THE
TORCH - MAY 1, 2019 - VOLUME 54, EDITION 12 - EUGENE, OR -
Sports / pg 4
Hack / pg 6
LCC News / pg 8
‘If you can walk, you can dance' Celebrating diversity through the international language of dance
Evelyn Vannezza / reporter
Award-winning dancer Souzana performs an Egyptian-style belly dance during the International Dance Gala on April 28. The gala was the finale of Eugene’s first-ever National Dance Week, which brought dancers from all over the world to the city.
Campus Decaffeinated
Evelyn Vannezza Reporter As spectators entered the Ragozzino Hall at Lane Community College on Sunday, April 29, they were greeted by a message on the background of the stage reading “Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body,” a quote by Martha Graham as a recognition of her contribution to dance arts. Graham was an American modern dancer with a career that spanned over 70 years and whose technique reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide. Anticipation quietly grew around the grand finale of Eugene’s Inaugural National Dance Week, which included dance classes, workshops, lessons, labs and even a dance celebration in Kesey Square on Saturday. This was the first annual event to showcase dances from around the world with a world class lineup. As Colette Ramirez took the stage to introduce the event, the crowd roared for the coming spectacle. She imparted to the crowd that dance can be a form of building trust and kindness among diverse groups, as it brings out the richness and depth of having diversity in the community. The visual effects taking place in the background of this production show a plane leaving Eugene, Oregon and landing in Havana, Cuba, where they rotate through photos of the local markets, culture and
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Titans shine bright in the Twilight
Blenders to close after Spring Term
Finish top three in 20 events
James Croxton Reporter Blenders, the only coffee shop at Lane Community College, will be leaving after June 30 as part of the outsourcing of the school’s Food Services, currently run by David Ferris, which have seen declining profits over the years. However, as part of Food Service, Blenders has its own story as the often-forgotten-about facet of the department on the second floor separated from everyone else down below. Taya Ream started working in the coffee shop in 1998 and has since become the integral leader that makes Blenders what it is. In fact, the coffee shop didn’t even have a name at that time. It was just there and located downstairs in what is now The Renaissance Room at the time being led by Jack Denny. “Blenders was the last concept to reopen after the [Center Building] remodel,” Ream said, adding “when
Trayse Riggle Reporter The Lane Track and Field team converged with other Oregon teams, Saturday, April 20, to compete in the Titan Twilight meet. This was the first home track meet of the season and the Titans capitalized on their home-field advantage. The Twilight Meet was an annual event until the 2016-17 season when they chose to not hold the event. The following season, 2017-18, the team didn’t host any meets at home, thus was the second year in a row without the meet. This season marks the continuation of the Twilight tradition. The Titans did not disappoint. Both Titan teams came out with a win claiming a top three position in 20 competitions, improving from their 15th place showing in the Raider Invitational. The women’s team saw 15 players in the top three, three of whom claimed the top spot. Shayla Noil took home the gold medal in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.33.
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dancers. Two dancers with radiant smiles danced their way to the center of the stage, carrying an easy effortless step, joined by two more couples, the crowd howled in support. Going from an improvised number to a choreographed and intricate number as a group elicit a loud cheer from the crowd. The stage went dark, the plane landed in Spain. Next on stage was Martita Santiago who led the crowd into a loud “Hola” greeting. The stoic Mona Lisa smiles on the faces of the powerful four ladies on stage added to the allure and intricacy of the dance led by Santiago as the matriarch. As the cheers and howls from the crowd intensified, genuine broad smiles crept into their stoic semblance. Santiago took the stage alone once again, she built momentum from the crowd, culminating in the first standing ovation of the night. The stage went dark once more and the world map transports the audience to Johannesburg, Africa. On the screen an African proverb appears “If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.” In the darkness of that stage, Michael Moloi vocalized birds, wind, animals, and nature before letting out a blood-curdling scream. As the stage lit back up, he went into a series of complex movements, and depicted a poem with his body. He revealed to the crowd then that it was a story of the diamond and gold industrialization and the effects that it had on his people and the land. The next flight was to Egypt, and Souzana made her appearance on stage with a dazzling outfit to match her smile and onstage charisma. She performed two mesmerizing numbers, one with a veil the other without which highlighted her stunning belly dancing skills. On to India, from the dark came a jingle as the lights turned on, a woman began her
Selina Scott / photojournalist
Eryn Ricker places third in the long jump with a 4.84 meter jump during the 30th Avenue Twilight Meet on April 20. Ricker also competes in 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100 relay, pole vault and long jump. continued on page 5