ArtsEtc.

Ra Fury to host lovers’ day show

While some couples may be staring lovingly at each other over a candlelit dinner this Valentine’s Day, sharing that last noodle “Lady and the Tramp”-style, others will be sitting in the mood lighting of Memorial Union Theater, wishing the armrests could be moved to the upright position. After all, a performance hosted by Ra Fury must be romantic… right?

But more than romance, this is about talent. Thursday, the WUD Student Performance Committee will put on a free event showcasing a variety of student groups, providing an outlet for some of the many student performers on campus. The groups chosen to perform at this event exemplify the diverse talents and interests of our student body.

The showcase will feature Redefined, Fundamentally Sound, Lucido Felice Quartet, Dance Elite, UW Bellydancing, Omulu Capoeira Guanabara, the Understudies Improv ComedyTroupe and First Wave Spoken Word.

Melodious harmonies, energetic performances and a little bit of humor are to be expected from a cappella groups Redefined and Fundamentally Sound. With a combined repertoire including songs by One Republic, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds and Michael Jackson, both groups take four-part harmony and modernize it, appealing to college audiences. An instrumental counterpart, Lucido Felice Quartet, puts a unique twist on video game soundtracks, television theme songs and popular music by performing arrangements for chamber ensemble .

Representing art in the form of dance are Dance Elite, UW Bellydancing and Omulu Capoeira Guanabara. The competitive dance group Dance Elite brings its mastery of jazz dance to the showcase. UW Bellydancing provides instruction for beginning dancers as well as performance outlets for dancers in intermediate and advanced levels. Omulu Capoeira performs a unique form of martial arts, combining dance with music, acrobatics and martial arts to create this collective art form native to Brazil.

The Understudies Improv Comedy Troupe and First Wave Spoken Word will close out the show. Entertaining through improvisational comedy, the Understudies use their humor and ability to think on their feet to provide a comedy act, while spoken word artists from First Wave will center on hip-hop culture.

 

The Student Performance Showcase will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Theater.