From left to right: Lawrence Fields, piano; Luques Curtis, bass; Logan Richardson, saxophone; Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, trumpet; Weedie Braimah, percussion; Corey Fonville, drums. (Ethan Bakuli/Rebirth Project)
By Ethan Bakuli
This Valentine’s day, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center was welcome to a special performance by New Orleans trumpeter and composer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and his quintet.
Performing in the Bowker Auditorium, Adjuah’s Feb. 14 concert came at the end of a week-long tour across the Pioneer Valley through the Billy Taylor Endowment for Jazz Residencies, teaching and working with local high school and Five College students in masterclass workshops and one-on-one student critiques.
An audience member is invited to spare with an Amherst College Kendo practitioner. (Ethan Bakuli/Rebirth Project)
On Friday, Feb. 8, The University of Massachusetts Korean Student Association hosted its second annual “Streets of Seoul” performances in the Campus Center Auditorium.
Close to around 300 students from across the Five Colleges were in attendance, filling up the auditorium wall to wall. As the night went on, Korean pop blared from the speakers as friends grouped around roundtables adorned with miniature trees with white Christmas lights.
Audience members and performers had the chance to grub on an assortment of Korean street food, ranging from Kimchi fried rice and spicy rice cakes to chicken wings and pork fried dumplings.
Performers included dance routines by the UMass and Smith Korean Dance Clubs, a sparing match between Amherst College Kendo members, a rap performance by trio Kimchi Gang, and a diabolo (Chinese yoyo) performance by the UMass TASC Force.
University of Massachusetts Amherst women’s basketball team faced off against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 26. The UMass Minutewomen started off to a great start, making layups, retrieving rebounds, and playing solid defense. Despite the St. Bonaventure Bonnies making great runs, the Minutewomen fought to either keep their lead or to stay within single-digits of the Bonnies.
In the fourth quarter, the game’s dynamic shifted when the Bonnies made crucial plays to make it on top. The game ended with a one-point deficit—64 to 63 Bonnies—leaving the Minutewomen with an upsetting loss. Turnovers, missed easy layups, and several fouls got the best of the Minutewomen.
Number 21 Jessica Nelson attempts to go for a layup as the Bonnies try to stop them.(Cynthia Ntinunu/UMass Amherst)
Reflect/Respond: A Limón Dance Legacy Concert, which fused dance and spoken word, was held in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on Friday, Jan. 25.
The event captivated audience members with the dancers’ leaps, turns, and intricate dance moves. Not only did the dancing impact the viewers but a powerful message on love being love no matter who it is, took over the latter half of the performance.
The Center of Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS) held a “Cultural Connections” event on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2018 in the Campus Center Auditorium. This was the second time Cultural Connections is happening; the first event was held at the beginning of the semester.
Vice President of the Student Government Association, Natalie Amazan, reads a poem that they wrote.
The UMass Irish Dance team performs Irish step dance.
A few students jam out to music.
Attendees gather in line to get food which included items like Peruvian rice, sushi, pizza, samosas, and more.
Students sitting at a table talk amongst each other.
A couple of students engage in conversation.
The Students of Caribbean Ancestry(SOCA) perform a dance routine.
A couple of students from Shaha: The Storytellers perform a skit that includes themes about racism.
All photos credits go to Sifa Kasongo and Cynthia Ntinunu
Cultural Connections is a time for students, faculty, and staff to come together and get to know each other better. It’s a time and space where people can truly be themselves while enjoying various performances, conversations, and of course good food.
Performances included poetry reading by Student Government Association vice president Nathalie Amazan, dancing by Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA), a performance by Shaha: The Storytellers, and Irish step dancing by newly founded UMass Irish Dance.
The room was filled with friendship, laughter, and a mini dance battle between one student and faculty member. But most importantly, it was a welcoming space for all to come and leave their worries at the door.
