The Justice

Media Credit: Jenny Edelman / the Justice SO HOT: In rhythmic unison, Brandeis' step team dazzled the audience with their passion and precision. So Unique performed a variety of numbers, including one to Peggy Lee's sultry "Fever."

Beneath a glittering heart-decorated with national flags and coming to a point in a vibrant X-dancers in traditional Japanese kimono mixed and mingled with dancers in Southeast Asian garb. The dancers wove in and out, like threads in a rich tapestry of multicultural music and song. Thus opened Culture X in the Levin Ballroom Saturday night. The show, whose theme this year was "One Love," featured a variety of performing arts forms from around the globe, as well as fusion pieces that blended art traditions from many cultures and a distinct Brandeis flavor.

This year's show presented its enraptured audience with a cultural smorgasbord of dance numbers, spoken-word pieces, gospel music, step and culturally inspired rock bands. Dancers donned brightly colored costumes and streaked across the stage in frenzied enthusiasm; the singers-whether they sang in Hindi, Italian or English-tamed the filled auditorium into a mesmerized crowd, hypnotizing the audience with the power of their voices and the beauty of their words.

One highlight, a dance number called "Mandiani," drew its roots from the Mandigo people of Senegal. Five women sprang to life, accompanied by the hypnotizing beat of a drummer seated in the center of the stage. The dance was inspired by communal dances performed by the young people of Mandigo, who traditionally dance out of celebration of their joy and youth.

Salseros, Brandeis' salsa dance troupe, spiced up the night with two hip-swinging Latin numbers, replete with intricate partner-switching and flirtatiousness, all performed to an intoxicating salsa rhythm. The Hellenic Society changed the pace of the show with two traditional Greek dances, one of which included an intertwined line of female dancers who stomped their way across the stage in delightful unison.

"The theme of Culture X is celebrating our differences," Prerna Bhargava '07, one of the coordinators of the event, said after the show. Culture X is really cool because people who don't normally come together work together, to show that despite the fact that we all have our differences, we all have this unity."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools