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Show life B8 MONDAY-AUGUST 21 •2006 Remembering a tragedy Travel the world Luke Hickman Life Writer Nearly five years after September 11, we now have two big-screen motion pictures that have successfully remind us of the emotions we felt that day: United 93 and World Trade Center. When director Paul Greengrass released United 93 in April, people were outraged. Some theaters across the country refused to show the trailer. Many claimed it was "too soon." Even though Oliver Stone's World Trade Center is far less controversial, some still make that same claim. Is it too soon? Or is it about time we remember what just barely, happened to us? We have all forgotten how we felt that day and what effect it had on us. What happened to the signs and bumper stickers that said "United We Stand" and "We Will Always Remember?" You don't see those anymore. If anything, our nation has become the polar opposite. This country has never been so hostile towards its own people as is has since 9/11. Instead of keeping that binding spirit that held all of our people together through that fearful time, we've become a divided nation. With public speakers lobbying around feeding us opinion as fact (Michael Moore and Sean Hanity), it's no wonder why we've become so separated. Instead of holding to each other through the storm, we've gotten' into this paranoid state that keeps us fearfully away from each other. So I say no. It's not "too soon" to see the stories of that world-changing day depicted into film. If anything is "tod"soon," it's too soon that we've forgotten. The advertisements for World Trade Center say, "The world saw evil that day. Two men saw something else." Just like those characters, Greengrass and Stone have also seen something else about that day. Greengrass saw a flight of terrified people. Regular people. People just like you and I - people with families and lives well worthjiving. He saw those people willing do anything they could to save their day as well as the lives of any people who could've died had that attack been successful. Some good happened there. Though the hijacked plane went down, it did not reach the terrorist's target. Some good prevailed that day through average people just like you and me. Stone took the most tragic event to ever shock this nation and showed us what it would've been like through the eyes of the brave and heroic police and firemen who risked all for people they'd never know. He showed us how average people can make a difference. World Trade Center's story focuses on two Port Authority policemen that were in the buildings as they came down. Nicholas Cage plays the part of Sergeant John McLoughlin and Michael Pena (Crash) plays officer William Jimeno. Both McLoughlin and Jimeno had full participation though out the film's production to make sure that the story stayed as factual and real life as it truly was. Many of the search From STUDY ABROAD-B7 Courtesy Photo/Paramount Pictures. Nicholas Cage stars in World Trade Center. and rescue characters were played by the actual men who helped dig McLoughlin and Jimeno out of the rubble. Stone made sure that World Trade Center was made properly to do justice to the story and to ensure that this touchy subject matter was handled in a sensitive manner. Though Stone's story is more fact and less fiction that Greengrass', both help us remember what makes us the amazing country we are. Both try to lift our spirits and remember that we are indeed a stronger nation when we all stand together as opposed to dividing off into different stand-alone groups. These are the movies that are going to show our children and grandchildren exactly what happened that day. They will know what makes this country what it is and what it can be through these two bold depictions. United 93 will be available on DVD September 5 and World Trade Center is now in theaters. Belly dance your way to good health Sarah Brimhall Life Writer In most of the world, belly dancing is called Danse Orientale, or Oriental Dance. The term "belly dance" is coined by Sol Bloom, an exhibitor at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Used to fuel popularity of the dance, the term shocked Victorian audiences. Unfortunately, it created a sense of taboo around the true nature of the art. Most Americans have a misconception of belly dance as being dark and seductiv. This may be caused by the negative portrayal of dancers in Hollywood or the popularity of American Tribal Style belly dance, which has little or no basis in the authentic art form. Traditional Middle Eastern dance is hard to find in the United States. Viktoriya Shershnova, a professional Middle Eastern dance artist, teacher and performer based in Utah County, is a rare find. She has been mesmerizing audiences for years with her engaging style. Originally from Ukraine, Shershnova graduated from the College of Classical Ballet, and began dancing with the Ukrainian National Dance Company and toured with them for 15 years. While working in the Middle East, she began to learn the ancient art of Middle Eastern dance. She performed in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt for oversix years. Ten years after she began Middle Eastern dance, Shershnova is a highly sought-after dancer. She taught an Egyptian Caba- ret Technique workshop at Kismet's 26th Annual Belly Dance Festival on August 19. Also, in the first week of September, she will be teaching private lessons with Issam Houshan, world renowned Tablah player. In January, Shershnova will produce a show featuring rising international stars and dancers from Utah and across the country. Her lively and unique style has led to the creation of two performance DVDs which show a variety of different dance styles of the Middle East. Shershnova believes a classical dance education is the foundation of any form of dance. This basis creates symmetry, strength and.improved balance. With this training, a dancer is better prepared to take the stage. This is why the first half of her two hour classes focuses on classical barre exercises and stretching while the second half is devoted to Middle Eastern dance technique. Now in her seventh year of teaching, Shershnova's classes have changed. Students can choose to take either the first or second half of the class or the full two hours. Students are also advised on how to perform and work in show business and are lectured on healthy lifestyles and proper dieting. She shares with them her knowledge and experiences in the Middle East and educates them about the people and culture. "I want to bring to people the real Middle Eastern dance," Shershnova said. Shershnova plans to participants about $3,500, which included rent (housing is usually somewhere around Hyde Park), utilities, Oyster Cards (which allowed access to Underground and bus transportation leading almost everywhere in London), three out-of-London weekend excursions, a British Heritage Pass (giving them free access to castes, cathedrals, and other historic locations), and tickets to see six different Broadway-style shows. But they didn't get out that cheap. There are some expenses that the students had to cover themselves. Not included in the package but necessary for the program were many other fees including airfare, meals, health insurance, passports, International Student Identification Cards (ISIC), power converters, souvenirs, and any other traveling plans. Students also had to pay for their tuition for that semester. Since the school requires a minimum of six credits, that was another $700-800. This summer, though the three included getaways took students to Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxford, and Dartmoor, many wanted to see more of Europe. Some students found cheap ways to get out to the rest of Europe on the weekends. One tip they gave for inter-European travel was purchasing airline tickets from ryanair. com. Most flights from ryanair.com cost less than any flight from Salt Lake City to any other airport here in the U.S. Many students traveled in groups to places like Scotland, Ireland, Paris, and Italy using this helpful travel tool. The student apartments, or "flats," had wireless in- £f .<, ternet connections, so many students brought laptops with them. Though email was quick and easy, some discovered a better way of communicating with family and friends back in the states for free. If you go to skype.com, you can download a free program that allows you to talk to anyone anywhere in the world through headsets. This free method of communication not only gave students a way to wish their moms a happy Mother's Day, but it also helped keep them from getting homesick. Skype eliminates any hassle of having to use international phone cards. Though all classes are held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there is no moral requirement to attend. This is not BYU! While there, informative and insightful professor Chris Clark (also the semester's London director of study abroad) taught Intro to Theatre and English 2300 Shakespeare. Clark, who achieved his Masters in Fine Arts in Devonshire, England, became the unofficial tour guide of the adventuring students not only for "knowing the ropes" of the UK, but for being such a fun and lively travel companion. Professor Bob De Witt (UVSC's instructor of Art and Visual Communications) taught his hyped Art History class. This class was such a hit because instead of studying historic art through boring slide show presentations in a darkened classroom, he could would often hold his classes just feet from where the famous art was displayed. Keep in mind that the London study abroad program in only one of many that UVSC offers. China, Ireland, Italy, France, and Spain programs were also offered this year. UVSC 4 hopes to add Russia and Pick a country any country. UVSC will offer study abroad programs in seven countries Summer 2007. Death Cab distinction From DEATH CAB • B7 Courtesy photo Students learn the art of belly dancing from Viktoriya Shershnova, a professional Middle Easter dance artist. open a Russian academy of ballet and bring dancers from Moscow. She will open ballet classes for children, who will go through Russian ballet training. Believed to be one of the oldest dances forms still in practice, Middle Eastern dance is one of the best workouts for the human body. As a low-impact exercise that gives a complete cardiovascular work- out, it improves posture, coordination and flexibility. It has become a fitness trend for it's ability to accommodate a wider range of age and fitness levels. An open-house for Shershnova's classes will be held this Saturday at 4 p.m. For information about Viktoriya or her classes, call Canyon Spring Center in Provo at 375-6500. completely acoustic. For all those who left before the encore started you missed out. In case you were all wondering where the name Death Cab for Cutie comes from it is a song sung by a British rock/comedy group called Bonzo Dog Doo Duh Band in a Beatle's Magical Mystery Tour film. After getting a big buzz about them throughout Seattle and L.A. and also getting asked to tour with Pearl Jam it seemed that broken-hearted college side project was now reality to a dream. With the distinct sound of Death Cab it is easy to get the group Postal Service and Death Cab confused. To set the record straight after Death Cab had been around a while. Ben Gibbard (main vocalist) got together with another college friend and they put together a small group know as the Postal Service. The biggest difference between these bands is the electronica in Postal Service, or in other words it is more Techno. Death Cab is one of the most talented bands out right now. They can all play pretty much every instrument and they sound amazing doing it. They play bass, piano, drums and sometimes the guitar and drums at they same time. You have to see it to believe it. Some of the upcoming shows are: Unwritten Law on August 25 for $12, Tool on August 29 for $30-55, and Jurassic 5 on September 11 for $25. Keep it real and support your local musicians. |
