Rusty Rutherford knows what it's like to have girls fawning all over him. His 5-foot-6, 110-pound frame has ensured success with the ladies for much of his 18 years. This weekend, in a new show at the Tricklock Performance Space, "How to Pick up Chicks," Rutherford is sharing some tips and techniques so all men might share in his success.
It's mostly the voice, many hip-hop artists say, that makes an emcee stand out. Of course, lyrical skill is important and beats are the backbone of any song. But a truly great emcee must have a delivery and a voice that makes listeners want to stop in their tracks, hit rewind and nod their heads in appreciation.
It can't be a coincidence that Nelly Furtado named the first track on her latest album "One Trick Pony." Throughout the song she insists she's got more than one trick. OK Furtado, maybe you've got two - one, singing in that nasal, breathy voice and two, having good producers.
For some music fans the term 'electronic music' evokes memories of dancing to techno mixes at a local nightclub. For others, it refers to an experimental composition form. Saturday's third annual Oscillation Festival will feature several styles of electronic music, said Kent Wilhelmi of Dark Beat Productions.
The Vortex Theatre is putting its own twist on Christmas this year with Joe Mantello's theater adaptation of "The Santaland Diaries." "The Santaland Diaries," was written by humorist David Sedaris and was initially a segment of his book Barrel Fever. The piece takes a comical look into the difficult world of seasonal mall jobs and the stage adaptation sticks with Sedaris' tone and plot.
"More Heat, Less Suite," is the motto for the Keshet Dance Company's rendition of "The Nutcracker." "Nutcracker on the Rocks," a modernized version of the seasonal ballet, breaks all the rules and then some. Most of the ballet's original score has been exchanged for rock and jazz, costumes are revamped and little traditional ballet makes it to the stage.
It's refreshing to know Ben Affleck still thinks about his acting amid all the press coverage of his love life. In a conference interview with Affleck, the subject was not his over-publicized personal life, but actually his role in the movie "Paycheck" directed by John Woo, which opens on Christmas.
Jorge PÇrez-G¢mez is realizing a goal this week. The UNM music professor has brought Teatro Tinglado, a Mexican puppeteer company, to campus for a series of workshops and performances set to the music of composer Silvestre Revueltas. PÇrez-G¢mez, who is also the director of UNM's Symphony Orchestra, has been researching the music of Revueltas for years.
"Come and meet those dancing feet. At the avenue I'm taking you to: 42nd Street," sings the cast of "42nd Street" in the show's title song. Since its opening in Kansas in July 2002, audiences all over the nation have met and loved the feet of Broadway Across America's rendition of "42nd Street.
African American Student Services has been bringing Kwanzaa celebrations to the UNM community for 10 years. Though in past years the Kwanzaa ceremony has been held on campus, this year the Kwanzaa committee will present a full candle -lighting ceremony, traditional foods and Kathy McGill and her jazz band at the Isotope Park VIP Lounge Saturday.
The question of whether life imitates art or if art imitates life is ever prevailing. But, when it comes to UNM senior Joel David Waldrep, there's no question that his art imitates his life. His first solo instillation of photography, video, poetry and music, "Such a Sad Box," is a culmination of Waldrep's memories and life experiences.
The members of Vancouver-based band Radio Berlin know what they're doing. The band has been around since 1998 - any band that gets to blow out five candles on its birthday is a novelty anymore - and on the latest CD, Glass, it's obvious that the group has been working toward a vision.
"Blue Tribe: Crossroads" blends contemporary dance with traditional African dance to express the transitions and challenges in the lives of the show's contributors. "I guess it's just a sign of my times," said Rujeko Dumbutshena, the show's main choreographer.
Ten student choreographers are behind all of the works in "Arial Moves," UNM's biannual student dance concert opening tomorrow night. Two of these students, Andrea Muehl and Michele Torino, choreographed pieces that focus on duality and contradiction. Muehl, choreographer of "Inner Monday," said her piece is about "finding individuality in a city among thousands of people.
Gus Van Sant's newest film "Elephant" is a triumphant return to form for the once-and-future indie director. "Elephant" comes to us after Van Sant's venture into the land of Hollywood yielded mixed results - "Good Will Hunting" was amazing and "Finding Forrester" was bogged down in pretension.
One star Here's a trite reference to "Daddy," one of Sylvia Plath's most famous poems for sure, but the play on words in reference to the movie "Sylvia," works. You do not do, you do not do, anymore bad movie - in fact, you never did. But it wasn't really your fault, was it? You had no script, and without any semblance of character development, you were doomed to be a pile of pooh-pooh.
A modern movie version of a Dr. Seuss book has been delivered - but at a cost. Like each adult looks at the joys of youth, some magic is inevitably lost. "The Cat in the Hat" opened last Friday at cinemas all over the nation, but despite a great cast and a barrel of laughs, it was not worth the anticipation.
Art studio graduate students Megan Jacobs, Naomi Shersty and Senseney Lea Stokes have been very busy this semester. After a collaborative September art show in Santa Fe and an art history trip to Cuba in October, the three are again busy showing their work at Albuquerque's AC2 Gallery.
Life often imitates art. The horror on television screens during the nightly news is just as tragic as the scripted drama of films. So the argument is that reality takes its cues from the misery presented in the media. "The Garage Dialogues" performed by the members of OmniRootz, a theater company, proves dramatic effect is not less heart-wrenching when real life takes the stage.
The Coen brothers' latest movie "Bad Santa" is, without a doubt, the most subversive holiday film ever made. This ultra foul-mouthed take on the holiday season is not only offensive, it just may be a new Christmas tradition for all of the Scrooges out there.
Solutions by The State News
