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University Daily Kansan
Arts/Entertainment
Thursday, Feb. 13, 1986
Dancers seek creative unity
By Grant W. Butler
Staff writer
Alvin Alley American Dance Theater, 8 o'clock p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in Hoe Auditorium as part of the KU Concert Series and the University Arts Festival. Tickets, available at the Murphy Hall Box Office, are $6.50 and $7.50 for KU馆 tickets, for senior citizens and other students, and $13 and $15 for the general public.
There is a vision of brotherhood and unity in a dance company made up of people from all over the world.
Although the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is mostly composed of black Americans, it is made up of people from all over the world.
"He's trying to show that people are people and they want the same things," said Renee Robinson, a veteran dancer with the dance theater. "We all have hardships. We all have happiness. We're all trying to create something better for ourselves."
Alley's dance company was one of the first in the country to be interracial.
Janet Hamburg, director of KU's department of dance, said she hoped the舞 theater's performances at KU would show students the level of performance they could aspire to achieve.
"They're the top modern dance company in the world," she said. "They tour internationally, they have outstanding dancers and they have top choreographers. They're what the dance profession is all about."
Robinson said many types of dancing were represented in every performance by the dance theater. Most of the dances are modern, but classical and jazz choreography are incorporated into each performance.
Many of the popular works performed by the company were choreographed by Ailey, but Robinson said many other choreographer's works also were performed in its concert.
The company adds more variety to each concert by using different types of music as well.
"We do all types of music from Pat Metheny to Duke Ellington." Robinson said. "There is some original music, and a lot of jazz music, but not your funky jazz. There's also spirituals and blues."
Ailey, who was artistic director of the company when it was founded in 1958, has continued his vision of creating a repertory dance company that exposes the public to dance. The pursuit of this vision has taken the dance theater to 48 states, 44 countries and six continents, including tours of China and the Soviet Union. The dance theater was the first modern American dance company to tour the USSR.
"Mr. Alley is many things," Robinson said. "He's a man of his childhood which is reflected in his work. He's a man who's traveled. He's easy going."
"He loves to experiment and loves you to experiment. He wants you to be a strong dancer, but he
wants to see your personality. He always says 'no personality is a bad personality.' "
An ideal dancer in Alley's eyes, Robinson said, would be one who is proficient in all styles of dance, who can portray many characters and who can address all levels of a performance with a desire for perfection.
She said other cultures are also of interest to Ailey. He wants to explore other languages and the art and music of other people.
"He's a very people person. Mr. Ailey is a wonderful man to work for," she said.
"I need to dig in and use my body more to convey feelings. That's probably come from Mr. Allley because I know what he wants. He's given me such an insight into myself."
"Blues Suite," a work choreographed by Ailey which has become popular, will be presented in the Wednesday night performance.
"You want to be able to execute your steps, but also touch someone and convey what you're given to say," she said. "That fits in with being both an artist and a dancer."
The work is a reflection of the life Alley led in the deep South when he was growing up. The work displays anger and frustration about the battle by blacks to overcome discrimination.
"There's a section of the work called 'Back Water Blues' where there's a couple that fights. They
love each other very much, but they fight," Robinson said. "There's a lot of sorrow and fear. It's a collection of what gives people the blues."
While "Revelations" uses black spiritual music, Robinson said, the piece reflects something about all people.
Another hallmark piece of the company that was choreographed by Aley is "Revelations."
"‘Revelations’ is a book in the Bible, but it says something about all religions. We go through struggles in our lives, but there are happy moments, and there is hope and faith that things will get better."
The last section of "Revelations" has dancers, wearing yellow and holding fans, performing to the negro spiritual "Rock of my Soul."
Expert advice always inspires great action on programs. Robinson said, it was common for audiences to be on their feet singing and clapping, by the end of the last section. Often the audience response is so great that the last section will be repeated as an encore.
"In the course of an evening you've been taken to many different levels, so by the time you get to 'Revelations,' with the fans and the chairs, you just automatically pick up," she said.
"Something in it sweeps them up and they want to see it again and again," she said.
Snapshots
Director to visit KU
J. Carter Brown, director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, will speak on "Treasure Houses of Britain: Art and Diplomacy" at 8 p.m. Monday in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
Brown will discuss the arrangements for the exhibition and show slides of some of the great works of art borrowed for the exhibition, "The Treasure Houses of Britain: Five Hundred Years of Private Patronage and Art Collection." Paintings, sculpture, furniture, tapestries, and porcelains are among the 700 objects in the show.
Play will be fun, free
The Seem To Be Players will present "Americartoon, a Comedy Breakout," at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center, Ninth and Vermont streets.
"Americartoon" is a combination of original scripts, fun songs and comedy bits. The scripts, "The Orge and Grinder" and "The Great Alphabet Robbery," were written by Ric Averill, the Company's co-founder and artistic director.
Talesnik to perform
Ricardo Talesnik, the Argentine actor and playwright, will bring his one-man show, "En Camista," to the University of Kansas for one performance at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
Using comedy and irony throughout, the performer presents a critical view of people's behavior concerning sex, access to power, marriage.
Store offers atypical videos
By Monique O'Donnell
Staff writer
If you're a basket case, bananas over polyester and duck soup, but generally en la dole vita then you might like Lawrence's new, unconventional video store.
Liberty Hall Video, 646 Massachusetts St., opened less than three weeks ago and its selection includes more than 500 unusual films. Gary Mackender, manager of the store, said he bought films that could not be found in most other video stores in town.
Directors of the films included in the store's unusual selection range from Fellini, Bergman and Warhol to Alfred Hitchcock and the Marx Brothers. The store will order films that customers put on a request list.
"We're trying to specialize in more off-the-wall films," Mackender said. "Generally our films are for movie lovers and people who have more knowledge of films."
"Since we opened we've been getting about 100 new films a week," Mackender said. "We'll probably go down to 30 new films a week after a while."
One of Liberty Hall's latest acquisitions is a series of films by Les Blank. One of the Blank films, "Garlic is as Good as 10 Mothers," is about bavon cooking.
Kerr Holbrook, a KU graduate, said he was impressed
Mackender, who is also SUA's film chairman, said it was not difficult to get foreign films or cult movies. But he said most video stores do not get films like "Eraser Head," because they were not the typical commercial movies that everyone knew about.
"They have Japanese movies and a lot of good foreign stuff," Holbrook said. "I think they did a remarkable job in finding those films."
The store has a unique renting procedure, Holbrook said. Instead of requiring a deposit or a membership before renting video cassette recorders, the store simply takes a Polaroid picture of its customers. Each customer also must pay a $1 fee to be added to the store's list of renters.
In the meantime, puppets Earl and Babs guard the store and get to watch all the bizarre videos such as "Atomic Cafe," "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and "Poor White Trash."
Sensitivity leads to insight
with Liberty Hall's video selection. He said the store catered to a more intellectual market, not the average household.
Choose Me, directed by Alan Rudolph. 3:30-
p.m. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
Rated R. 108 min./color.
"I think it a good selling point, it shows that they trust their customers." Holbrook said.
By Monique O'Donnell
Staff writer
Yep, another flick about sex in the '90s. But "Choose Me" makes it possible to present sex with subtlety.
In his film, director Allen Rudolph explores the sexuality of an abstinent man, a极私 prudish middle-aged woman, a Love, played by Genevieve Bujold.
Love hosts a radio talk show, The Love Line, geared toward unfortunate members of misguided relationships. In her love/sex telephone therapy, she advocates the importance of emotional, intellectual relationships as opposed to sexual relationships.
tity from others and leads a rather ascetic life.
Privately, Love conceals her iden-
Things become a bit messy when Love moves in with the frustrated and confused Eve, played by Lesley Ann Warren, Eve. a former pro
Review
situte, often takes advice from the Love Line under a pseudonym. The two don't realize that they've talked over the phone.
Both women in this film are drastic examples of women in the '80s. Eve has had too many bad relationships and is a cynic and a pessimist about men. Ann has listened to many people's amorous problems and shuns romantic involvements.
When Mickey meets Eve he is sure she's destined to be his. However, he is rather fickle. He kisses and immediately proposes marriage to several women he has just met.
walked out of a veteran's mental hospital.
Then Mickey, played by Keith Carradine, comes along. He has just
Mickey even sleeps with Eve's roommate, Love, who then puzzles her co-workers and the audience of her radio show by taking a new, enthusiastic approach to sex.
Mickey, Eve and all have changed their lives aptly by the time the movie ends. But even though all seem to have given what they wanted, the question of their happiness remains open.
This movie may be strange and confusing at times, but it deserves appreciation for offering unusual insights and off-beat sensitivity.
Band's music mixes punk and rockabilly
By Monique O'Donnell
Despite the satanic appearance of its latest album cover, Legal Weapon isn't a head banging, heavy metal band.
Staff writer
Many people consider the band to have a smooth, polished sound, said Bill Rich, promoter for Redline productions.
The most significant aspect of this group is its female vocalist, Kat Arthur, whom critics have compared to Debra Harry, lead vocalist of the group Blondie. However, people who have heard the band and like its sound object to this comparison
Legal Weapon, a four piece band from Los Angeles, will perform at 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Outhouse, four miles east of Massachusetts Street on 15th Street.
Leslie Dunham, Simi Valley, Calif., sophomore, said she had heard the band perform in Los Angeles on New Years Eve.
Rich said he heard the band perform in Kansas City, Mo., a few years ago and did not think Arthur sounded anything like Debra Harry.
Whether Arthur sounds like someone else or not, critics say her rough, blues-inspired singing is the band's best feature.
Tomorrow's concert will be Legal Weapon's first performance in Lawrence. Rich rented the Outhouse for the concert and said that he expected a high turnout because of the band's notoriety.
"They're not loud and obnoxious, and their female vocalist is really good." Dunham said.
Legal Weapon's latest album "Interior Hearts," features a mix of punk and rockabilly, a combination of rock and hillbilly (folk) music. The songs on the band's latest album range from rhythmic love songs to more aggressive songs about personal confusion.
The cover illustration could be mistaken to indicate a hard-core, slam-dancing type of music to some people, Dunham said. However, it is no indication of the bands musical style.
Arthur generally belts out her songs in a throaty, rough voice. Rough-sounding guitars and repetitive drums echo in the background, but they are sometimes overpowered by intense vocals.
Dunham said the group played in Los Angeles constantly and she thought it would be good to hear them in Lawrence. She said many people who liked bands such as the Wall of Vodoo, the Violent Femmes or X would enjoy listening to Legal Weapon.
The album cover illustrates a madonna, robed in green, standing in front of a red flaming heart. Two rough looking maidens clad in skimpy black leather outfits are chained to the heart.
"I'm going to go see them," Dunham said. "They're a lot of fun, and the lead singer has a really good stage presence."
Moses symbolizes instruction at KU
This image is an appropriate symbol of the University of Kansas, and the image is depicted as a bronze statue in front of Smith Hall.
By Grant W. Butler
Staff writer
When Moses stood before the burning bush, he received instructions from God.
"That's what we're all about," Elden Tefft, professor of art and the sculptor of the statue said Sunday.
"Students come here to receive instructions."
Robert Rose, cinematographer of the film, said the statue also should have symbolic meaning to students.
The film shows the development of the statue over a 15 year period, from its conception to its installation. Many students worked on it.
The development and creation of the statue is the subject of the film "A Motion Picture of Moses: A Heroic Sculpture." A free showing of the film will start at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Dyche Auditorium.
"It it shows it from the start to the finish," he said. "It was to be somewhat of a step-by-step film without hitting you over the head and boring you."
"It was an unusual project to begin with because of the size and because it was all going to be done on the Hill," he said. "The molding, the welding, the casting — it was all done on the Hill."
The documentary about the film's development is meant to be a profile of the statue and its sculptor, as well as a "how-to film" about bronze sculpting. Rose said.
Teft said it was fitting that Moses, in a sense, could continue to serve as a teacher through the film. The film served a dual purpose. Teft shares
his knowledge of bronze sculpturing with students, and the film shows the development of a large, hollow sculpture for people who were un familiar with the art.
"This film gives some idea about the process a founder uses, but it's a little less detailed for the casual person who just wants to learn about founded sculpture," he said.
Rose said any time there had been progress in the statue's development he had documented it with photographs.
"The film shows essentially that there was just a square frame and eventually it became a statue," he said.
There are only three copies of the film, and two of those are on videotape. But he said someone might be interested in distributing the film to other schools. Rose said he and Tefft would consider distributing the film themselves if no distributing company was interested in the film.
Teftt said the term "heroic" was a sculptural reference to the size of the work, and not a statement about the works character.
A heroic statue is larger than life, he said, so it's not as elegant as it sounds. It refers only to its size.
The conceptual development of the statue was not too difficult, Tefft said, because he already had designed the University's seal, an image of Moses knealing before the burning bush.
Most of the problems that might have arisen from sculpturing of the statue for Smith Hall were already solved because Teff originally had developed the seal as a three-dimensional image.
Elden Tefft, the sculptor of the Moses statue, and Robert Rose, a local cinematographer, stand in front of the statue outside Smith Hall. The statue is the topic of the new film "A Motion Picture of Moses: A Heroic Sculpture."