OCR Text |
Show MONDAY • SEPTEMBER I I • 2006 life. B5 Faculty spotlight: Kim Strunk Stepping to the rhythm of Africa CT: How does dance compare to other art forms? Life Writer KS: Dance is unique in that the Meet Kim Strunk. Kim is a UVSC human body expresses what the faculty member known for her energy, violin or the paintbrush expresses enthusiasm and her extensive knowl- (and the artist behind it as well). CT: How did you discover edge of African culture and dance. your passion for African dance? KS: Through the music. I've always College Times: How long have you been dancing? been drawn to the rhythms of Africa. Kim Strunk: Always, but I was five In 1992, 1 began studying Congolese years old when I officially did my first drumming, which led to more extensive grand plie, and I'll turn 50 in February. studies in Congolese and West-AfriCT: Why do you love dancing? can dance, singing, music and culture. CT: It seems like African dance is KS: I've always loved to move. an important element of your leaching. I guess maybe you could say I'm hyKS: Absolutely. As a dance educaperactive. Dance became the vehicle for me to channel my energy. The tor, scholar and artist, my main area of longer 1 did it, the more I found that I research is Central and West-African was learning about myself, about life, dance. I teach classes in African, World how 1 could express myself through Dance, Dance as Cultural Practice, and dance, and how I could make dance a Modem Technique. I draw upon all my successful and rewarding career path. experiences and research when I teach. Jason Pyles CT: Your recent four-week trip to Guinea has obviously enriched your teaching, but was it a difficult undertaking to execute such a trip? KS: Yes, I never could have done it without the support of the college, in particular the department of dance, the faculty center for teaching excellence, and the Dean of HASS Bill Cobb. CT: Could you tell me about that phrase you say, "stepping inside the rhythms"? KS: Stepping inside the rhythms is a phrase that was inspired by Robert Farris Thompson, a leading scholar in African art and dance. Every rhythm has a certain vibrancy or life of its own. When I'm dancing, I step inside the rhythms. And as the dancer, I become the rhythm. Strunk currently serves as the chair of the department of dance and Courtesy Photo/Kim Strunk is an assistant professor of dance. Kim Strunk teaches African dance at UVSC. Where is the substance in hip-hop? Erik Frederickson Life Writer Just about everybody likes hip-hop, or at least, one hip-hop song, CD or artist. Unfortunately, the repetition of negativity is reaching an all-time high. It's hard to find a song, especially on the radio, that doesn't talk about girls" booties, drugs, guns, cars, jewelry, money, etc. It can't be denied that some producers in the hip-hop industry, such as Timbaland, Dr. Dre, Kayne West, and Lil Jon, have an uncanny ability to make you want to dance, bob your head, or tap your foot. The problem is that the lyrical content is sounding like a broken record. Most musicians in any genre make music about what they know. What they see is what inspires them. Are the majority ofthese rappers lying about what they are talking about? The question is why does hip-hop encourage such negative behaviors? Since the beginning of hip-hop, it has been about style, clothing, slang, and attitude. Those that are the best are the cleverest at mixing and matching rhyme schemes. It's just the way of the culture. As in any profession, all rappers want to be the best at what they do, \N* V Designers but in hip-hop, there's a difference. don't have to grow up uneducated In the movie 8 MILE, starring and committing crimes, The chorus Detroit rapper Eminem, there is of the song is sung by children with an interview with director Curtis ihe lyrics, "I know I can be what I Hansen. He says, "They hurl invec- want to be if I work hard at it. I'll be tive at each other literally as lists where 1 want to be... Nobody says you as though it was a boxing match... have to be gangsters and hoes, read they use words as weapons. It's how more learn more change the globe." they compete with each other and This is one of the most positive try to prove who's better. The ag- songs ever written in hip-hop. Take a gressive, in-your-face explicitness look at the release of Tupac's album is just engrained into the culture." "Better Dayz" that came out that same Hip-hop affects a lot of our so- year. There are more than a handful ciety if you think about it, for ex- of songs with positive connotations. ample: the way a decent portion of Many other songs on various our generation dresses, talks, acts, CDs are also positive. On those what we listen to, what we watch, same CDs, however, they also the cars we drive, how we live, talk about killing, constant deand lots of other things as well. grading talk of females, money, The hip-hop industry knows drugs, guns, and the list goes on. this, so they run with it. Look at They send those very children all of the hip-hop clothing lines, and all other listeners to which individual rappers' energy drinks they were trying to give upliftand liquors, MTV's Pimp My Ride ing words a very mixed message. hosted by Xzibit, and all the rapThe fact is that lots of rappers repers crossing over into Hollywood. lease songs talking about good things, With all of this influence in mod- except you usually don't hear them on ern culture, why does almost all the radio. You need to look harder and of the music have to be explicit? listen longer to find the positive songs. Someofthemusic breaks thestereoTo say that hip-hop's artists don't typebynotbeingnegatively infectious. talk about positive things would be On Nas' 2002 release, "God's lying, but to say that the talk of the Son," he has a track called "I Can." negative side casts a large shadow In this song he talks to the children of on the «ood is the absolute truth. urban upbringing telling them they Nationally-recognized storytellers visit Orem Eleanor Takahashi Life Writer Each year, our wonderful city of Orem plays host to the Annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, held at one of the city's largest sanctuaries, Mt. Timpanogos Park. In its seventeenth year, the festival is one of Orem's most popular events. The festival brings together storytellers and musicians from around the globe, along with local performers and youth entertainers from within our own valley. This year's event began Thursday evening, Aug. 3 1 , and concluded Saturday, Sept. 2, with the show dubbed "Laughin' Night." With a crowd of thousands in SCERA Shell Outdoor Amphitheater, "Laughin' Night" brought on stage for a final performance, ten featured storytellers that had been invited to entertain at the festivities. After being psyched up by the world band Zion Tribe at a 7 p.m. pre-show, the seats were filled to capacity and the tales commenced. Interwest Interpreting accommodated those visually or hearing impaired while storytellers performed, such as Kala Jojo and puppeteer Willy Claflin. People of all ages were in attendance. The riveting Kala Jojo brought authentic African instruments and traditional folktales to the stage. With a focus on family traditions of old, the gifted Jojo embellished his fable with unique voices, exaggerated body movements and audience participation. One of the largest crowd pleasers was Willy Claflin's tall tale, presented by his storytelling friend the puppet Maynard Moose. Spouting pop culture cliches and wacky mispronunciations, Claflin's Maynard Moose was a • delight for both children and adults alike. The Annual Timpanogos Storytelling festival takes place on or around Labor Day weekend each year. Catch next year's shows and workshops Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2007. For more information, visit www.timpfest.org Want to work for the College Times? B Stop by SC 220 - • - -t A -k. ,*._* !-.*--»._*. A A. J. . |