The Dance Show

Posted on November 17, 2013 by colleenbrandt

A performance follows a literary plot structure with an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

The exposition is hearing the music for the first time and learning the chorography. This includes hours spend in the studio rehearsing and just imaging yourself on stage under the lights. For me this is the most exciting part. It’s like when a potter is given clay and they can begin molding it as their expression. As a dancer you are given chorography, which is just simple steps. Then it is up to you to make it your own by adding emotion, texture, style, and improvisation.

The rising action is tech week. This is when everything comes together. The lights are arranged. The spacing is configured. The music is projected. The costumes are fitted. The scene is set. Everything you have been imagining is now becoming a reality.

The climax is the performance. This is what everyone has been working up to. The stage is set and the audience is ready to see what all your hard work has turned into. Although some dancers might feel pressure on performance nights, I just feel bliss. I feel joy dancing so I know that will show on stage. When I step into the light my body takes over, leaving my motions instinctual and allowing me to enjoy the moment. Messing up on stage is only a problem if you make it a problem. So rather than being nervous about that or freaking out when I do mess up, I pretend its an opportunity for me to think on my toes, improvising smoothly. The performance for me is a joy because I get to share what I love with others.

The falling action is back stage after a performance. This is when its time to take the final pictures with friends and pack up the dressing rooms. Costumes get hung back on the hanger and stage makeup is whipped off your face. This is really a time to unwind and reflect on how you personally feel about how the performance went, whether you were satisfied with your performance or you think you could have done better. You remember your favorite parts and cringe at those close calls. But most of all it’s a time to smile because you just showed your heart on stage.

The resolution is talking with dancers, family, and friends about the performance. This is when you get to hear everyone’s opinion on the performance. Its gratifying to find out which performances were people’s favorites and which ones they thought were a little strange.

All of this creates the story of a performance that I get to be a character in. I get to be an integral part in the progression of this story. I get to make this story my mini biography.

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged syndicated | Comments Off

An Aspiring Writer’s Christmas List

Posted on November 17, 2013 by ashmontera

This list may seem a little strange, but it happens to be my Christmas list—when I was eight years old. Now that I come back to it, like the story of my imaginary newspaper, I believe this is more evidence indicating my inherent passion for writing. As most passions go, I’ve sometimes suppressed, ignored and even fought them, but little instances like this list let me know that I’ve been neglecting the most honest part of myself for a very long time. Now it’s time to give myself a chance to creatively and continuously explore.

8 -year -old Ashieda’s Christmas List:

1. Bratz Dolls:

Oh come on, there was some point where every child wanted a doll of some kind. The trend shamelessly focused on dolls with large heads and even larger lips. One doll’s outfit even included various cow-print designs with bright blue leather boots. I was eight and the marketing was excellent.

2. CDs:

Backstreet Boys, ‘N sync, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera (and many other members of the Mickey Mouse Club.) No one could live in the 90’s and not own one of these CD’s.

3. Lisa Frank Stationary Kit:

There were so many colors—more pens and pencils than I knew what to do with. I loved it. I wanted to write in a different colored pen every day; therefore, I started to write everything from personal notes to my mother’s grocery list just for fun. I wrote my sisters letters to go in their lunches. I wrote to my Grandma who lived far away. I wrote to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (they were fine back then). But mostly I started writing to myself—hence the journal.

4. Journal:

To go along with my plethora of writing utensils, I wanted something special to write them in. My own place to try out new words and tell everything to. My place to be sad about losing my best friend or be scared for my sick little sister. My place to be mad at my mother or vent about other eight-year-old, world-ending issues. My place.

5.Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein:

As if the evidence couldn’t get any more ironic. I loved this book and kept checking it out of my school library until my parents finally bought me my own.

I believe on some minor level I understood—as much as an eight year old could—how cathartic writing (and poetry) could be for me, but I never knew it would persist into my passion. As my live history with writing indicates, I’ve only recently gotten better at reading the signs. If anything, I’ve mainly drifted further away from them.

And so, more evidence soon.

A Constant Kitchen

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Ema Williamson

We like to be ready to prepare a meal at any given time.

Maybe we won’t “cook” per se, but we like to be apply to slice a loaf of bread, saute some vegetables and serve up some hummus or tapenade. Eating out doesn’t always mean eating in a restaurant. It could mean purchasing some goods from a farmer’s market or store, or bringing them along with you, and serving them outside, in creative ways.

And so – to be ready for this – we carry supplies with us. I have a red basket (similar to this one) that was found a thrift store. In that we can generally keep that basic tools needed for preparing a meal.

Metal Containers

We both of have one of these and we both use them daily. For breakfast, both Tim and I make soaked oats in them. I pack my lunch in them, and toss a regular kitchen spoon in my backpack too (but a set of these would be nice).

Mason Jars

Yes, ok. It’s pretty hipster of us, but mason jars are just so dang useful. They can be storage containers. They can be water jugs. The can be vases. They can be used in place of bowls.

Knives

We like knives. Neither of ours are very sharp, but they’re handy. Tim has one of these. Mine didn’t cost a dime. I snatched it from the lost and found at the cafe where we work. I keep a bread knife in my red basket too.

A handful of other utensils comes in handy too.

Cutting Board

I keep a cutting board stored in my basket. This little contraption looks pretty sweet too.

Rocket Stove

And for heating needs, a rocket stove comes in handy. It can fit in a pocket, basically. Above is the model Tim has, and it’s served us well. However, I’d really like to get my hands on one of these someday.

It’s good to have a small, light weight skillet to use atop the rocket stove, or a tea kettle, or metal containers like the ones above.

A sampling of simple meals prepared with these supplies:

Slices of tomato and avocado, hummus, goat cheese and crusty bread.
Walnut butter sandwiches, warmed ginger carrot soup, tomato salad with dried parsley
Grilled cheese with goat manchego and tomato
Oatmeal and hot tea (over a fire or a rocket stove)

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged Food, Photo Post, syndicated | Comments Off

Friday Exercise

Posted on November 15, 2013 by ashmontera

Write a wish list. It can be as concrete or figurative as you like. For example, I wrote about everything from a never ending supply of chocolate covered raisins to enduring health for my younger sister. This may be the only chance to ask for everything you want, so hold nothing back.

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged Creative writing, Creativity, Exercises, syndicated, writer prompts, writer resources, Writing, writing prompts | Comments Off

Ordinary Magic: Making Butternut Squash Bread

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Ema Williamson

This recipe did not start in the kitchen. It started in the library.

I picked up this book. We paged through it together and came upon a recipe for Butternut Pumpkin Bread with Feta. Tim immediately put his finger on the picture and declared, “I want to eat that.”

And so, we made it.

I already happened to have a butternut squash in my possession; it came from my grandfather’s garden. And the following day we stop at one of the cheese counters at market and got a wedge of goat gouda.

Tim started with the squash. He skinned, sliced it in half, gutted it, and cut it into little pieces. (The top and bottom, skin and seeds, were all saved for making stock later on in the evening.) I set the oven for 425 degrees Farenheit. Then he tossed the squash in a 1 or 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. Then the squash was lightly roasted – it took about twenty minutes, until the pieces were soft (but not squishy) when pierced.

We had more than enough, so we munched on roasted squash cubes as we continued to cook.

When Tim was finished with the cutting board, I sliced the onion – we nearly used a whole one. (And again, the skins and ends were reserved for stock.)

At the same time, the yeast (two packets) was set to bloom in a 1/2 cup of warm water. I wasn’t too worried about how long it would take – the mixture just had to look foamy and creamy.

Then the onions and yeast mixture all went into the blender (you could use a food processor too, if that’s what you’ve got), along with:

1/2 cup of oil (we used coconut, any other would work, or butter)

1/2 cup of coconut milk (but use whatever kind you like)

2 eggs (chia seed, in the correct proportions and activated, could probably work too)

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons sucanat (or you could use sugar)

about a tablespoon of dried rosemary (but I wish we had fresh)

All of this was blended together until it was the consistency of a thick smoothie. Then we poured all of this back into the bowl and add the flour – 3 cups whole wheat.

It was time to let the dough rise.

The recipe said an hour, but that’s an approximate. Warm, moister weather will produce a quicker rise. The day we made this bread it was chilly and dry, so we knew it would take a little longer. Part way through, I transferred the dough to a warm, humid, draft-free space: the microwave with a cup of near boiling water set inside.

While we waited for the gluten to do it’s magic, we cut up the cheese (the whole block – probably about 1 cup) and measured out the butternut squash (about 1 1/2 cups). The oven was set the oven to preheat at 325 degrees Farenheit and I greased (with coconut oil) a bread pan.

When the dough held the impression of my finger after I pressed on it lightly, I knew it was finished rising. We gently added the squash and cheese, then slipped the dough into the bread pan, topped it with a few more pieces of squash and slipped the bread pan into the oven.

And we then we waited. We made soup with a stock made of the leftover bits and pieces – onion skins, butternut squash guts and skin, the tops of celery stalks and water from rehydrated mushrooms. The bread baked for about an hour, until it was golden on top. Then I flipped the broiler on for a couple minutes so that it was a little more brown and so the cheese on top was particularly melted.

And it met all of our expectations.

But we didn’t follow the recipe. In fact, before we ever left the library we were already scheming how we would make our own adjustments. And when at last the bread was baked, we dreamed up further edits. Pumpkins seeds sprinkled on top, for example; that would give the loaf a satisfying crunch (if you’re into that kind of thing).

Before we began, Tim decided he was going to take a complete series of the process with his phone. You can see them here and here. All but two of the pictures in this post are those he took with his phone.

Anyone could take the pictures that we took, just as anyone could make bread like we made. If you don’t have butternut squash, use sweet potatoes. If cow products don’t agree with you, skip the cheese and add more squash. Or walnuts. Do you want this to be more sweet than savory? Add dried cranberries and/or increase the sucanat/sugar content.

A recipe is not a magical spell. It’s a place from which to begin.

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged Cook, Food, Narrative, recipe, syndicated | Comments Off

Playlist #2: Nine bands you’ve never heard of.

Posted on November 12, 2013 by playlistsforthepeople

*LISTEN TO PLAYLIST #2: NINE BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF*

Track List:

Tracks – Trapper Schoepp & The Shades

Trapper Schoepp & The Shades came to me as a recommendation by my younger brother, and am I ever glad that he showed me this band. “Tracks” is a song featuring the perfect blend of a classic rock-and-roll feel and contemporary folk elements. I’ll put it like this: you will hear a guitar solo followed by a fiddle solo.

This song had me addicted for a solid 2 weeks. The perfectly catchy chorus, crystal-clear vocals, and rollicking beat absolutely begs to be put on repeat. Not to mention that “Tracks” features a line about my hometown Milwaukee!

All of the People – Panama Wedding

I would classify “All of the People” as my perfect pump-up song. This was the song I blasted in my room before that hard Econ exam, that intense workout, and that nerve-wracking first date. Need a bad-vibe releaser? PLAY. THIS. SONG. Need energy or confidence? PLAY. THIS. SONG. Need a little bit of fun? PLAY. THIS. SONG. Yes, it is more effective you blast it. Go ahead, dance. You deserve it!

The infectious and upbeat indie-pop vibe will definitely leave you in a better mood, ease your anxiety, and have you ready to go out there and own the day.

I Will Wait For You (Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy) – Lowing

Clocking in at only 2:31 seconds of length, “I Will Wait For You (Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy)” is a short but definitely sweet song (even though I still don’t know what cowboys have to do with it). This song is a simple, gentle gem that will have you whistling along and quietly tapping your foot. It begins with a quiet guitar melody and the song subtly builds as layers are added (clapping, whistling, strumming, a drumbeat). A lot of magic can happen in 2.5 minutes.

Moscow – Autoheart

To be quite honest, I think “Moscow” is currently my favorite song. I discovered this treasure in September and I have yet to get sick of hearing it. “Moscow” features catchy, clean, smile-inducing indie-rock that will have you by the hair in the best way possible. Piano, guitar, kickdrums and the some of the most lovable and original lyrics I’ve ever heard (eg:”Let’s get a dog, an Irish Red Setter, it’s all we need to get better”). I cannot help but gush. Just listen and fall in love.

The Lucky Ones – Tim Myers

Another song that will turn your frown upside down and your grey skies blue. I can’t think of a way to describe this song besides simply happy. We are truly the lucky ones.

Stay – Astronaut Husband

Relax and breathe. Time to play “Stay” and sip on a nice hot tea. Think. Breathe. Think about what a weird band name this is for such a beautiful song. Would I want an astronaut husband? I don’t know… hm…

Let the acoustic softness and gentle vocals take you to an easier place. Look at the falling leaves. Do as the song says and “Take your time.”

Love & the Movies – Midi Matilda

At the intersection of synth-pop and indie-rock, you will find Midi Matilda.“Love & the Movies” came into my life by total serendipity. I was walking away after helping at a college radio event, and I heard this unknown song playing on the speakers. I whipped out my phone to Shazam it. It didn’t work. So I ran back and interrogated my fellow DJs until they found the CD it belonged to. Victorious. The effort was well worth it.

The Way We Move – Langhorne Slim & The Law

I saw Langhorne Slim & The Law live last year opening for Grace Potter. They were SO GOOD that I didn’t even feel like staying for the headline show. “The Way We Move” exemplifies the essence of Langhorne Slim: rip-roaring, organic, shameless folk rock. Even though we had no idea who Langhorne Slim was at the time, I remember my friend and I getting up and dancing like it was the main event.

Danger – Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside has an awesome retro feel. I’m in love with Sallie’s unique yet classic -sounding voice. My theory: a catchy bass line, a tambourine, and an infectious melody walked into a swing dance club and this song was born.

Hi listeners,

I hope you have all been well. This week’s playlist features nine bands/artists you have probably never heard of, and in saying that I hope I don’t sound like the ultimate hipster music snob. Anyways, I’m really excited to know what you think of these talented acts that deserve more attention.

-Emily

*LISTEN TO PLAYLIST #2: NINE BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF*

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged syndicated | Comments Off

Humans Of Carlisle 2013-11-12 18:19:09

Posted on November 12, 2013 by carsonk93

“If you could have any superpower what would it be?”

She started cracking up. “I’d like to poop rainbows.” We both laugh. “Why’s that?” “I don’t know, just instead of the nasty stuff it’d be rainbows.”

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged home, syndicated | Comments Off

Ron Finley, Guerrilla Gardener and Community Leader

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Jaime

Gardening is my graffiti. I grow my art…I use the garden, the soil like it’s a piece of cloth and the plants and the trees, that’s my embellishment for that cloth.” Ron Finley is certainly a fascinating individual! I was interested to find out more about him because his talk at Greenbuild is the only…

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged greenbuild, People, syndicated | Comments Off

Humans Of Carlisle 2013-11-11 00:11:10

Posted on November 11, 2013 by carsonk93

You may be wondering how people will be chosen to be featured on this blog. Well the answer is quite simple: randomly. I will take strolls around Carlisle with my camera, always on the lookout for my next subject. Maybe they are wearing a bold outfit, have a warm smile or look like they have an interesting story to tell. I hope there will be a balance between Dickinsonians and Carlislians. This is all a grand experiment and I don’t know how it will ultimately turnout. I don’t know how the reception from the community will be. Will I stand out interviewing people? Yes. Will I look odd always wearing a camera around my neck? Probably. But quite frankly, I don’t care too much how I look. I will welcome the looks and the stares. I know people may not quite understand what I’m doing at first, but I hope this takes off and comes to a point where the community knows about it. I’m scared it may never get there, but I’m hopeful. As always, thanks for reading and sharing along in my journey.

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American Horror Story: Coven

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Meghan R

I was beyond excited when I found out that season three of American Horror Story was going to be about witches in New Orleans. American Horror Story always has a lot going on – it’s twisted, disturbing, terrifying, and makes its viewers intentionally uncomfortable by approaching issues about cultural boundaries. American Horror Story: Coven doesn’t disappoint on these fronts. This season there’s a lot about race and power, but there’s also a ton about gender.

Fiona and her charges

A brief overview of the premise of Coven:

Surprise – there are still witches alive and thriving in present-day New Orleans. There are two rival covens in New Orleans: the Salem witches, who migrated there to escape the Salem Witch Trials, and the coven of voodoo witches. Being a witch is passed down genetically; each generation of witches has a “Supreme,” who is the most gifted witch. The main character, Zoe, finds out that she descends from a long line of witches in the worst way possible: she’s finally ready to do the deed with her boyfriend for the first time, but simply being exposed to her nether regions causes him to die of a brain aneurysm. A serious bummer. She’s promptly sent off to Ms. Robichaux’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies, a school for witches that’s masquerading as an exclusive all girl’s boarding school.

Zoe only has three classmates: Madison (a hyper-brat ex-starlet with telekinetic powers), Queenie (a human voodoo doll), and Nan (a clairvoyant.) This eclectic group of witches is headed up by headmistress Cordelia Foxx, who wants to genuinely use her powers for good. There’s also Fiona Goode – mother of Cordelia and the Supreme of her generation – who has little discretion in using her powers for self-gain and is hell-bent on staying young. Ms. Robichaux’s is all about fostering a female community; in order for the witches to survive and remain undetected by the public, they must support one another.

There are hardly any males in Coven. Apart from Cordelia’s husband, who only makes brief appearances to encourage her to use dark magic so that she will be able to get pregnant, the only other male that gets a decent amount of screen time is Kyle. Kyle is the frat bro who Madison and Zoe accidentally kill and then resurrect from the dead – but not before they reassemble him so he has the body parts of a “perfect boyfriend.” However, this only leaves him wandering around Frankenstein-like, making him pretty bad boyfriend material anyway.

Need I say more?

Despite this season’s focus on girl power and female agency, there’s an issue: can females only gain power through sex and violence? Yes, these witches are incredibly scary/intimidating – they can kill with their body parts as well as just their minds (look out, dudes). However, is it problematic that their power is enforced through narratives of violence? Madison uses her body and sex appeal to get what she wants; however, Madison’s power and agency over herself is compromised when she is roofied and raped by a sleezy group of fraternity brothers. The only way she can regain her power is by flipping their (random) getaway party bus with her telekinetic mind, effectively killing 2/9 of the offenders. New pal Zoe has her back though – she decides to use her deathly womanhood to kill the main offender, who survived; she goes to his hospital room, has sex with him, and effectively kills him – yikes – thus avenging Madison’s honor. (Not to mention, what does it mean that what makes Zoe a woman is able to kill a man?) Similarly, Fiona kills the scientist who isn’t able to produce the anti-aging drug that she desires (by seducing him first). Even Cordelia isn’t free from this narrative of violence through sex and vice versa: in order for her to overcome her infertility, she has to engage in dark magic that involves some violent intercourse with her husband.

So, yeah, the women in Coven have control over men through magic, sex, and violence, but is this the only way to achieve this power?

Posted in Student Blog Project 2013 | Tagged syndicated | Comments Off

Writing In & For Digital Environments

The Dance Show

An Aspiring Writer’s Christmas List

A Constant Kitchen

We like to be ready to prepare a meal at any given time.

Metal Containers

Mason Jars

Knives

Cutting Board

Rocket Stove

A sampling of simple meals prepared with these supplies:

Friday Exercise

Ordinary Magic: Making Butternut Squash Bread

This recipe did not start in the kitchen. It started in the library.

And so, we made it.

It was time to let the dough rise.

And it met all of our expectations.

A recipe is not a magical spell. It’s a place from which to begin.

Playlist #2: Nine bands you’ve never heard of.

Humans Of Carlisle 2013-11-12 18:19:09

Ron Finley, Guerrilla Gardener and Community Leader

Humans Of Carlisle 2013-11-11 00:11:10

American Horror Story: Coven

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