Author: IseeUsee

I want you to see all the fun things I see in events so here are my first-hand accounts of them. I am not an expert on things I see so I give just an average Joe or Josephine's view on the world of arts. Let me know if I say something that tickled your funny bone ^.^

Review: Dance Mix 22′

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Dance mix is hard to describe in a few words. If I had to choose it would be energetic. The show was phenomenal. All the participants performed extremely well and it was incredible. I could see their hard work in their moves and it was just amazing.

The dance mix was a show that featured performances by 11 different dance orgs on campus. It also had a percussion group performing. The performances ranged from hip-hop to modern ballet, to a yo-yo performance. I could see what university students had been up to and see the diversity present even in dance organizations. 

I loved the show and it was clear to see the audience loved it too. The auditorium was the fullest I’ve ever seen. It was a busy, busy night! 

There was a lot of audience engagement and the crowd was definitely loud (in a good way). The performers had a lot of engagement and none of their unique moves went unnoticed. It was obvious that the audience was really thrilled. 

The dance mix theme was the roaring 20s which wasn’t followed by a lot of the organizations but it did not take away from the show at all. While reading the program for the event I saw the description of each group and I was pleasantly surprised by how special all the organizations were. Their purpose for performing ranged from advocating their culture to just dancing around and having fun with friends. 

To give a brief overview of the performances- there were tap-dancing performances by RhythM (a group that started in fall 2000!). There were performances by the ballroom dance team, a storytelling performance tied with memes and dance by Funktion, a huge dance ensemble by K-Gayo-3 (a collab of 3 k-pop dance groups), a unique twist on ballet and contemporary dance by Salto to name just a few. 

If you think this description sounds fun and diverse then the actual event was only more so. All and all dance mix was an amazing experience. The performers, the audience-it was all a big vibe. 

REVIEW: The Short and Suite Nutcracker

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While watching this show I kept thinking of what words to use to describe how awesome this is.
The Short and Suite Nutcracker by the Randazzo Dance company was a dance show featuring different dance styles. It had ballet, jazz, tap dancing, and more. For the tap-dancing, and some jazz performances there was live music which added a cherry on top. The kaleidoscope of genres kept the show refreshing and fun. I am not exaggerating when I say there were no dull moments.

All the dancers performed extremely well. There were dancers as young as, I might say, 5 years old to the oldest being seniors in high school. It was such a joy and privilege to watch all these young performers. It was wonderful to see them flaunt their skills and months of hard work. Despite the sheer number of performers, dance genres, set changes, etc. the show went smoothly. Thereby showing how well organized it was and how much practice the performers had done.

No part of this show was left unpolished. The costumes were simply gorgeous. They had been designed to really shine on stage and make every child look like a professional. The choice of music was tasteful and never boring. The lighting was well done as well as all the fun props and backgrounds.

In the second half of the show, the dances became more festive. There was a plot following the dances and it was a lot of fun. The dancers performed acrobatics, played with giant soft toys, did costume changes, and much more. It was a lively time. Their holiday energy was infectious and the pacing of the dances made the ending really extravagant and over the top in the best way possible.

I am glad I got to see all these extremely talented performers. No praises are enough for them. I know I will be on the lookout for any showcases from the Randazzo dance company!

REVIEW: Junk: The Golden Age of Debt

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I don’t know where to begin. Junk was a phenomenal show and the team behind it really put effort into every. single. detail.

Let’s begin with the actors. It is hard to think who acted the best because all of them were so good. The plot of this play was quite corporate and the actors carried the theme of the play well.
They spoke dialogues in a believable tone such that I could see real CEOs speaking like that. Their strong delivery also made it stage-worthy. They combined the best of both worlds to up the stakes of the story.

Another star of the show was the set design. I have rarely seen such a well-integrated setup. The set was designed perfectly. It wasn’t meant to be beautiful but to go complement the plot. And complement the plot it did. They had lightboxes that synced up fast-paced music and blinked. It reminded me of stockbroking and the 80s architectural design. The audience also got to see the set being dismantled when a company lost its financing. To see that happen at the very end was just amazing. It reminded me of how important people working behind the scenes of a show are.

The techniques used in the play for phone conversations were nice and brought out the interconnectedness of the characters in the play. The costumes were well designed and fit the 1980s period (the play is set in 1985). Despite the play being set in the 80s, it had a topic as relevant as could be. Its similarities to the 2008 financial crisis and the chaos of the Gamestop situation reminded the audience of the stakes involved when people play around with stocks.

I really liked the ending of the play (I won’t spoil it for you). It highlighted how much money rules everybody. Some accept the cards they’ve been dealt with, some try to hack the system, and so on. The protagonist tries to hack the system and we see how he too gets trapped by it and it’s all a game of numbers. The system speaks in another language and only some can understand it and those who do try to get to the top. Others might have different interpretations of the ending but I think it was about the irrationality of who gets the most money.

The show got a standing ovation from the audience so you know everyone loved it. It showed a lot about the financial world and the power of money without being too dramatic or obvious. It was a great show!

REVIEW: Sa re ga ma pella

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Sa re ga ma pella by Maize Mirchi featured 8 songs, an intermission with Indian snacks, a dance performance by Michigan Taal and a really really excited audience.

The acapella singers did a good job harmonizing and it was nice to know some songs were independently set up by students. The introductions of the new members between songs was one of my favorite parts. The introductions were short, sweet and really funny. We got to know a lot about the companionship shared between the members of Maize Mirchi. The audience consisted of parents and friends of the performers and they were really engaged with the performances and cheering their loved ones on.

A point I would like to highlight is the cultural fusion of this group. They are an acapella group with a touch of Indian culture. I would say their group shows a kaleidoscope of Indian American culture. Less than half of the songs were in an Indian language and some of these were half English half Hindi. The western Indian mix was well carried by the performers. Their coordination really hit the sweet spot!

The soloists showed a very authentic image of Indian American culture and by the excitement of the audience it was obvious their supporters liked it. I think the song selection could have been improved to show more diversity but it was an entertaining show regardless.

The performance after the intermission by Michigan Taal was short and sweet. The size of the stage was very small but they did not let it hinder them. They had an exciting diversity of dances and their energy was infectious.

Being at the acapella concert was like being at an intimate event for family and friends where everyone knew each other and supported performers.

If you like Indian American culture and acapella then Sa Re Ga Ma pella can’t hit it more on the head than anything else!

REVIEW: A Midsummer night’s dream

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This performance of a midsummer night’s dream was very special. With minimal backdrop and music, the attention was really focused on the acting. The actors really took this opportunity to showcase their range of voice and such. I especially loved the performance of Helena and Oberon (the fairy king). Their performances especially commanded everyone’s attention and their stage presence was powerful.

The outfits of the fairies were very cool. That brings me to the topic of costumes! This play had an interesting fusion of modern costumes in a Shakespearean play. Seeing people in modern school uniforms talk Shakespeare and the human King and queen wearing modern formal outfits like tuxedoes was special. I think it was a good choice and made the show really different from traditional Shakespearean performances. This choice of costumes like t shirts, heels, tartan skirts, Winx Club like outfits on the fairies made the play experimental and I liked how displaced it made the play seem! It was a nice clash of time periods.

The dream-like quality and confusion of the plot suited this clashing outfit choice and put the audience also in an air of amazement and confusion like the characters being played with by the fairy cohort.

The sound effects and lighting added a nice hint of magic and surrealness to the play. The parts involving the fairies singing and magic were probably my favorite parts because of how elusive they were. The play’s highest moment, leaving the audience in shrieks of laughter, was definitely when Helene, Hermia, and their lovers meet after the men have been given love potions. The energy of the characters and the comic timing of the situation was very well suited.

This play was a lovely treat of magic, love, and playfulness. It did not try to be more serious than it should be and the jokes were funny. It was a perfect show to see to have a fun evening!

PREVIEW: Junk: The Golden Age of Debt

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I know. I know. Finals are creeping up your window like that curtain you mistake for a person when you sleep at night. 

BUT.

Hear me out. This play will help you with your finals! (at least if you’re an economics student)

It is about a financier who takes on higher-risk, higher-yield bonds that sets off a financial civil war. Is this spicy enough for all the finance majors? 

This play is described as “the origin story of America’s financial crisis” in a “fast-paced thriller.” Sounds interesting to me! The writer of this play, Ayad Akhtar is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and I am excited to see how his ideas play out in action. 

If you are interested in seeing this very unique play then BUY TICKETS NOW at:

https://tickets.smtd.umich.edu/5221