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(10/09/08 4:00am)
In high school Paarth Mehta had few opportunities to perform the traditional Indian dance he loves so much.But things have changed.Today Mehta is leading UNC's Tar Heel Raas Indian dance team to a nationwide Indian dance competition in Atlanta.Before Mehta came to UNC he said he rarely attended Navratri an Indian festival that celebrates the coming of the fall season.But once at UNC" he instantly came into a group of the same culture where he could dance and celebrate his heritage.""I felt like I knew I was doing something right"" he said.Mehta said he knows his team will be ready for competition this weekend, taking the values his traditional family has instilled to strive for success.It's become someone" do something make some money and that's your life" he said, adding that these values will fuel his energy on stage.The competition has three categories: Fusion, Bhangra and Raas Garba.Four teams will compete in each category and Tar Heel Raas will compete in the Raas Garba category against teams from Austin, Texas and Richmond, Va. and Atlanta.Raas Garba is the traditional dance of the Gujrat region of Western India.The dance differs from Bhangra, which comes from the nearby region of Punjab.There's a regional difference of course and then just the style is different as well"" Mehta said, noting how Raas Garba also uses music from Gujrat rather than Punjab.Most footwork performed by Bhangra dancers involves dancing by kicking their legs in front of their body, while Raas Garba steps are mostly done below the waist.But this weekend when Tar Heel Raas competes, there will be a small link between Raas Garba and Bhangra.Anish Thakkar, normally the UNC Bhangra Elite dohli, the person who provides a bongo-like drum beat, will be playing for Tar Heel Raas. He said playing is an abnormal display of friendship extended from the 12-year veteran group.This campus has so much talent" so much diversity that if we just shared everything it would be so much more enjoyable" he said.Many dancers said Tar Heel Raas gives them a chance to reconnect with their culture.Nirav Lackhani, a member of the group, said dancing allows him to connect with his roots as his parents are from Gujrat.It's actually a traditional dance where my parents are from in India"" he said.But the team isn't just limited to Indian dancers.Britton Baxley, the team's only white member, said being on the team is a great cultural experience.Even in the face of competition, this dance team has become more than just steps and performances for all involved.My core group of friends are these Raas Garba people"" Mehta said. It's become like my family in a sense.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(10/02/08 4:00am)
Learning piano when he was six years old UNC Jazz Band pianist Jake Higgins shared a Kawai grand piano with his mother. Now he's sharing a Steinway with professional jazz pianist Andy Laverne. Along with Higgins students and professionals will unite in performance at 7:30 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Friday in Hill Hall when the UNC Jazz Band performs with the visiting professional jazz pianist. Laverne who is famous for re-harmonizing old compositions will lead the group through four of his own works" including a rendition of Herbie Hancock's ""Watermelon Man.""Students also will play four pieces by other composers such as Thad Jones and George Gershwin.""It's really priceless having great artists come"" said UNC Jazz Band bassist Alex Van Gils. The whole program just kind of kicks up a notch every time one of these artists comes."" UNC jazz professor Jim Ketch" who directs the student ensemble said it's great to be able to bring an external influence into UNC's jazz program" and he hopes that students will be able to craft relationships with these artists. ""You get a little networking in"" he said.Because the music department is so small, and the jazz department is even smaller, Gils said these visits allow students to have a profound experience with artists. Members of the jazz band have even been able to have lunch with artists like Laverne, creating priceless interaction with professionals. Every musician has their different take on what music should be"" Higgins said. The way they look at things affects the way that we begin to look at things."" The UNC Jazz Band brings about two artists per semester to campus" but this is the first time Higgins said he can remember it being a pianist. Because of this" he said he hopes to gain influence from watching Laverne play and interacting with the band. ""I get to watch him play in the band that I play in" and I get to watch how he plays with people that I get to play with" Higgins said. I can try and emulate that."" Ketch said as a director"" he always learns as much as students do when artists visit. ""As soon as you feel like you know it all" you're in real trouble and I just don't have that feeling he said. Gils also said he is excited to absorb the personal playing experience offered by Laverne. A chance to play with people a level above you always pulls you up" Gils said. In some ways you never forget that even after they leave.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/29/08 4:00am)
Durham resident Trish Christie used to visit Morehead Planetarium when she was a child.And Saturday afternoon she was able to give a similar experience to her daughter listening to evolution campfire stories and digging through fossils with 16-month-old Lila.The pair attended Morehead Planetarium's free family science day" ""It's Only Human!""" co-presented by the UNC Society of Anthropology Students and the Department of Biology. More than 100 parents and children who attended the event were able to look through the planetarium's exhibits and create their own cave paintings" among other activities.""It's really fun. They've enjoyed all the hands-on things"" Christie said. It gives us something to do that's not too expensive."" Senior Brent Chen" a Planetarium employee who made origami butterflies with attending families" said the best part of the experience was seeing the expression on the children's faces.""They're doing things that they wouldn't ordinarily have access to in their schools"" he said.Agreeing, Christie said schools have limited resources compared to UNC.All the artifacts and stuff — they can't get that at school really"" she said.And though Chen said sometimes young children had a difficult time understanding the topics discussed, such as evolution and the fossil record, he also said they still enjoy the activities.I think they take something away from it and it's a lot of fun doing it"" he said.Families also were able to attend 30-minute shows in Morehead Planetarium's NASA Digital Theater.Adam Miller, a UNC graduate who writes curricula for Morehead Planetarium's camps and events, put on several of Saturday's shows.Miller said it was great to teach children without having to worry about standardized tests, discipline problems or state-based curriculum. It's a real fun job" he said. As an educator" I can focus on what I want the kids to learn."" Saturday" his presentations showed how the eye's cone receptors become tired when looking at purple light and shut down which creates the appearance of green light.He also dimmed the lights and lit a Gummi Bear on fire to show how much energy it contained.Giving presentations to children is exciting and the best part of his day" Miller said.""It's always fun to see that sort of ‘wow' expression on their face.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/08/08 4:00am)
Even after a $22-million renovation Morrison Residence Hall remains one of six dormitories on campus containing potentially cancerous materials.Hinton James Avery Parker Morrison Ehringhaus and Craige residence halls all have asbestos-containing materials in their cinder block walls" which were used during their construction. Most were built in the 1960s.Officials said the asbestos present no immediate health risk.""It isn't a problem"" said Mary Beth Koza, director of environment, health and safety, adding that it just needs to be monitored and maintained.Koza said officials always attempt to remove asbestos during renovations. But at Morrison, where renovations were finished in 2007, officials decided against removing the asbestos-containing materials.Both Koza and Rick Bradley, assistant director for housing, said material was not removed during the renovations because it was beneath many layers of paint.Bradley said it would take extreme action to cause the asbestos to become airborne, such as puncturing or cracking the wall paint.Still, students were warned not to scrape the walls or tape posters to them using anything but 3M Scotch Removable Adhesive Putty.Residents of the six dormitories were warned in an e-mail Thursday from Janet Phillips, asbestos coordinator for the Department of Environment, Health and Safety, that there is asbestos in the wall coatings beneath several layers of paint.Asbestos is a small fiber once used to insulate and fire-proof buildings.Breathing in high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer or other ailments, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA also states that small amounts of asbestos exposure does not usually lead to health problems. But airborne fibers can be inhaled and are more likely to be hazardous.Low levels of asbestos were also found in the floor tiles of Lewis and Stacy residence halls just before students moved in. Morrison resident Cole Anderson said he doesn't think much about the asbestos.I knew it was cancerous" but I figured if it was bad enough they wouldn't have us stay here" he said.Anderson also said he feels the asbestos is not dangerous enough to be removed.Bradley said Thursday's e-mail was intended to be mostly informational, not a warning about immediate health concerns.As long as the paint is in good condition there's no potential health hazard"" Bradley said. The intent of this (e-mail) is to really calm people's fears.""In the event of asbestos release"" Koza said her department is always available to take action.""We can come over" we can do some training we can give you an asbestos 101 awareness class" Koza said.Minor incidents, such as scrapes, would only require vacuuming the room and patching where the chip was created, Koza said.But in a more serious case, she said a certified contractor professionally trained to remove the asbestos would have to be employed.This is not a health risk to anyone that lives in these facilities"" Bradley said. The EHS folks would be quite active if it was the opposite of that. We would be required to do other things than notify people."" Have a concern about asbestos?Call UNC Environment" Health and Safety at 962-5507Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/04/08 4:00am)
One of UNC's largest dormitories has been vandalized to the point that all of its residents could be fined.During the past few weeks Morrison Residence Hall has reported damage to walls and ceilings stolen furniture and destroyed bulletin boards.Community Director Josh Alexander who was unable to comment on the situation because of University policy sent out an e-mail to residents Tuesday warning them that action would be taken if the vandalism continued.Kitchens floor lounges study rooms and game rooms will all be closed if the vandalism continues the e-mail states.Damages highlighted in Alexander's e-mail include a stolen housing department folding table damaged and removed ceiling tiles and a large hole punched into the wall of the game room.Rick Bradley assistant housing communications director said the cost to repair the vandalism will either be passed on to all Morrison residents or if caught to the individuals who were responsible.Ultimately he said costs are reflected in housing price increases.According to the housing department's community living standards policy cases where the individual responsible for vandalism cannot be identified will result in residents of the entire dorm floor wing or suite being held accountable.In most of these situations vandals are not turned in by themselves or other students though police reports are often filed" Bradley said.Sophomore resident Stefano Rivera said he was disappointed that his housing fees might be affected by the vandalism.""Most of us feel like since we're not the ones doing the vandalism" we shouldn't have to pay for certain people doing things that are wrong" he said.Rivera also said that he was surprised the vandalism began only a week and a half after school started.Most campus vandalism is random, and many cases involve alcohol, Bradley said. But it's impossible to know whether or not it was involved in the week's events.Sometimes there's a wave (of vandalism) in a particular building"" he said. It certainly makes the building less desirable and affects the residents that live there.""This isn't the first time Morrison has suffered from vandalism.Last year" a couch in Morrison's 10th floor lobby was vandalized. Each resident on the floor was billed $4.51 to their student account to repair the damages.While Bradley said the hole punched in the game room of Morrison was a more extreme level of vandalism he said the bulletin board destruction and other incidents are typical.Rivera living in a newly renovated eighth-floor super suite" said he hasn't noticed the vandalism other than in Alexander's e-mail.""I think (Morrison) is still fine"" he said. The vandalism hasn't been too extreme.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/17/08 5:00am)
As the lights dimmed and the audience settled down Saturday night in Memorial Hall, there was nothing but a microphone and a stool on stage.And for the next three hours, there was nothing but laughter filling the sold-out auditorium.Lewis Black and Friends"" part of Carolina Union Activities Board's fifth annual Carolina Comedy Festival, featured Black and other well-known comedians performing in front of the all-student crowd.Junior Austin Tortorici attended the 2006 Lewis Black and Friends"" performance and said he returned this year because Black usually stays on top of current events" making his act different from year to year.And as typical of Black's style much of the comic's routine was based on politics" especially poking fun at the candidates for the 2008 presidential election.""I feel like they've all been president" and I'm ready to move on" Black said.Throughout his performance, Black's intense comedic delivery and angry tone caused roars of laughter from the audience.After his act, Black received a standing ovation from attendees who refused to leave. He took the stage again and told one last joke about an accidentally castrated Chapel Hill resident.The show was hosted by Rory Albanese, co-executive producer of The Daily Show"" with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central"" who performed before Black and others. Many of his jokes appealed to the student audience.""If you ever want to pee on campus" do it during a basketball game. No one's there" Albanese said.Albanese also presented students with a peace plan for the Middle East, which included Americans dropping video games, fast food and marijuana on its cities in order to replicate the laziness of American youth in foreign countries.Rob Riggle and John Oliver, both correspondents featured on The Daily Show"" were new to the show this year.Riggle told the audience about his hungover flight to Las Vegas, while Oliver spoke about American consumption habits.Mallory Cash, CUAB's comedy committee chairwoman, said Oliver's and Riggle's styles - one rolling around on the floor and the other kicking the air - brought diversity to the show.They all have different styles" but they all have the same love of comedy" she said.Two students also gave short stand-up performances before the headliners. They were given the chance to perform by winning the Student Stand-Up Competition on Thursday. Freshman Cody Hughes performed, followed by junior Mary Sasson.Hughes, who is from Flat Rock, joked about his hometown. His performance was complemented by Sasson's comedy about her family's answering machine.Freshman Christina Serrano said that she enjoyed the two performances and that she was glad they were incorporated into the show.I didn't know what to expect"" said Serrano, who attended the festival for the first time this year. I was delightfully surprised.""At the end of the show"" Black thanked the audience and praised UNC for hosting the festival.""There's nothing like this at any other school in the country.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/01/08 5:00am)
An eavesdropping, wife-swapping, blackmailing comedy extravaganza will begin to unfold on campus tonight.Blackmail"" a play presented by the UNC Playwriting Studio, will debut at 8:15 p.m. tonight in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre. The play is the first comedy written by junior Russell Johnson.Blackmail"" is set in 1940s New York and focuses on a mailman who routinely reads a wealthy couple's personal mail. Hilarity ensues when the mailman finds that the couple has engaged in wife swapping.Johnson" who is a member ofthe student improv group Chapel Hill Players" said writing his own play allowed him to invest more in his characters than he does in sketch comedy.""It's very different from some of the plays that have been done on campus"" he said.And because Johnson's play is an original production, actors have been able to put their own influences into the script.The cast has been spectacular"" said senior Ike Smith, who directed the production. It has been really fun seeing the scripts evolve"" and the cast has been a big part of that.""Many of the actors featured in the play are also members of Chapel Hill Players.Alex Whittington" who plays Danny the mailman" said there are a few asides and additions that he has made to the character.""The life of the actors has brought some more comedy to an already funny script"" he said.But Ryan Millager, a senior featured in Blackmail"" said he has found delivering lines humorously and creating his own character at the same time a challenge.The audition process for Blackmail"" was untraditional as well. During the two-round procedure"" actors were asked to try new and innovative approaches to the script.""The audition process was different ... because it was a really fun-loving atmosphere"" Whittington said.Once auditions were finished, actors and directors began rehearsing for the play just before winter break. After returning in January, the cast had to bring the play together quickly.Time is probably the biggest thing"" Smith said.Although the short rehearsal time has proved a challenge, those involved said the collaborative nature of the project has made Blackmail"" enjoyable to complete.""Only in the last week (of rehearsals) do we move into the theater itself"" Millager said. Now we have to be on our feet and be ready to go with the new thing.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.