10 minute read
A&E
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
The MarqueTTe Tribune Arts & eNtertAiNmeNt
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Bringing ballet folklórico to Marquette’s campus
By Izzy Fonfara Drewel
isabella.fonfaradrewel@marquette.edu
When Maya Rodriguez began dancing ballet folklórico seven years ago, she never thought she would be attending a workshop at a top company in Mexico which pioneered the dance style. To learn from someone who studied under Amalia Hernandez, the mother of ballet folklórico, was a dream come true.
Ballet Folklórico is collection of different cultural dances that represent the states of Mexico. Hernandez traveled around to the states and after learning about the food, dress, weather and other cultural factors, she developed ballet folklórico to represent the diversity in Mexican cultures.
Rodriguez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, began Ballet Folklórico of Marquette University with several other students to share the dance style with the campus. Ballet folklórico is a mixture of folk dances from the states of Mexico designed to express the cultural differences throughout the country.
To become more in tune with their culture, Rodriguez and Edgar PadillaCabrera, vice president of the organization and a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, attended a workshop at the renowned Ballet Folklórico de México which piloted the dance and now performs around the world.
“One of their choreographers was telling us that part of the dance is connected to the Catholic religion and that when they dance, they are praising their God,” Rodriguez said. “That was really interesting to learn because I had been dancing for seven years and I had never heard anything like that, but to hear from somebody who learned from the person who spearheaded the style, I think that was
really inspiring.” After studying ballet folklórico in Milwaukee for her entire career, the lessons in Mexico showed Rodriguez a different style of learning.
She learned more difficult steps with challenging choreography.
The workshop helped them understand more about the style and what should be conveyed through the dance. It also encouraged them to create a Ballet Folklórico group at Marquette.
They host workshops on
Fridays to teach dances from different Mexican states to students. The executive board is hoping that they can encourage more people to attend but Rodriguez mentioned that some of the dances can be difficult which might deter students from participating.
“I don’t want people to feel intimidated, I want people to feel welcome and to dance because that’s what we’re there for,” Rodriguez said. “We really want to engage with
people and share our love for the dance.”
Aside from getting attendance up, BFMU wants to raise money to buy practice skirts for the dancers. The skirts play a key role in the movement and storytelling of certain regions. Rodriguez explained how in the southern Mexican state of Sinaloa which is situated on the coast, the skirt is moved to mimic the ocean’s waves. However, the skirts are quite expensive, around $500 to $1,000 per person.
Years of learning and performing made Rodriguez realize the cost of makeup, costumes, jewelry and more. One of her goals for the group is to make this dance more accessible to people and less stressful. Her years with her dance company left her with a passion for dance and a desire to share it.
“When you go out on the stage and you see people’s faces and you realize that there’s somebody out there who’s never seen this before but I’m able to provide this experience to them,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to connect with the audience and get them riled up, it just felt like I was part of a bigger thing.”
Rodriguez and the rest of the board want to bring the beauty of ballet folklórico to Marquette, and they are dedicated to their cause. Learn more about their upcoming workshops and events on their Instagram, which is @balletfolkloricomu.
Alex’s Book Cave: ‘People We Meet on Vacation’
Emily Henry’s 2021 romance novel won Goodread’s award
By Alex Wagner
alex.wagner@marquette.edu
Welcome back Golden Eagles! As we journey back from warm, sunny places to our cold tundra (that’s slowly but surely warming up), I wanted to share with you a novel that will help us acclimate back to Midwestern life, while also filling the void those wonderful palm trees and blue oceans left in our hearts.
“People We Meet on Vacation” is a 2021 romance novel by Emily Henry. The novel is a fan favorite on Goodreads, winning Best Book of 2021 in the Romance category.
The plot is as follows: Alex and Poppy have nothing in common. She’s a wild child, always searching out the newest and craziest adventures. He prefers to stay home with a book and to stay in his comfort zone. Despite the vast differences, they are the very best of friends thanks to one car ride home from college years ago.
For most of the year they live far apart. Poppy lives in New York City working for a travel magazine, while Alex is in their small hometown teaching at their old high school — but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one marvelous week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want: a great job, a boyfriend, a beautiful apartment, but she’s not satisfied. When she reflects on when she was her happiest, she knows it was that last trip with Alex. She decides to fix their relationship and convinces her best friend to take one more vacation together. She wants them to lay everything on the table. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has one week to catch up on two years of regrets. There’s only one problem: she must address the enormous unrequited truth that stands between them. What could possibly go wrong? Review and Rating:
Starting with the plot, I must say this friends-to-lovers trope is done very well. The novel establishes that Alex and Poppy are very different and even when they do meet, it’s not so much an instant connection as it is a slow burn. As the reader, I was screaming at the two to just get together already with every stolen glance or lingering touch.
With every chapter you really feel the romantic tension building. The novel flashes from their current vacation to their previous ones. That being said, this romantic tension builds over the course of a decade, which I feel is a little too long. But then again, there is something to be said for unrequited love, especially between friends.
The plot did feel a bit like fanfiction, which is fine, but I felt I could log onto Wattpad or Archive of Our Own and read a similar story for free. But what the internet can provide for free lacks the attention to detail and budding romance that Henry writes.
The characters Poppy and Alex were crafted in their own way. I did not like the writing of Poppy’s character. Her story is that she dropped out of college but somehow managed to snag a job at a prestigious travel magazine in New York City, it felt too outlandish for me. Plus, I find the romantizing of New York City overdone. Writers, if you’re reading this, please do a story in Chicago or Milwaukee, those cities need some love too!
I did relate to Alex’s character, and not just because he has an amazing name. He struggles, like Poppy, to find his place in the world. He goes back to his small Ohio hometown because it’s a place of comfort. This further helps with his characteristic of someone who is more cautious and a homebody.
This book wasn’t really my cup of tea, but it was still a cute, interesting and fast read. It’s a perfect novel to curl up on the beach with and help with those post spring break blues.
I give “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily
Henry three out of five stars.
People We meet on vacation Graphic by Lily Werner elizabeth.werner@marquette.edu
Journal of pep band at men’s NCAA Tournament
Musicians traveled with basketball team to Fort Worth, Texas
By Rashad Alexander
rashad.alexander@marquette.edu
The month of March brings on one of the most exciting events in all of sports: The NCAA Tournament. And as the Golden Eagles go on the road to play for a national title, they brought the Marquette Band along for the ride.
As a clarinet player for the band, I got the opportunity to go with the Golden Eagles to Marquette’s first round game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Fort Worth, Texas. This is Marquette’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019, so it would only be right to document the party in Texas as the team goes dancing.
Tuesday March 15
The trip to Panther City is finally here!
After getting our travel information literally the night before, due to waiting on the team to get the travel information, we got on our coach bus at noon and headed to the airport to catch the charter plane to head down to Texas.
On the charter plane along with the team was University President Michael Lovell and a huge group of people associated with Marquette traveling with us. I thought it was just going to be just the band on the flight, but I guess Marquette Athletics didn’t think we needed our own plane to get to Forth Worth.
Once we landed in Texas, we went straight to the hotel where I actually saw head coach Shaka Smart since we were staying at the same hotel as the team. I was surprised to see him and I were nearly the same height. It made me think I can still achieve my hoop dreams. But the first night in Texas was chill. We went to eat at this restaurant called The Bearded Lady, where I got a burger with queso on it. That burger most certainly hit the spot. After that, we got ice cream at a place nearby called Morgan’s Ice Cream, and called it a night.
Wednesday March 16
The Golden Eagles had an open practice to the public at Dickie’s Arena, the site of the first and second round games in Texas, and we were asked to perform while they practiced.
Why did the band need to be at a practice that was only 45 minutes and not that many people there? Beats me, but the practice was a success, as we played the whole time. We were also in the tunnel where we got to see the players from other schools like Baylor and North Carolina. I felt like an NBA player walking through the tunnel for game day.
The arena was smaller than Fiserv Forum, but our seats were closer to the floor, versus at Fiserv where we’re in the student section. I definitely had a better view of the game than I would in Milwaukee.
But after the practice some of the band had lunch and dinner together and called it a day, as tomorrow was the day that decided how long we stayed in Texas.
Thursday March 17
The day we’ve all been waiting for: Game day!
After sending the team off as they exited the hotel with “Ring Out Ahoya,” the Marquette Band and spirit squad were ready to cheer on our squad to the second round.
And let me tell you, it was a good thing the band showed up because the basketball team certainly didn’t.
For me it was a fun game to watch for about the first five minutes, then it just felt like watching an eighth grade squad taking on a varsity team. North Carolina beat Marquette by a whopping 32 points. At that point, there wasn’t really much you could be peppy about if you’re rooting for the Golden Eagles.
It was a weird feeling leaving the bus from the game. Yeah, I wasn’t actually on the court playing, but having to go home early sucked. Texas was still an exciting time. Never did I think band would take me places I have never been to, but I got this opportunity and I’ll cherish it forever! I just wish the basketball team would have made the experience just a little longer.
