Local band blends east and west to get people dancing and talking
By Nikita Mandhani FunkaDesi is a Chicago-based band that represents diverse ethnic communities through its members, music and fan base. The band is a six-time winner of the Chicago Music Awards and combines Indian music with western trends. [vimeo 162015929 w=474] A FunkaDesi performance uses music to enhance deeper conversations about unity and diversity. (Nikita […]
Chicago dancer and musician discovers her heritage one step at a time
By Elyse Samuels Lorena Iniguez started her artistic career in dance, carrying on her father’s love for Mexican folk dance. Iniguez now plays more than ten instruments and performs with the Grammy-nominated Mexican folk group, Sones de Mexico Ensemble. [vimeo 162582604 w=474]
Becoming Velicity: A journey into drag
By Kat Lonsdorf Matt Kyle moved to Chicago from South Dakota about a decade ago. Six years earlier he started performing in drag. “I was drawn to all the glam, the rhinestones, the sequins, the glitter,” said Kyle as he sat in a dressing room in the basement of Hamburger Mary’s in Andersonville, one of his regular […]
Obama talks bipartisanship and empathy as he presses case for Supreme Court nominee
Text by Anna Boisseau and Enrica Nicoli Aldini Photo and video by Brendan Hickey Barack Obama’s homecoming at the University of Chicago on April 7, where he taught for 11 years, was more than just a return to his roots in constitutional law. The president’s remarks echoed early campaign promises to bring together both sides […]
