master story-teller and writer, Julia Alvarez, gave two lectures on Thursday March, 27. The first of the two talks, presented in the Ellsworth room at 4 p.m., was about Alvarez’s recent efforts in establishing a worker-run sustainable coffee farm in her native Dominican Republic. The coffee from Alta Gracia, the name of the farm, meaning ‘high grace,’ is roasted in Vermont, where Alvarez and her husband currently live, and was served during the talk.
At the second lecture, held in Bentley 207, at 7 p.m., Alvarez was warmly welcomed by JSC Dean of Students, Dan Regan, who spoke about the impact American culture and literature has had on the rest of the world and how now, in the advent of globalization and the integration of cultures, the rest of the world has fortunately had a chance to reciprocate, or as Regan said, “come our way.” Alvarez was then further introduced by the chair of the Writing and Literature Department, Andrea Perham.
By Joey Collier
“The Altruists,” a comedy written by Nicky Silver, opened to a large audience on the night of Thursday, March 20, in front of the confident eyes of Amber Couture, who made her directorial debut. As with many of the senior projects shown on the old Dibden stage in recent years, Couture’s did not have a lack of talented performers, each bringing his or her own unique comedic abilities to the delighted (and at some points – hysterical) audience. The play tackles a unique theme, a band of “humanitarian wannabes,” none of whom seems to really want to help anybody who is faced with an opportunity to cover up one’s mistake.
The show opened with a colorful Alex Noftz as Ronald, reciting an exquisite monologue about his upbringing, which provided insight to what we were about to see. As usual, Noftz’s performance did not disappoint. His portrayal of “a flamboyant dumpling” was hilarious and uplifting, which made it all but impossible to not love him. His timing at moments of disorder was impeccable, often lifting the audience into uproarious laughter. Of course, at the heart of it all, he was truly a gentle soul who attracted the most sympathy throughout the show. And he’s one of the only people here who could get away with breaking the fourth wall – that invisible barrier separating the actors from the audience.
Read MoreArtists emerge at the end of the semester. They leak forth from the depths of the Visual Art Center after a semester of preparation for the BFA exhibit in the Julian Scott Memorial Gallery in the Dibden Center of the Arts.
Sarah Purcell was the first to exhibit her work this semester, and is the only BFA with a solo exhibition. Purcell opened her show on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, to a crowd of family, friends, and mentors. Her exhibit, “In Waiting,” was a collection of woodcut prints and large-size metal sculpture that filled the gallery space with a story and audience.
Purcell created her show with a collaboration of feelings and ideas. The sculptures and prints relate to each other with the seemingly thought out composition and construction.
Purcell has a diligent work habit; she pushes herself to extremes and maintains an honesty that enables her to speak universally to her audience.