Month: December 2014

New Year new standards: The types of people not to bring into 2015

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In life, some people are only meant to be in the picture for a short period of time. As humans, we are constantly growing and changing — and there is nothing wrong with this; it’s simply the way things are meant to be. However, as sad as it may be, not everyone grows at the same pace we do. We can outgrow our closest friends within a matter of a year and have to take comfort in knowing that we as individuals are progressing at just the right speed.

There are also those people we surround ourselves with who are not the best for us. For whatever reasons, we have convinced ourselves that we need them in our lives — no matter how much damage they have caused.

With the new year upon us, it is important to take a closer look at whom we surround ourselves and ask one difficult question — who belongs and who doesn’t? Here are a few examples of toxic people that don’t need to be in your life this new year.

The “I need you” people

These people are very fun to deal with; they are only friends with you when they need something. Whether it’s a date for Friday night or the answers to tomorrow’s homework, you suddenly pop up in their mind when they are in need.

Sometimes this is flattering — maybe you’re the go-to friend for advice. However, as soon as this becomes a one-sided relationship, then it’s time to split. You find yourself in need of help, you ask this individual since you so generously helped them in the past — and they are nowhere to be found.

These people don’t deserve a place in your life. They simply drain your energy and make you more miserable than necessary.

The stressful ones

Stress in life can be good. Lots of people work well under stress — sometimes they thrive. However, when it comes to people, stress is in no way a positive thing.

If people cause you nothing but stress, then it’s time to split. Once you find yourself tiptoeing around this individual, you know it’s not a healthy relationship.

The disrespectful ones

In life, you go through many different experiences and relationships that shape you as a person. They show you who you are and specifically, what you deserve.

Dealing with people who have treated you badly lets you see that you deserve to be respected, especially if you give so much respect in return. If someone in your life isn’t respecting you the way you’d like, then it’s time to call it quits.

The hurtful ones

When people hurt us, it shows that we have somewhat of a strong bond with them. If their actions can deeply affect us, they must hold a great deal of importance to us. This is part of the reason we continue to keep these people in our lives.

But in this new year, if you find there are people in your lives who cause you more pain than not, it may be time to cut the cord. Know that just because you are close and have a strong bond with someone, it does not give them a reason to hurt you.

The backstabbers

 Everyone has had these friends; you think they are your best friend and then come to find out, they have been doing nothing but talking trash about you.

You don’t hang out with them enough, they don’t like the person you’re dating, they don’t like your outfit — whatever the immature reason, these people feel the need to tell everyone but you how they feel.

These are some of the most toxic people you deal with during your lifetime, and they deserve no place in your circle. Don’t make time for people who don’t respect you enough to tell you to your face how it is — or at least keep their unwanted opinions to themselves.

The party poopers

You have spent so much time working on yourself, bettering yourself and you are very proud of how far you’ve come. However, there are always those in our lives, who for some reason, don’t want to see you improve. These people try to drag you back into your old lifestyle.

These people are not for you. Don’t put up with people who try to make you a bad person and don’t wish to see you succeed.

The stagnant ones

These are similar to the party poopers — they don’t know how to progress in life and want to take you down with them. You should be constantly changing, learning about yourself and growing. Like previously stated, this is a good thing; change and growing are good and help you truly become the person you are meant to me.

However, there are many people who don’t want to grow and don’t want to see others do that as well. When you are growing, they see it as you betraying them and changing.

Yes, it is very important to think about others, but if you are bettering yourself and your friends can’t support that, then they aren’t people you want in your life.

The space fillers

It is a very difficult realization that a high percentage of the people you surround yourselves with don’t belong in your life. If you haven’t learned already, you soon will learn that you have no obligation to stay friends with people. It is your life and you are allowed to have as many or as few friends as you see fit.

However, it becomes difficult to properly maintain a large amount of friendships. This is when you have to identify who is a priority, and who is simply taking up undeserved space and energy.

Ending friendships is a very difficult thing to do. You can feel like you are giving up and you are the source of the problem. However, it’s important to step back and remind yourself of what you deserve. If, when looking at your relationships, you find they don’t live up to your standards, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and what you deserve.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Caitlin’s Closet: How to avoid making the wrong statement at this year’s holiday party

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The holiday season is upon us and this can only mean one thing — parties, parties, parties. Unfortunately, they’re not the kinds of parties you have in mind. These could include family, work or even intimate gatherings with friends. Regardless of the type, each party has it’s own dress code and expectations that follow.

For those who love shopping, putting together an outfit is half the fun. But when it comes to holiday parties, it can be a hassle. You have to make sure you put together just the right combination of styles for that particular event.

In order to avoid being the worst-dressed at this year’s holiday shindig, here are some pointers to help get you through the night stylish and chic.

Tight is not always right

You know the style — the tight, usually strapless, dress that looks good on approximately 3 percent of females and only in darkly lit clubs.

A rule to remember when picking out a fancy dress: if it can pass as Spanx, it’s too tight. This will make a statement; however it won’t make the statement you’re hoping for. It will show people you got sidetracked on your way to the club and wound up at this party.

Instead, if you want to look presentable but still show off your curves, there are many styles you can go with. Peplums, clinched waistlines and belted styles paired with a sweater or blazer will show you mean business.

Watch that neckline

You are looking through your closet for something to wear to the upcoming party, when you come across your old homecoming/ party dress from high school. In other words, it’s way too tight to be worn in public — ever again.

Yes, you know if you look past the trashy tightness, you can convince yourself it looks great. But do yourself, and everyone else at that party, a favor and opt for a slightly higher neckline — and standards.

Instead, choose dresses or blouses with fun necklines, sweetheart or rounded ones as well. Choose outfits with features, such as beading or other elements that catch the eye. There are many other ways to wow party-goers.

All the colors of the rainbow…or not

When choosing a color scheme for your wardrobe, go dark. You don’t want to be the one who shows up at the wintertime party in white or a brighter color.

You don’t necessarily have to wear black; there are other colors that can work. Maroons, any shade of red, darker blues and greens can give your outfit a wintry, calm feel.

Many people think you need color in your outfit in order to make a statement, when this is simply not the case. Necklaces, cardigans and bedazzled items of clothing can provide the same dramatic effect in a more tasteful way.

Don’t be afraid of the theme

You get the invitation to a holiday party and you discover the theme is ugly sweaters. The only downside, however, is you hate themed parties — you think they are childish.

Not to be harsh, but this is a Scrooge mindset. Themed parties are fun; they get you in the spirit of the season.

One major faux pas at holiday parties is to not be too cool for the theme. Don’t think you can show up in whatever clothing you desire, under dress and look cool. Let me clue you in on something, you won’t look cool. You will wind up looking like the Grinch who can’t enjoy the holidays.

Each gathering you attend this season asks for a different look. This is what holiday parties are for — to make awkward conversation, see friends you haven’t seen for awhile and embody the holiday spirit with your stylish outfit.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

How to not be a Scrooge this holiday season

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When we were younger, the holidays were an exciting time filled with presents, treats and magic. It was all about the anticipation and excitement of the season. Looking back, we didn’t have a care in the world; when it snowed, we didn’t think twice about having to shovel or drive in it, it was simply there for snow days and forts.

Now, as adults, the holiday season brings along a few different emotions. We dread snowstorms because while they may cancel school, we also have jobs to worry about. Scraping off windshields and worrying about black ice are now in our daily routine. We worry about how to afford gifts for everyone on our list because as college students, we can barely afford Ramen much less presents for others. The holidays also bring the uncomfortable amount of family time you will be forced to spend, where you get to answer the always fun questions about your love life, grades and the future. Not to mention the pressure of finals shoved in our faces while we should be feeling the holiday cheer.

Being an adult, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the pressures of the season. It’s important to look back at how this time of year used to make us feel. Use these eight ideas to help you embrace this season, rather than fall prey to the ways of the Grinch.

Stop and smell the holly

An easy way to get into the holiday spirit is to simply take a look around. Everywhere you can find themed wreaths, houses decorated with light displays and stores decked out to the nines.

While on your way to school, work or struggling to find the perfect gift at the store, it becomes easy to miss everything the holidays have to offer.

An easy way to get into the spirit is to appreciate the season. Take it all in; enjoy these decorations because a month from now they will be all gone.

Be a smart shopper

There is a multitude of discounts you can take advantage of during this season. From weekend doorbusters to special coupons, most stores will run some sort of deal on what you’re looking for.

Remember, your friends are in the same boat as you and your family also knows you are a student. There is no need to feel pressure to spend bunches of money on gifts.

Be creative — there are many sites you can check out that can show you what types of gifts you could make with your particular skill set.

Make a merry little wish list — for yourself

Just because the holidays are the season of giving doesn’t mean you should forget that you are on the nice list as well.

Make a list of a few special things you want. That one thing you had your eye on for months — write it down, drop hints. You deserve nice gifts just as much as the next person.

Take advantage of time off

So it’s the weekend and you have two dozen things to accomplish when suddenly, you notice a “Home Alone” marathon on TV.

During the holidays, there is no need to feel guilty setting some time aside to get into the spirit of the season. Binge watch your favorite holiday movies and specials and bake as many cookies and seasonal treats as your heart desires. Partaking in these activities will help you get in the mood for the holidays.

Embrace the awkward that is family

Yes, you just endured Thanksgiving and had to answer the many uncomfortable life questions your family threw at you and now you get to do it all over again.

However, if you change your mindset, it may make things better. You may only see these people once or twice a year, so it is a fun opportunity to catch up and reminisce about past family excursions. Also, if you think about it, this is a prime time to talk about yourself for as long as you’d like to people who would love nothing more than to listen.

Be cheesy

Once we leave for college, we tend to separate from many of our friends. This is the perfect opportunity to hang out with those whom you haven’t seen in awhile.

When better to take full advantage of ugly sweater parties, Christmas karaoke or holiday parades? Go ice skating, put up decorations, window shop or visit Santa. During this season, nothing is too cliché; you’ll never look back and say, ‘Man, I wish I hadn’t decorated that tree so nicely.’

Give back

Now that we are older, we now have the opportunity to partake in one special holiday tradition — giving back.

Yes, we are all poor college students. Contrary to popular belief, there are ways to give back that won’t break the bank.

Give a few dollars to the Salvation Army volunteers who are outside nearly every store ringing bells. Become involved in an angel tree, donate winter coats, serve at a soup line or volunteer at shelters. These, along with a multitude of other things, are simple ways to help the less fortunate.

BELIEVE

Of all the things to do to get you in the holiday spirit, believing in the magic is the most important. While Santa and his reindeer may be a distant memory, there are many other things to believe in. This season has a special feel to it: the air is lighter, the music is cheerier and there is a certain spirit behind everything.

Regardless of how stressful this time of year is or how old we have become, we are never too old to embrace the joy of the holiday season.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

Ho-ho-hold your holiday spending

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The holidays are a time for family, fun and financial freakouts. The holiday season is stressful enough with finals and impending family commitments, and adding the pressure of gift giving can raise even more worries.

When tackling holiday gift giving, especially on a college budget, it is important to be knowledgeable so you can not only enjoy the season, but also go easy on your wallet.

Make that naughty-and-nice list

Around the holidays it becomes essential to plan out expected gifts and an allotted budget. Determine how many people you will need to give gifts to and the amount you’re willing to spend on these gifts. For example, you may not choose to give the same size gift to your significant other as you would your mother. Regardless, there are a few ways to set up this budget; you can have a set price limit for each individual on your list or have an overall budget. To be as sufficient as possible with finances, it may be wise to establish an overall budget because that way you have a more definite total limit.

Another helpful way to stay on budget would be to take your allotted money out in cash. This way, you will not be tempted to go over budget as easily as if you used debit or credit cards.

Play a holiday gift-giving game

A fun idea if you are buying gifts for everyone in your friend group, roommates or office is to suggest a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange. This is a way to cover a lot of bases; instead of buying gifts for each individual in the group, you are required to only buy for one person, yet everyone walks away satisfied.

Traditionally in Secret Santa, you are given the name of one person participating in the swap, and the object is to buy a present he or she would actually enjoy. A white elephant exchange, however, involves finding the most random, hilarious gift possible. Both are exciting, rewarding and easy on your wallet.

Do not buy more than your sleigh can hold

Once you have made a list of everyone requiring presents, it is now time to decide what you would like to buy for each person. You already have your price limit, so look and see what you can afford.

However, overbuying can become very easy when you keep finding one more of the right gift. Just because you can fit six presents inside your $20 budget does not mean you should; once you over buy for one, you are more inclined to fall prey to overbuying for all.

Give from the heart, not the wallet

Pinterest has helped make do-it-yourself ideas readily available and, even more, complete with simple instructions. Think of skills you have. Do you love baking? You should use your talent to make homemade desserts to share in a holiday-themed baskets. Do you like to knit, crochet or sew? You should try to make a scarf or hat for your friends; it is something they will not only love simply because it is practical, but also because it was handmade just for them.

Another popular idea is to take a blank coffee mug, decorate it and bake it in the oven to make the decorations permanent. With this idea, you can personalize the mug with any desired design or quotes specific to the individual receiving the gift. This typically works better when decorated with a paint pen, which can be found at any craft store, as opposed to Sharpie. The Sharpie does not always stay on well once baked and washed in a dishwasher. The final step involves placing the mug in the oven at a temperature of around 230 degrees for around two hours.

Another idea for a DIY gift includes a spa in a jar, where you place spa-like products in a simple little jar. It will look neat and will be appreciated by any always-stressed college student.

‘Tis the season for online shopping

If you’re a fan of getting deals online, this form of shopping may be the way to go for the holiday season. However, if you choose to shop this way, it is important to be wise about it. Just because you are getting it online for $10 does not mean it is a better deal  than the store if you end up paying extra for shipping and handling. Know how to search around; look at different sites to make sure you are getting the best deal and the lowest cost on shipping.

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

It can be very easy to become sucked into the holiday season, with all of the festive things the stores have to offer. From themed towels to holiday scented soaps, there are many things you do not need to spend money on.

During this season, everywhere you look has festivities to offer. Whether it is festivals or light shows, make sure you choose wisely. There is always a multitude of holiday events that are free, so focus on those more, as opposed to the costly ones. Even if they only cost $7 per person, it can add up in the grand scheme of things.

You can also easily save money on things you many not even think of. For wrapping paper, you could use newspapers or make your own. Utilizing dollar stores can help save money on gift bags, allowing you to buy two for $1 as opposed to buying one for $3. It can also be helpful to make your own Christmas cards and decorations. This not only saves money, but also allows you to put a more personal touch on your gift giving.

Keep the holiday season merry and bright  by budgeting

It is important to remember that spending money is not saving money. Just because the $150 dress is on sale for $50, does not mean you need to buy it for your friend. Every time you buy something, you are spending and not saving. Therefore, if it does not fit your budget, you do not need it — no matter how great the sale.

You should always be on the lookout for deals, but do not get carried away. Just because that one thing is the hottest deal of the year, does not mean you need it now; there will always be deals. Stay on track with your plan of action, and be careful not to get distracted with the so-called “best sales of the year.”

Always value quality over quantity. While it is important to try to find the best price, it is also important to give a gift that has value. Buying one thing of meaning and quality as opposed to 10 small things can make a difference.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

SIUE Student makes noise as Rams cheerleader, ‘The Voice’ contestant

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On a Sunday morning like any other, 5-year-old Tess Boyer took the microphone from her pastor father and stole the show.

Tess Boyer, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior political science major from Edwardsville, has been singing and dancing her whole life. Her father, Roy Boyer, said her church performance was the beginning of his daughter’s future in entertainment.

“At the conclusion of our service, we had music playing and people praying,” Roy Boyer said. “She came up to me and said, ‘I think I have a song I want to sing; I need the microphone.’ All of the sudden, she starts singing. Everybody stopped, looked and was amazed with what was going on; even I was like, ‘Whoa, where did this come from?’ It was very emotional and very touching. Everybody at that time began to realize she had a gift.”

After this, Tess Boyer’s life was filled with many forms of entertainment. She became involved in pageants and vocal competitions along with performances at the Muny, Fox Theatre and a year as a Rams cheerleader.

Just before her junior year at SIUE, Tess Boyer said she discovered the popular singing show “The Voice” was holding auditions in St. Louis.

“I wasn’t going to go because I didn’t want to do a TV show, but they were coming to St. Louis and people were like, ‘You should do it,’” Tess Boyer said. “I said ‘Alright, but I’m not singing anything anybody wants me to. I’m going to go be obstinate and rebel.’ I sang “Bounty” from the movie “Burlesque,” which I knew nobody would really know because it’s from a movie, but it’s a killer tune.”

Tess Boyer said she waited nine hours to audition and was in the last group of contestants on the second day of St. Louis auditions. Contestants sat in a circle of 10 people and took turns singing to a producer.

“I was tired and cold and just wanted to do this and go home,” Tess Boyer said. “I got done singing and the producer goes, ‘Okay, everybody, thank you. But Tess, come here. For the next round I want you to sing something that people know — a little bit more pop. I really think you should go pop.’ So I made it past the second round and flew out to L.A.”

Page design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

Page design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

Tess Boyer said once she passed the first round, “The Voice” suddenly became a very important part of her life.

“This consumed my every thought,” Tess Boyer said. “I knew I had made it past the first round in June, past the second round in July and I knew I was on Usher’s team in October, but I couldn’t tell anybody until February.”

Tess Boyer said she went through two and a half months of auditions before she could try out in front of the judges.

“They announced your name the night before of who was going that next day; I have never experienced that flood of emotions before in my life,” Tess Boyer said. “It was that feeling of, ‘I’m happy I’m getting to go and I have the opportunity to be on a team,’ but then you’re at the point of, ‘It’s coming right now, two and a half months of working on your hands and knees.’”

Tess Boyer said the next day, she woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready to sing in front of the coaches.

“I’ve never been that nervous before. I blacked out completely; all I know is I was on Usher’s team,” Tess Boyer said. “He is the exact person I wanted when I heard he was [a judge].”

Tess Boyer said contestants don’t spend a large amount of time working directly with their coach. They spent a month and a half preparing for the first battle round and worked with Usher three or four times. She said the majority of the time is spent working with their partner.

“I always watched it as an audience member and thought, ‘Why are they always so happy for the other person?’ and then I realized why,” Tess Boyer said. “The girl I was with the first time, [Bria Kelly], I could not stand her; I didn’t like her or her personality. Then I started to spend time with her and we became inseparable. I liked having a partner; you go through so much emotional stress and it’s traumatic. It’s like you walk through fire with the same person every day.”

Tess Boyer lost the first battle round to Kelly, but was stolen by Blake Shelton to be on his team.

“Usher was really cool, very suave, very informative and strategic in the way that he coached,” Tess Boyer said. “Blake was chill and beautiful. He’s so much fun; he’s like a cheerleader in the way he coached.”

For the second battle round, Tess Boyer fell short to her partner Jake Worthington.

“I was like, ‘Well shoot, here I am losing again; this is horrible,’” Tess Boyer said. “Then before I could take another breath, I heard three buttons pushed; all three of them used their one steal on me. Then I had no idea what to do. When people are begging and fighting for you and they are superstars, how do you differentiate any sort of perception? Shakira was shaking in her seat and the stuff that she said to me hit home. I’m really happy I ended up going with her.”

Tess Boyer said during the playoff round, she had her favorite performance moment on the show.

“I sang “Human” by Christina Perri and that was my stand out moment. [Shakira] picked me first to be in her top three,” Tess Boyer said. “I remember [when preparing], hiding myself in my room and thinking about the emotion of the song and just breathing it. I had gone from losing twice to being the top contender.”

Tess Boyer said she lost many friends during the playoff battle round.

“I know it’s weird to say ‘friends’ since it’s a competition, but they become family,” Tess Boyer said. “It’s almost as if they die when they go off the show; you grieve their leaving because you will never be with them again like that.”

Once Tess Boyer passed the playoff round, she said she knew she had made it to the top 12 and did not know what to expect.

“I feel like no one knew what to expect,” Tess Boyer said. “You’re going into a live show and people are voting for you; it’s completely different. The performance part is the same; it’s the same stage and band. Then you get done and the comments are rushed and you can’t really say a whole lot back to the coaches because it’s on a timed schedule. It’s also long days, 6 a.m. to midnight — very taxing emotionally and physically.”

Tess Boyer said the worst part of this process was the results show, specifically being in the bottom three. The first time, she said she was expecting to go home.

“Whenever they announced I was safe, I was in utter shock,” Tess Boyer said. “I dropped out of the camera shot; they had to pan down to see me. So the next week, I knew I had to work really hard and come out swinging. But come next week, I was a little more prepared for it the second time. I knew when I was in the bottom with [Kelly] that we were both going home; it just made sense to be battling each other and then go out together.

Tess Boyer said she has been hired by KSDK Channel 5 to live tweet and watch this season of “The Voice.”

“I didn’t want to watch this season originally; every single week it’s like you’re back in it,” Tess Boyer said. “You take yourself back into that moment; you know a lot behind the scenes. It’s difficult, but I’m happy with it because I’m able to be constantly growing. It helps in the healing process; I feel like when you drag your life, heart, mind and soul through something and you have to heal eventually.”

Since “The Voice,” Tess Boyer has been given the opportunity to sing at various sporting events and has been given a multitude of platforms to share her talents with others.

Tess Boyer’s former dance coach, Hilary Duncan, said she knew from day one that Tess Boyer was on to bigger and better things.

“I knew she was going to be famous; it was just a matter of when it was going to happen,” Duncan said. “Tess is genuinely one of the nicest, most talented people you will ever meet; she has a special drive about her that makes her stand out.”

Tess Boyer said as a political science major, she had many plans for her future — plans that were thrown for a curve once “The Voice” happened.

“Before the show, I wanted to go to law school, so I planned on staying here and doing that,” Tess Boyer said. “Now I have three options; I can stay on with News Channel 5, take the bar and go to law school, or tour. These are three options that are huge life decisions; right now I’m meditating on them.”

Roy Boyer said he is proud of his daughter for who she is as a person, not simply for the things she has accomplished.

“Deep down in her heart she’s always said, ‘I just want to make people smile and give them something to be happy about,’” Roy Boyer said. “She’s used this opportunity to go out and speak to people, and I think that’s what’s most rewarding — to see that your child cares about others.”

Tess Boyer said now this journey is over, she sees things in a different way than before and is blessed for the ways it has changed her.

“I feel like I’m completely different in regards to being a young woman,” Tess Boyer said. “I learned a lot about myself, strengths that I didn’t even know that I had, work ethic and the ability to let my guard down a little bit. I’m excited that I was not prepared; I went in thinking it was going to be something and I came out and it was the greatest opportunity and experience that I’ve been through.”

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

‘Dance in Concert’ dances through the ages with alumni, student choreographed pieces

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Choreography and alumni hold the spotlight of Dunham Hall Theater as the Department of Theater and Dance presents the 45th anniversary of “Dance in Concert.”

Director Kristin Best-Kinscherff said “Dance in Concert” includes a variety of distinctive pieces, all personalized by the choreographers. They are using six alumni choreographers. She chose choreographers near Edwardsville, such as distinguished alumni and co-workers.

“If they were in the area, I knew they would be able to work with the students on a regular basis,” Best-Kinscherff said. “If we brought in choreographers from L.A. or somewhere further away, they would only get to work with the students for a shorter amount of time. We wanted people that were able to come in on a weekly or biweekly basis so the students were able to learn the most from them.”

Best-Kinscherff said as one of the choreographers herself, her work is titled, ‘I Spied Myself,’ a piece she choreographed in 2006 in graduate school.

“It’s a tango-based dance, with movement in the jazz genre,” Best-Kinscherff said. “It’s a very technical dance in terms of the foot work. It’s eight women and it has turned out to be a great challenge for them.”

Best-Kinscherff said restaging a piece is never an easy task; it can become somewhat of a struggle.

“A work is created on a certain group for their capabilities and for whatever the concert is,” Best-Kinscherff said. “Whenever you take that to a different group, they don’t necessarily have the same style or movement qualities. It’s not just teaching them a dance, its really teaching them how to do the movement. None of the girls in the piece had any experience with ballroom dancing and even though it’s not a ballroom dance, it has that tango flare to it; so teaching them to how to hold their hands and carry their body and the different stances has been a really great challenge for them.”

Best-Kinscherff said creating a piece and arranging choreography is a very creative process.

“It starts with a concept that can be based on the music, the movement or an idea that you had for a statement that you want to make,” Best-Kinscherff said. “All choreographers work differently. I particularly start with having some sort of statement — something that’s going on in my life or the world that inspires me to create something. Then I’ll start the movement and keep trying music until I find something that really fits with it. So then it’s working the music in with the movement and making everything fit together.”

Page design by Caitlin Grove/ Alestle

Page design by Caitlin Grove/ Alestle

There will be nine pieces in total, six choreographed by alumni, two by current faculty and one by a student dancer.

For alumna Lynn Bobzin, of Chicago, the rehearsal process was intense since she is in a different location from the dancers.

“We had a very short window of time where I could actually be present in the studio to create the work with the students; we had five rehearsals to create the piece,” Bobzin said. “You have to get a lot done in a short amount of time; what happens is you condense the creative process down to a millisecond of what the time it takes to craft a work would be. It’s high stress, but also very exhilarating.”

Bobzin said her piece is titled “corps. pouvoir. mechanisme,” which translates to “body. power. mechanism.”

“What we were examining was this idea of being invaded or invading; this broke down to issues of power mechanics and dynamics,” Bobzin said. “The whole piece has a mechanical, militant feel to the movement and the music. Things are very sharp; it’s very physically driving. It’s got a steampunk design costume-wise; it had this dark feeling to it, kind of grungy and industrial.”

Bobzin said now teaching choreography professionally, she considers it a privilege to be asked to come back and choreograph for this concert.

“It’s an honor to be now viewed as a professional in this field,” Bobzin said. “That’s sort of eye-opening for me because I feel honored to be thought of in that regard, that the caliber of my work is something they want to exhibit and share with the community.”

Best-Kinscherff said the idea for an alumni-centered theme came from a presentation she saw in the spring. The presentation gave her the idea to contact Alcine Wiltz, the founder of the dance program at SIUE. Once she contacted him, he mentioned the idea of getting in touch with alumni.

Best-Kinscherff said the dance department is comprised of many young dancers, with few upperclassmen.

“It’s been really beneficial from them to learn from the alumni,” Best-Kinscherff said. “Even [to learn] what goes into making a dance piece, as opposed to a dance recital or three minute short works. These are much longer, at least 12 minutes long.”

One of these upperclassmen, however, is student choreographer Sterling Allen. Allen, a junior dance major from Peoria, said while enrolled in a composition class, she had to choreograph a full piece, five minutes or longer. Her piece, titled “Loosely Connected,” was chosen to be featured in this year’s “Dance in Concert.”

“My piece is centered around mental disorders; my dancers are portraying they are in a mental institute,” Allen said. “Everyone has different traits and characteristics that display these disorders. Charles Manson is a big role in my piece; I took a lot of quotes from his interviews when he was talking about how people who live in these jail cells and mental institutes are very loosely connected to the world. It’s really interesting; they really get into the characters and I’m excited to see it on the main stage.”

Allen said it means a great deal to her to be chosen for the role of student choreographer.

“Once I leave college, I would love to persue a career as a professional dancer, but I would also love to expand my work as a choreographer and continue to set pieces,” Allen said.  “All of the staff and faculty have really helped me a lot. I’m excited to continue to grow as a choreographer, to premiere this work on the main stage and continue to grow from this experience.”

This is the third year Best-Kinscherff has been director of this concert, something that comes with her title as head of the dance department. Best-Kinscherff said being not only director, but a choreographer as well has been a challenging role.

“I’m not only looking at the show as a whole, but I also become selfishly involved with my own piece,” Best-Kinscherff said. “It can be a challenge to step back from all of it and look objectively.”

Best-Kinscherff said a reception will be held after Saturday night’s performance to further honor the alumni.

“The whole “Dance in Concert” celebrates the anniversary,” Best-Kinscherff said. “In relation to that, we are having the reception for alumni. Alcine will also be there, in hopes of reconnecting with some of his former students.”

Article/ Layout design by Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

‘Ain’t I a woman?’ Laverne Cox shares journey, rise to fame

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From appearing on the cover of TIME magazine, to becoming the first African-American transgender woman to have a lead role in a mainstream, scripted television series, Laverne Cox has used her fame to bring awareness to this community and make a difference in the lives of others by speaking at conventions and universities, such as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in order to spread her message.

Cox said it is important to her to share her journey with others because people’s strengths lie in their stories.

“I like to allude to Brene Brown’s work,” Cox said. “She said, ‘We either live in the truth of our stories or we stand outside our stories and hustle for worthiness.’ The piece of owning my story is really about self-empowerment; I think that’s how we can connect with other people and how we can feel we are not alone.”

Born Roderick Laverne Cox, she grew up in a household with her single mother and twin brother in Mobile, Ala. Her mother, being a schoolteacher, placed a high level of importance on education.

Cox began her education and journey into the transgender community years later in New York City, when she met Tina Sparkles. Cox met Sparkles at a nightclub called Webster Hall at their weekly Friday night party titled “The Make-up Room.” Sparkles asked to borrow her powder and the two became instant friends.

Cox said if it were not for the women she met at these clubs, including Sparkles, she would not have begun her 16-year medical transition.

“I watched her transform from a statuesque queen into a woman with flawless skin and thought, ‘If Tina can do this, what can I do?’” Cox said.

Cox said she had imagined her transition would go something like Sparkles’ did; within three years she would be able to live a full life as a female. However, more than eight years into her journey, Cox discovered this wasn’t the case.

“It made me feel like a failure, like people weren’t seeing me for the woman that I was,” Cox said. “It took years to realize if people could look at me and tell I was [transgender], that’s a beautiful thing. Being [transgender] is beautiful, something to be celebrated and not ashamed of.”

Cox said many people would confront her, and other transgender women, and instigate fights, pointing out loudly that they are men. Cox said it can become very dangerous and often unsafe for transgender women to leave their homes.

“Calling a transgender woman a man is an act of violence,” Cox said. “This is why I feel that transgenders are some of most courageous people in the world.”

Cox said her mother and brother support her wholeheartedly and that this is a journey that cannot be taken alone; it’s important to have support.

“Finding someone who loves and supports us as our authentic selves is key,” Cox said. “It’s been really painful for me to live my life when I wasn’t being fully true to myself; it’s not worth it to live a lie. Living authentically is the best way to be happy.”

Cox began expression of her desired gender from a young age. By the time she reached third grade, Cox had already experienced a multitude of bullying and harassment due to her gender expression.

Third grade was also the year Cox was placed into therapy to “fix” these gender expression problems. Cox said at one point, the therapist asked what the difference was between girls and boys, and Cox responded by stating there isn’t one.

“Everyone was telling me I was a boy, but I knew I was a girl, so I thought there must not be any difference,” Cox said.

After years of begging, Cox finally convinced her mother to enroll her in dance classes — a hobby that had quickly become a passion. She could watch choreography on television and mimic it perfectly; it was her dream to become a professional dancer. Cox would create characters in her head and bring them to life through dance.

Cox said getting the opportunity to study something she loved was, in a way, a saving grace.

“I believe if we can find something in this world we are passionate about, it can be truly lifesaving,” Cox said.

For college, Cox enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington as a dance major with an academic scholarship. However, soon thereafter, she transferred to Marymount Manhattan College and was finally in New York City.

Cox said, to her, New York City was a place of possibility and self-discovery, with much of her education happening in the nightclub scene. She was surprised to see how her gender expression was celebrated and she could feel fabulous — like a celebrity.

Since making her journey, Cox has collected many awards and impacted many lives with her work. She became the first transgender African-American woman to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s “TRANSForm Me.” She also stars in the Netflix original series “Orange is the New Black.”

“If it weren’t for the success of this show, I wouldn’t be here at this school. I wouldn’t be doing this tour and I wouldn’t have been on the cover of TIME magazine,” Cox said. “The show has changed my life for the better and exposed me to an audience who wouldn’t know me otherwise. It’s pretty awesome; I’m really grateful for the show, the writers, all my directors and the public who has taken so wonderfully to it.”

Cox said being on the cover of TIME was an amazing opportunity and experience.

“I don’t know if I’ve fully processed it because it is a big deal,” Cox said. “Although it’s a personal milestone for me, I think it’s important to remember that [transgender] folks have not overcome [everything]; there are still struggles that [transgender] folks have in this country and me being on the cover of TIME magazine doesn’t erase that.”

Freshman nursing major Jennifer Kohl, of Algonquin, had seen Cox in a documentary regarding transgenders and was inspired by Cox to become a part of the movement to support transgenders.

“I thought it was strange at first how she kept saying, ‘Ain’t I a woman,’” Kohl said. “But then I realized she’s making a statement saying it in a sexy way. She is a woman and she wants to be known as that; that was a really great opening in my mind.”

Campus Activities Board graduate student James McLendon, of Springfield, said CAB wants to support students and provide open and safe areas to do so.

“It’s an effort to make sure we are covering all cultural groups,” McLendon said. “We want to make sure that on our end, as CAB, we are providing all kinds of opportunities for students to be comfortable enough to come out, enjoy something and have someone they might look up to be able to tell their story.”

Cox ended her talk by challenging students to take risks, be vulnerable and have difficult conversations with the ones they love. Cox said she hopes students are able to take a large deal away from her talks and translate it into their everyday lives.

“I like to get people thinking about their own lives existing in multiple spaces of identity,” Cox said. “I hope it encourages them to get to know people who are different from them and to create a safe space to have conversations and be inspired to accept themselves more.”

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

St. Vincent leaves audiences less than blessed

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Bill Murray’s newest film, “St. Vincent,” sets the tone of the film with its first scene featuring a pregnant prostitute, and it didn’t get much better from there.

This movie is about a newly divorced mother Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) and her young son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher), who become neighbors with the grumpy, disgruntled Vincent (Murray). Vincent then finds himself short on cash and makes a deal with Oliver’s mom that he will babysit her son for money in return. What follows with these two are fighting lessons, gambling, bar-hopping and gallivanting with a lady of the night.

This movie was advertised as a comedy, and while there were funny moments, that is all they were — moments. Instead of being a comical movie with touches of sadness here and there, it was more along the lines of a depressing movie with comedic touches sprinkled in. Just when you begin to think the movie was picking up and getting to the hilariously promised parts, something sad would happen and you would be left wondering why.

I spent the entirety of the movie waiting for it to take off and be full of raunchy, comedic gold; however, it never quite got there. The ending was touching, but that was the only notably worthy moment of the movie. Overall, it left much to be desired.

Minus the disappointing plot, the casting was what made this movie worth it. Murray is always entertaining when it comes to his roles and this one was no different. He did a perfect job of embodying the essence of the rude, yet secretly caring, old man. During those few funny moments, Murray was on point and did not fail to bring his A-game. I was very happy to find that even though the movie wasn’t the best, Murray was still his typically hilarious self.

Lieberher, who plays the young boy, was phenomenal as well. He kept up with Murray’s attitude and humor like it was second nature. Seeing him interact so well with such a brilliant actor was an enjoyable sight to see.

McCarthy was also superb, despite not being her usual spotlight-stealing funny lady. Her character in this movie is similar to her role in the show ‘Gilmore Girls,’ so fans of the show will be thrilled to see McCarthy portraying the role of the calm, caring friend.

With a talented cast mixed with a second-rate plot, this movie will leave you with mixed emotions — frustrated it didn’t live up to expectations. Assuming you don’t set your expectations too high, you may have a chance of enjoying this movie.

Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com

‘’The Servant of Two Masters’ expects to bring laughs, excitement to Dunham Hall Theater

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A twist on a classic Italian comedy will storm the stage of Dunham Hall Theater as the Theater and Dance Department opens its 2014-2015 season with a production of one of the earliest scripted comedies, “The Servant of Two Masters.”

Director Chuck Harper said this play comes from a style of performances called comedia — a style which he has a great deal of experience working with.

“It’s based on broad, stock characters and improvised scenarios,” Harper said. “It’s a big goofy comedy that was meant to be performed outside on traveling stages; it’s silly theater for silly people. We are always looking out for our departmental majors; we want to do a wide variety of performances so part of their education is doing different styles and this is one we hadn’t done for awhile.”

Harper said this famous comedy is most known for the table scene.

“‘The Servant of Two Masters’ is about this goofy servant who decided he can make more money and get more food if he becomes a servant to two different people. But he can’t let the other two know about each other, or he’ll wind up getting fired,” Harper said. “The big scheme of this play is when they both end up at the same inn ordering dinner at the same time. It’s a very famous scene. It’s a lot of fun [and] it’s a lot of choreography.”

Senior theater performance major Josh Funneman, of Teutopolis, is playing the role of the servant and describes it as his dream role.

“There is a line in the show that says, ‘He’s either incredibly stupid or really, really smart’ and that best describes my character,” Funneman said. “The entire action of the play is driven because he’s hungry, and he’s trying to get food, and this leads to a whole lot of nonsense.  This has been my dream; I’ve been performing in plays at SIUE since I was a freshman and this is the most ‘Josh Funneman’ role that has ever existed.”

Harper said the play runs 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is long for a comedy. However, it is a fast-paced production.

“If it slows down at all, the audience gets ahead of it and it’s not as funny,” Harper said. “For the actors, they have had to get the lines to the point where they can do them fast. That’s been a real challenge; getting to the point where they feel comfortable enough with their lines so they can improvise, play and feel free to go a little bit crazy.”

Harper said the casting process for this play was easy compared to previous productions.

“A lot of times when you cast a play, you need people who are age appropriate, or certain physical types. With this one, I didn’t care what anybody looked like, I just wanted to know who was the funniest,” Harper said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for students to play certain types of characters they wouldn’t normally get to play. In this one, we’ll just put on a goofy costume and give you some makeup and a wig and you can play anybody — as long as you’re funny.”

Page Design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

Page Design by Caitlin Grove/Alestle

Head of design and technical theater Laura Hanson said the costuming team is building the costumes from scratch for this contemporary take on a historical play.

“I looked at 18th century fashion as part of my research. I also looked at more contemporary clothes that use 18th century detail. I let my imagination run wild,” Hanson said. “It’s interesting to me as the designer that I could really put some of myself and my imagination into it; mix contemporary fabrics and shoes with a little tweak here and there that are 18th century.”

Hanson said when she thinks of the comedia style of productions, the overriding image that came to mind was a diamond pattern.

“That will be my unifying feature here; we want it to be bright and bold,” Hanson said. “Everyone is going to have diamond patterns in their costume; they will be different sizes and colors, but that is the unifying feature for the design. It was really fun to shop for because it was like, ‘Where can I find all of these bright diamond patterned fabrics?’”

Hanson said productions are not all fun and games. There is a lot of work that goes into it as well.

“In addition to doing the research and buying the fabrics, a costumer is also responsible for every pair of shoes, socks, wig and makeup design; that’s all part of the overall look of the character,” Hanson said.

Harper said the set for this play is not huge, as the production was originally written with no set.

“The set can be as big or small as you want,” Harper said. “It’s written into the script that the characters tell where they are; they will say something like, ‘Well here we are at the inn.’ We’ve created a set; it’s not a huge one but hopefully it’s created in the same spirit as the costumes. We made it as an Italian street scene that has this updated feel to it.”

Hanson said the production team wanted everyone involved in the production, including the audience, to enjoy themselves.

“The way we are presenting it is to have fun,” Hanson said. “We aren’t trying to get across any serious message here, it’s pure entertainment. It’s fun, it’s silly and it’s a laugh a minute.”

Funneman said everything about this production gives audiences a reason to enjoy it.

“Do people still like laughing? Because if people still like laughing at stupid humor, there is something in this show for everyone,” Funneman said. “People are going to walk out with a big smile. This is the show, they need to see it and they will be very disappointed if they don’t. And bring your sunglasses;­ the costumes are outrageous and bright.”

Harper said there is only one reason to see this play — to have a good laugh.

“I do all kinds of plays,” Harper said. “Sometimes they are deep and philosophical and ask really big questions. In this play there is no deeper message or call to action, you don’t have to think about anything at all. It exists for one reason only, and that is to make people laugh.”

Article/ Layout design by Caitlin Grove

Via alestlelive.com