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Show Kate D. Pappas It's almost like the Staff Writer sights and sounds of performance transport you to the countries, The Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance presented Latin American Dance Spectacular V at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Saturday. The night was dedicated to the rich culture of Latin American folk dance and Lucy Gorin About 20 performers showcased the living traditions of director of the alliance, explained that it is essential to preserve the largest ethnic population in Utah. According to the 2000 census, the Hispanic population totaled 9 Latin America. percent This performance culture. The night included a display of colorful costumes from coun- tries including Bolivia, Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Mexica Performers of each country presented the most traditional of dances. The pulsating music and talented performers put on quite an ethnic display. I look forward to coming to this every year, said Angela Martinez. Im from Mexico, but its nice to see all the other Latin American countries highlighted, . the is just one way of displaying the ty Utah really does have. Salazar explained that the alliance seeks to bring all Latin populations together to keep their culture alive through authentic diversi- performances. Lucy Corin, a friend of one of the Puerto Rican dancers, said people wonder why the Latin American culture chooses dance to display their culture. Its almost like the sights and sounds of the performance too! In the shows fifth year, the alliance had to have two performances in order to accommodate the number of people interested in the performance. Shawn Salazar, administrative According to the Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance Web site, the participants sought to strengthen, preserve, and promote Hispanic folkdance by contributing the best of their individual countries to create a Latin American spectacular And the spectacular has given them more than local recognition. In 2002, the alliance participated in a European dance tour This tour was made possible through the Utah Arts Councils Performing Arts Tout For the past two years, the group performed in Norway; Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and England. What started as a local spectacle intending to bring together the Latin American community soon turned into a worldly-recogniz- ed event The alliance is preparing to travel overseas once again this year, Salazar said. Rick Jenkins, another person in attendance, explained why he never fails to come see the annual transport you to the countries, she said. I may be biased, but performance. these dancers really are amazing Unlike other performing ethnic groups in Utah, the performers from the alliance are originally from Latin America who came to reside in Utah. I have come to appreciate and recognize this rich culture. When youre living in Utah, this kind of performance is like a breath of Im not Latin American and Tessa Shi We Dance For Fun Woolf Staff Writer This time of year, when the temperature starts to drop, our spirits get low, our clothes get heavy and our skin gets dry very dry. But not to fret, because The Kura Door, a holistic Japanese spa, is the perfect cure for those wintertime blues. According to their Web site, www.thekuradoor.com, once inside the East-Asia- n inspired spa, you will experience a tradition of healing and rejuvenation that incorporates the gifts of the natural world and the artistry of the Japanese approach to wellness and beauty. The Kura Door offers a wide array of massages, facials and other treatments, as well as movement classes like yoga, and a Holistic Gift Gallery where patrons can buy natural body products, as well as Japanese gifts and home soak in the infused water for an hour, relaxing to the sounds of the Japanese wind flute. The Kura Door offers myriad massages: the Shiatsu Massage, a finger-pressutreatment, the Samurai Massage, a moderate deep-tissu- e massage, the Japanese e, which uses smooth basalt stones, the Four Hands Massage, where customers are pampered by two therapists, the Thai Massage, recommended for yoga enthusiasts, the Yadoru Massage, designed for the mother-to-b- e and the Lymphatic Meridian Massage, an ancient Chinese therapy treatment. Favorites include the Kura Massage the spas signature massage, and the Seisei re Stone-Massag- The Massage, a mini-KurclasKura Massage integrates sic Swedish bodywork, holistic Eastern techniques and personalized essential oil blends. a. According to The Kura Door, this gentle to firm pressure massage increases circulation, enhances the immune system, and elicits a deep state of relaxation. Body treatments are also abundant at the spa. Treatments range from a rice milk body scrub to a 7 Seaweed Wrap to a Japanese foot treatment. The spa offers holistic facial treat- wares. The spa is entirely achieved through fresh air, and is cultural awareness at its finest, he said.CJJ R. toxin-fre- e, chemical- ' paints and finishes, untreated wood, bamboo, stone flooring, and buildingwide water and systems. All of the holistic skin and body care products used in the spa are natural and -free organic. In the movie Shaft We Dance?, John Clark (Richard Gere) appears to have every- plot away, the movie is filled with love, laughter, and all about finding happiness in Mitzis is a tough, wisecrack- and funny with great dance sequences, especially a steamy dance scene between Lopez and Gere, and has a great sup porting cast. The movie critics have compared it to the original 1996 Japanese version of the same name. Jeff Vice from the Deseret Morning News said the updated version was lost in translation, but the 2004 version is fun nonetheless. Gere is charming as ever. Coming off his success of Chicago, Gere is the better choice than who was originally set to play Clark Tom Hanks. Lopez, well. . .that woman knows how to dance. ini-tal- girl-chasi- ng thing a great job, great home, loving wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon) and two teenage children. In spite of all this, Clark feels something is missing from his life. On his daily routine home from work on the L train in Chicago, Clark sees from the train a woman looking out from a darkened window. He becomes intrigued with the woman, and looks for her the next few nights. One night, on impulse, Qark jumps off the train to look for her. He finds the woman at Miss Mitzis Ballroom Dancing Studip. Her name is Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), one of the instructors at the school. Clark finds himself sign- -' ing up for ballroom dancing lessons every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. taught by Miss Mitzi herself (Anita Gillette), in order to keep seeing Paulina. Clark is one of three men signed up for ballroom danc-in- g Vern (Omar Benson Miller), the overweight and shy kid; and Chic (Bobby Cannavale), the oversexed, Romeo, who thinks Clark is gay. Along with Paulina, another instructor at Miss ly ing, tacky blond named Bobbie (Lisa Ann Walter), who ends up teaming with John in a dance tournament. Stanley Tucci, plays a supporting character as Link Peterson, a closeted, ballroom dancing fool, who likes to dress in sequins, and works in Johns office. He conceals his identity by wearing a cheap,, shoulder-lengt- h wig and fake front teeth. Link says the teeth are helpful during competition its what the judges ' notice. Clark is afraid to tell his family about taking the dancing lessons, so he lies about - . working late at the office. After smelling perfume on Clarks clothes and noticing how happy he is lately, Clarks wife, Beverly, thinks hes having an affair, and instead of coming out and asking him, she hires a private investigator (Richard Jennings). Without giving the whole unsuspecting places. If you liked the film' Dirty Dancing, then you will like this film. Its charming - Tucci, as' always, is funny as ever. This is a great film to see with the girls. If youre looking for a break from reality or just want to see a fun film, this is a perfect movie to escape. Who knows? Maybe you will want to start ballroom dancing.CJ Once inside The Kura Door, you can Relax in a cotton kimono and let the fragrance of green tea and hinoki cypress transport you to another world. prodments, using ucts, which include fruit and wine enzymes, vitamins and minerals and active botanicals. Reflexology, an ancient form Upon arrival, customers the cousin to acupuncture, is all-natu- of pressure point therapy and are given a spa kimono and sandals and are invited to use the also available. The Kura Door says, true g beauty and total come from deep within and are attained finally through the balancing of the physical, mental, and spiritual self. The Kura Door is located at 1136 East 3rd Avenue. To make an appointment, or for sauna and to enjoy high quality well-bein- Japanese teas in the Japanese Tea Room before their whole-lea- f appointments begin. One of the most popular treatments at The Kura Door is the Ofuro bath. The Ofuro bath is a 1,000-year-o- ld Japanese tradition, which incorporates a selection of detoxifying oils, herbs and natural sea salts. Customers can ral more information on any of the treatments, call 0 the Kura Door at or infothekuradoor.com.C5S 364-240- - ail |