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Show mE ARTS&E DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE ERTAINMENl y, January 26, 2006 Student choreographers 'Showcase' new work Alexandra Gregory Chronicle Writer Actess to well-trained dancers, an intimate theatre, professional lighting design and a costume shop is an opportunity afforded to few dancers outside of professional companies, but students of the U ballet department are privileged with just this. In this weekend's "Ballet Showcase II," student choreographers will unveil their original works, some of which are testing the waters of choreography for the very first time. "It's something I've always wanted to do," said undergraduate ballet student Christopher Peddecord. With past training at the University of Oklahoma and the Houston Ballet Academy, Peddecord has his first outlet for choreographic work in "Showcase." Graduate ballet student Shayla Bptt said, "Choreographing for 'Showcase' is nice because you take the whole thing from conception until performance, and you're in charge of every little aspect of it. You get to grow artistically." Choreographing for "Showcase" is a particularly educational experience for Bott, as she said she wishes to become an artistic director for a university ballet company. While such a performance is a coveted opportunity for many dancers, being a student choreographer does present complications. "All the ballet majors here dance all day long and they work jobs all night long, so it's hard to fit in choreography time. Whereas if you were an artistic director at a university, there's time set aside for rehearsal," said Bott, whose entire ballet performance was put together during 2O-minute lunch breaks. Finding rehearsal time that works for the entirety of dancers within a certain piece is not the only limitation placed upon student choreographers. "There's so many people that audition pieces, so the studio space is so limited. You have to get in early in the morning or late at night," Bott said. Though she acknowledges that time and space restraints are definite challenges, Bott credits her productive rehearsals to "the bonus of working with dancers that are so talented." "Overall I think it represents challenges that you would face in the real world when you go out to choreograph on different companies or studios," Bott said. For Peddecord, gaining experience in choreography is an important as.pect of a dancer's training. "Not all dancers end up dancing professionally; many of them end up teaching, and part of teaching is choreographing," he said. Though held twice a year, "Show- Before dress rehearsal for "Ballet Showcase I I " Wednesday night, choreographer Shayla Bott rehearses dancers Mia Monteabaro and Johanna Tomorsky in "Triptych." case conPeddecord's choreographic pro- the audience to give them something tinually cess began with rinding a piece of that they can come away with," she evolves music with a high level of dynamics said. "People bring different things as a result and then turning to his dancers. with them when they come to the of the various ideas each stu"I try to collaborate as much as I theatre, but if you think about the dent choreogracan; take some input from the danc- background of the piece and (inpher brings with ers that I'm choreographing on so clude) some kind of depth to it, then them. that things are more comfortable for it speaks to people a little more." "My main goal as them, so that I'm not creating a piece Bott, a choreographer for a previa choreographer for me but creating a piece that looks ous "Showcase," chose to try a differin 'Showcase' is *. good on the dancers," he said. ent angle when starting her creative to interpret the Bott's approach to her current work this semester. music via dance," work in "Showcase" hinged on a difBott choreographed a dance to a said Peddecord, who chose to do his ferent aspect of performance. own music editing. "I think there is a responsibility to See BALLET Page 7 Landing on its feet! Cat Power drops The Greatest cm album worth purring about Cat Power The Greatest Matador Four out of five stars Call Kellogg Company Re: "Snap, Crackle, Calendar' copyright infringement ThursdayJan. 26 •••• Cat Power's latest album, The Greatest (not a compilation of hits), might be the most convincing evidence that cats have nine lives—or at least two. That's not to suggest that Cat Power, aka Chan Marshall, has ever been dead. On the contrary, every one of her six previous recordings has received considerable praise. It's just that on The Greatest, she somehow seems reinvented, if not resurrected. Deep in a career built of melancholy records and heartbreaking lyrics, Marshall makes her most drastic move yet on The Greatest: She turns her frown upside down. That's right. On more than a few tracks on the album, Marshall seems...happy. Now, remember, happy is a relative term. Marshall's lyrical content still deals with jealousy and lonesomeness, and her vocals are less than cheery, but overall, the mood is a playful and lively one. Recorded in Memphis, The Greatest is full of southern-tinged rhythms and bluesy guitar—creating a warmer sonic atmosphere than many of her previous albums, which were often cold and stripped. . "The Moon" is ,'one of the album's best tracks, epitomizing the success with which Marshall has made her adjustment—in the midst of a playful, lazy guitar riff, Marshall's vocals remain piercing and personal. The lyrics, rather than aim- NOTES TO SELF not "bite guard dogs." Note to self: Rotten egg smell emanating from basement. Call cable guy. Note to self: Val Chalk, playing at Lamb's Grill Cafe (169 S. Main Street) at 6 p.m., less effective than distant cousin, Sidewalk, when attempting to fashion hopscotch schematic. Note to self: Despite constant feelings otherwise, we do not possess the lung capacity to suck a kumquat through a garden hose. In the future, leave such efforts to the pros-like the Note to self: OB-GYN receptionist's name is "Regina." Get it right. Supersuckers, playing at Club Ego's (668 S. State Street) at 8 p.m. for $12. Note to self: Previously unknown danger of dyslexia-warning, sign reads "guard dogs bite" Note to self: Call doctor John Corbett, playing at The Depot (13 N. 4 0 0 West) at 7:30 p.m., tickets at the door. Re: fourth washer/dryer-related concussion this month. Charge it to da game 3 Tony Hussle's 'Sexy Freaky Electric carries a negative balance Tony Hussle down. / I'm 'a make you come again," Maybe it's a piano bench...right? Right? Because Sexy Freaky Electric walks the thin line between soulful R&B and sheer absurdity, it is hard to take its steamy grooves seriously. The juxtaposition of events that open But between the moments when Tony Hussle's debut EP, Sexy Freaky Hussle is spitting something blatantly Electric, is an interesting one, to say the ridiculous into the mic, Sexy Freak Elecleast. tric is surprisingly entertaining babyOn the intro track, Hussle's mother making music. recounts the endearing story of Tony's Unfortunately, Hussle clobbers his start as a musician when, at three years tracks with his attempts at sexiness— old, he mounted his first piano bench. all of which come out...well...disturbing. Less than a moment later, on the next "Welcome to Tony Hussle's, may I take track, "Come Again," Hussle is all grown your order / Would you like to have my up—and has mounted something else. son or my daughter?" He utters: "Go ahead and put your legs Can we get fries with that? up on my shoulders / I'm 'a go up and Marshal Hogan Sexy Freaky Electric Repiise/Wea Two out of five stars ing at the catchiness that often accompanies southern rock, offer a profundity that pushes this album into the territory of brilliance. While old fans may need some time to- adjust to the less tortured side of Cat Power, The Greatest as one of Marshall's most palatable albums, is sure to garner new fans. In a way not unlike Bright Eyes' I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, The Greatest proves that the fact that an artist is less tortured does not mean that it is losing artistic merit. The Greatest is a deeply artistic record that makes no compromise in its adoption of a more cheerful disposition. Cat Power, if she has any more "lives"—or room for reinvention—in her, will surely have a hard time topping the nearperfect balance and maturity that characterizes The Greatest. . Marshal Hogan |