News-Letter

Media Credit: Daniel Litwin

When I walked into Shriver for the 2009 Culture Show and was handed a free glow stick at the door, I knew that the night was going to be awesome. And as it turns out, I was right. Oh boy, the glow sticks were just the beginning.

For two-and-a-half hours on Saturday night, the stage of Shriver Auditorium overflowed with brilliant performers, rocking beats and talented mayhem.

The structure of the show was pretty standard: the two emcees, Blake Edwards and William Fang, would entertain the crowd with some forced but witty banter. Then, a member of the group about to perform would then come onstage and explain to the audience the cultural significance of their piece. Cue the music, then repeat - but the performances themselves were phenomenal.

The show was kicked off by a group completely new to the Hopkins campus this year. Their introduction informed the crowd that three world-class contenders in Irish dance attend our university, all of whom were involved in the group. Their technique, precision and the overall group performance were incredible to the point where words are not able to do them justice.

Other more traditional culturally-based groups included Shakti, the classical Indian dance team whose number was as dazzling as their costumes, and the Filipino Students Association, whose dances were impressive for their performers' coordination and exuberance, as well as their ability to balance candles on their head.

Also making an appearance was the Ethiopian Dance Troupe, with two couples performing a sweet, unique and sometimes even humorous dance.

The Chinese Lion Dance group entertained the crowd as three "lions" battled over the "sun," all the while being accompanied with music created by various cymbals and a drum.

The group had expanded their performance to include a skilled swordswoman attempting to stave off the attacking lions, which was a huge crowd pleaser. Though it was all wonderful, one could become more than a bit unsettled over the lions' enormous, glossy, blinking eyes.

Deviating a bit from the tradition-based dance numbers, groups also made performances that took that time-honored elements from their cultural background and fused them with modern themes.

JOSH found inspiration in the current craze for vampires instigated by Twilight and merged the subject matter with classical Indian dance moves, creating a number that was both distinctive and engaging.

Continued...

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