Flash: An intercultural conversation between Butoh and Hip-Hop
By Vishakha Darbha Interdisciplinary artist Michael Sakamoto is one half of Flash, a Butoh/Hip-Hop duet performed with street-dance choreographer Rennie Harris. The show, which played at Columbia College Dance Theatre earlier this month, examines the body as a state of crisis. But for Sakamoto and Harris, Flash is also a public conversation between Butoh and Hip-Hop, and between their […]
More than a sport, Windy City Rollers is “a place to call home”
By Raquel Zaldivar [vimeo 161994061 w=474] For members of Chicago’s Windy City Rollers—an all-female roller derby team formed in 2005—there’s more to the sport than skating and blocking on the flat track. The more than two-dozen women athletes on the squad also find a place to call home. One skater named Shake n Bake (team members prefer to be called by their […]
Many tears, no budget: House Democrats push $15 wage floor for social workers
By Harvard Zhang Springfield, Ill. — A number of bills proposed by Democratic representatives to boost social workers’ benefits including a $15 minimum hourly wage will face full House scrutiny after clearing a key committee Wednesday, despite the already deeply-cut funding for state social services. The majority Democratic lawmakers, holding 11 seats out of 20 on […]
Need a job? UIC senior turns rejection into a startup
By Hannah Gebresilassie Rejection was the inspiration behind a new startup. After getting turned down by over 50 employers, Thomas Ma had enough and created Career Podium. Career Podium is an interactive platform designed to help students successfully land internships and jobs. Ma, 22, is a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago set to […]
Lack of state budget devastates cash-strapped school districts: Superintendent Smith
By Harvard Zhang Springfield, Ill. — Illinois School Superintendent Tony Smith warned legislators that, without a K-12 budget by July 1, 187 school districts will have less than 100 days of cash on hand. Testifying Tuesday before the House appropriations committee, Smith underlined the looming cash crunch facing Illinois school districts, adding that they’re also having to evaluate […]
Blackhawks Fans Ready for Another Championship
By EmmaKate Austin The NHL regular season is in the books and the Chicago Blackhawks are back in the postseason yet again, ready to defend their title. The team is looking for their fourth championship in seven seasons. Chicago fans are confident the team can keep the Stanley Cup in their city for another year. [vimeo […]
Rep. Mike Quigley calls for Wrigleyville street closures
By Caroline Kenny Due to national security concerns worldwide, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) is proposing the City of Chicago close Clark and Addison streets during all Chicago Cubs games this baseball season. Quigley, who sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, brought up the concept when discussing the Paris and Brussels terror attacks […]
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 […]