Show Students Celebrate at Mardi ardi Gras Festival Christopher Jones Staff Stuff Writer Purple green and gold adorned the Student Activities Center Friday night as students and others others others oth oth- ers turned out to celebrate Mardi Gras The seventh annual Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration was presented by the I International Student 1 I Services Revelers of all ages danced the night away to the festive jazz music while stilt walkers standing standing standing stand stand- ing about ten feet high paraded through the room Small children played with hula-hoops hula and bubbles bubbles bubbles bub bub- bles while others enjoyed a bowl of authentic black beans with pork and andrice andrice andrice rice Its very different said Casandra Hunter a freshman freshman freshman fresh fresh- man at Hunter who was experiencing experiencing experiencing her first Mardi Gras celebration was impressed with how much fun everyone everyone everyone every every- one seemed to be having Hunter noted the uniqueness unique unique- ness of such a celebration It was a cultural experience ence said Hunter The main entertainment was provided by a performing group is a Brazilian art form best described as a combination of martial arts and break incorporates self- self defense with strength endurance and grace The highly flexible and t. t L acrobatic performers flipped a n d twirled around the room in insolo insolo m solo and If wa gas a cultural ex experience Ca an ra Hunter r g group I U U p demonstrations Some performers kicked and punched at the air while others did back flips and spun on their heads The energetic performance performance performance mance was driven by an entrancing drum ensemble comprised of fifteen or so drummers The primal rhythm couldn't be ignored As soon as the first beats rolled out from the L 1 vie o i 1 t e ever everyone everyone every every- one in int inthe m t the h e room began t o 0 n. n move h t. t wit W 1 I 11 the music Chad Rencher was among the party-goers party who left his seat as the drumming began shortly after 1000 PM P.M. and moved closer to the dance floor Rencher recalls always having a penchant for drums Although the beats went on for over an hour Rencher and the rest of the were hooked to the very end They were loud said Rencher but in a good way Rencher's favorite part of the evening was a fire spinning demonstration Two members of swung flaming flaming flaming flam flam- ing balls and blazing staffs as spectators watched through a washed rain-washed window The fiery demonstration demonstration demonstration demon demon- culminated with one of the performers swallowing a stick of fire Mardi Gras always falls on a Tuesday six forty-six days before Easter The French word Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday Mardi MardiGras MardiGras MardiGras Gras comes e each ch year at atthe atthe atthe the end of several weeks worth of celebrating and overindulgence New Orleans is home to the worlds world's biggest Mardi MardiGras MardiGras MardiGras Gras celebrations Each year the streets of New Orleans fill with locals and tourists alike Organizers of the Mardi Gras celebration tried to capture a bit of New Orleans' Orleans Mardi Gras spirit Volunteers gave away beads party horns and other trinkets at Friday nights night's celebration |