Check out fun stories and music for children of all ages. The Ann
Arbor District Library hosts Elizabeth James tonight for its weekly
Evening Voyages program. Come hear the gifted storyteller recite her
exciting musical adventures. The free show begins at 7 p.m. at The
Ann Arbor Library, 343 S. Fifth St. For more information, call
994-2345.
Monday
February 10, 1997
TanzMusik'
captivates in historical performance
Artistic movement modernizes classic art
ByAnitha Chalam
D-y Arts Writer
In 1909, poet E T. Martinetti and
filends formed a group and began an
artistic movement known as Italian
Futurism. The Futurists were an inter-
esting group for a number of reasons.
First was their manifesto, denying the
past and demand-
ing that the public
look at contempo- R
rary Italian art.
Second was the
group's composi-
tion - unlike
many art move-
ments, writers, painters, sculptors and
musicians all worked together in a sin-
gle group. And third, perhaps because
of the group's composition, the
Futurists were interested in a crossover
of arts - working with paint as well as
poetry, or music as well as sculpture,
and recognizing that these are two very
distinct media.
Though their denial of the past was
noble, in truth, the Futurists relied on
old vocabulary and used it in new ways.
This is the essence of modern art: to say
or do something new with conventional
means. And modern dance is no differ-
entfrom any other modern art form. It
takes ballet and attempts to bring it
back to the earth, removing the shoes,
leaving behind the tutus. The dance is
grounded, vibrant, passionate, even vio-
lent; everything for which the Futurists
stogd.
On Thursday evening, the University
Dance Company brought to stage its
modern dance performance,
TanzMusik. The dance was accompa-
nied by the University Symphony
Orchestra, and the combination of the
two would have made Martinetti proud.
The University
brilliantly played
EVIEW
TanzMusik
Power Center
Feb. 6, 1997
(i.e. not ballet),
Symphony Orchestra
the works of estab-
lished German
composers, very
much ballet music,
while the Dance
Company per-
formed in a manner
antithetical to what
one might expect
distinguishing the
music and dances as separate, yet at the
same time exquisitely interpreting the
music.
The first piece of the evening was
called "Untitled," danced to Franz
Scubert's Symphony No. 8 in B Minor.
The piece started in silence, with two
women running around on stage. As
they ran off, the first movement began,
featuring male dancers. Throughout
the piece the genders remain separate,
never dancing together, in keeping
with the choreographer's interpretation
of the oppositional pulls heard
throughout the piece. The departure
from ballet was clear, seen especially
in the major sections. The dance was
smooth, then choppy, clear, then
abstruse.
The piece came to an end with a
single female, standing in the dark-
ness, in silence, which was broken by
the thundering applause of the audi-
ence.
The second piece, "Seriouso," now
and then was accompanied by Felix
Mendelssohn's Variations S6rieuses in
D Minor, Op. 54, played on solo
piano. In spite of its title, this was a
lighthearted and playful piece, analyz-
ing love in the 19th and 20th centuries,
ending with a look towards the 21st.
This short piece was comical, as the
audience watched four couples all
engaged in the process of yearning
and flirtation. The dancers were
intriguing, turning such banal activi-
ties as jogging, reading the newspaper
and talking on the phone into dance.
The piece was much enjoyed by the
audience as well, which laughed
throughout and clapped loudly at the
end of the piece.
After a brief intermission came an all
female number, "Waltzscape," by
Stephen Rush. The piece dealt with the
introduction of the waltz into 19th cen-
tury society, though the waltz was never
actually danced in the piece.
When originally introduced, the
waltz was thought to be shocking and
provocative, entirely too passionate
for respectable people. Waltzscape
takes that passion and celebrates it
throughout time, as the women dance
in a Caribbean style at some points
and even do the acclaimed Roger
Rabbit from a decade fondly remem-
bered. The piece was comical, like its
predecessor, and vibrant, again draw-
ing the enthusiastic applause of the
Dancers perform in "TanzMusik" at the Power Center.
audience.
The final piece of the evening was
Paul Taylor's "Esplanade." The piece
was performed to J. S. Bach's Violin
Concerto in E Major and also his D
Minor Concerto for Two Violins, featur-
ing USO soloists. This dance first pre-
miered in 1975 and was loved by critics Futurists, modern dance is oftentinies
and audiences alike. The same is true difficult to understand, yet always.
nearly 25 years later. Esplanade was a intriguing to see. And just as modern art
great success, bringing a remarkable is critical and even somewhat logical'in
end to a remarkable evening of music the history of art, so is modern dancet
and dance. its own history, making Tanzmusik
Like modern art, such as that of the historical significance.
'Comics on Delivery' needs help being funny
By Julia Shih
Daily Arts Writer
"Sometimes you need a plumber,
sometimes you need a doctor or a
lawyer. But sometimes what you need
is a comic to help you deal with your
life ...."
While listening to the theme song to
Comedy Central's new show, "Comics
on Delivery"
("COD"), you R
can't help but
think of one more
line that would fit4
perfectly:C
Sometimes you New
need some humor
when you're supposed to be a comedy
show.
This newest addition to Comedy
Central's lineup sends out today's
hottest comics to help people with
their problems. You can't get a date'?
Call 1-800-COMEDIAN. You need a
new roommate? Call 1-800-COME-
DIAN. They'll solve your problem ...
but just don't expect them to be that
funny.
The concept behind "COD" is a
novel one, and it will be interesting to
see where the show will go with it. How
well will they be able to solve people's
E
C(
w e
comic explosion. One can only hope
that they'll start getting funny soon.
As stand-up comedians need some
time before a show to warm up, maybe
"COD" also needs a few shows to real-
ly get going. The half-hour series
debuted not so long ago on Jan. 20, and
so far, some of the problems they've
already tackled include: helping an
unemployed man
.VIEW land his dream job
as "Chuck E.
Comics on Cheese," helping a
Delivery recently divorced
omedy Central man back onto the
pisodes Mon. 10 p.m. dating scene and
assisting a man
with buying a new car.
One of the funnier escapades
involves comedian Andy Kindler
helping a woman who is possessed by
a phobia of birds. Starting with a
cooked chicken and progressing to a
talking raw one, Kindler slowly eases
the woman past her fear of birds while
interjecting a large amount of witty
and impromptu humor.
Other times that "COD" makes view-
ers chuckle usually occur after a comic
has done a good deed. Their attitude of
mock self-importance is amusing, as
they declare how helpful they have just
been. Moments
*.
You are welcome to
Ash Wednesday
Meditative worship for
Campus and Community
An ecumenical service of Scripture, prayer, silence,
meditative singing of music from the Taiz6 Community,
imposition of ashes and Holy.Communion
Febi
ruary 12 7:00 p
First Presbyterian Church
1432 Washtenaw Ave.
662-4466
p.m.
problems
or
make people's
dreams come
true when their
only weapon is a
great sense of
humor? We will
soon find out.
With an all-
star group of
comedians that
includes Kevin
Meaney, Jeff
Ross, Chuck
Booms, Steve
Kightlinger, Andy
of inspiration and
silliness like this
Sometimes you say that it is too
needsom hum r erlyin the sea-
msonto dismiss
this show as crap.
when you're homAshe
Some other
suppsedto e a stories to look
supposed to be a for in the future
comedy show include Chuck
Booms helping
talk show host
Jerry Springer
White, Laura prepare for his day, Susie Essman
Kindler, Orlando teaching Florida Panthers' Paul Laus to
"Comics on Delivery" are here to help you
Maybe someone can help them with theirp
helping a 70-year-old woman who loves
to dance find a young dance partner.
There is a lot of potential for hilari-
ty this season on "Comics on
Delivery." If all works out as planned,
the show should be delivering a truck-
load of laughs. So you might just want
to tune in. Not only do you get to see
some of your favorite comedians
interact with people just like you, but
with all of your wacked-out problems. 3
problem of not being funny.
you also get to witness the bizarre
problems and dreams; that people,
have.
And maybe if you are feeling espe
cially inspired after watching this:'
show, you can give them a call about;
helping you out with one of your:
problems. Because as they say in the }
theme song, "That's what they're he;
for!"
Sponsored by the campus ministries and congregations of
Campus Chapel, Canterbury House;
Ann Arbor Christian Reformed, First Presbyterian,
Lord of Light Lutheran and University Reformed churches
Jones and Susie Essman, among others,
"COD" has enough power for a massive
avoid penalties during the game by
playing nice and Monique Marvez
AN ARMY SCHOLARSHIP COULD
HELP YOU THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL
5' The U.S. Army Health Professions
Scholarship Program offers a unique
opportunity for financial support to mcd-
Iical or osteopathy students. Financial
k siinnr)ort inlcludles tuition, hooks, and
Recycle the Daily.
...... ....