About The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2010)
8 I Wednesday, December 8, 2010 | The Red & Black | Finals Edition VARIETY Women of all ages join to shake their bellies By PATRICK HOOPER The Red & Black Finals week is a time for cramming, obsessing and baring your midriff. But don’t fret for the ladies taking the stage tonight at the 40 Watt. They’re trained for this. “Rak” the 40 Watt gives danc ers a chance to strut their stuff after a long semester of belly- busting labor, perfecting the art of the belly dance. Fortunately, it’s a labor of love. “It’s a lot of fun,” said alumna Megan Conley. “You get a lot of cool skills, meet a lot of cool people. All your friends hear about you belly dancing, and then they get to see it.” Conley said the classes had a lot of additional benefits, includ ing being able to wear her belly dancer costumer on Halloween after the Halloween show and incorporating the style into her dancing when she’s out on the town. The instructors of the belly dancing classes, which are held in the Ramsey Student Center, also teach their pupils the cul tural and global side of the art. Sophomore Lauren Robinson, a child and family development major from Ball Ground, said the instructors educate the stu dents in different styles of the dance from all around the world. The classes even delve into the cultural differences between the styles, such as dancers from one country being frowned upon by citizens in another country for being too risque. “My roommate and I do it together,” Robinson said. “It’s a nice thing to de-stress with.” In keeping with the tone that mixes excitement and educa tion, co-instructor Jean Bennett said the “Rak” in the event’s title is a play on words. The Oriental style that most people associate with the phrase “belly dance” is called “raks sharki” in Egypt, according to Bennett. 40 Watt talent buyer Velena Vego said the event is an all-ages show, which nicely reflects the people on stage, accounting for any number of ages and styles. “My first troupe had a 15-year-old and a 57-year-old,” Bennett said. This crop of dancers is simi larly varied, running the gamut in age and experience. Bennett said some of the girls have been ‘RAK’ THE 40 WATT BELLYDANCE When: 7 tonight Where: 40 Watt Cost: $5 in advance, $8 for 21+, $10 for under 21 dancing for six or seven years, while others have only a few months of experience under their non-existent belts. Thankfully, the program takes the disparities into account. Conley said her class was bro ken up into four or fives groups of 15 to 16 people, with each group performing different acts together based on experience level and how confident dancers are with a set. “They create their own danc es with just a little bit of input from me,” Bennett said. “If peo ple come, they may not see what they’re expecting.” She said spectators can expect to see a certain amount of the Oriental tradition, but it will be tempered by a fusion of old and new, with some of the girls taking the stage to tracks from the B-52s and the Modern Skirts. “Sometimes, people will do it to hard rock, which is pretty funny,” Robinson said. She said some of her peers will also be dancing to Moulin Rouge and Lady Gaga. A few brave souls will even take the plunge by putting on an improvised piece. However, Conley said break ing past barriers is part of what made the class so much fun. “It’s a boost to self-confi dence because everyone looks beautiful doing it,” she said. “People started showing their bellies. It was okay.” The thrill of the dance is enough that Robinson said she isn’t worried about having a final the day after the event. So infectious is the charm that Robinson said she inspired one of her sorority sisters to take the classes. Conley said even though some girls take to the style more quickly than others due to things like natural rhythm and strong abdominal muscles, it’s really a dance anyone can pick up. “If you don’t try it, you’ll never know if you like it,” she said. Fouitlo Ri BOWL EDITION rever The only prediction that actually matters. Kind of. Variety Editor’s Take Central Florida If you to take anything from this season of Fourth & Forever, let it be this — behind that smug, arrogant, skim milk smile of Zach Dillard is a panty-wearing sore loser who will just as easily let the water works flow as he will stomp his foot with a quivering lip if things don’t go his way. After I won the coin toss, cementing my right to repre sent the lackluster Bulldogs in the Liberty Bowl, I immediate ly offered Dillard the chance to make it a “Mascot Mashup” — which evens up the odds. Dillard said no, of course, even though the team was obviously inferior to the Bulldogs. “It’s just a game,” he said. What ensued, like every other week we played, was an hour of moaning, whimpering and shouting when things didn’t go Dillard’s way. Shrouded over his temper tantrums was an annoying dose of hypocrisy that would sporadically flair up, until things went his way. I stopped his drive, forcing a punt — “**** ***** I hate this **** team ***** every time I I tackle him in the red zone, forcing a fumble — “You just **** **** **** j **** it ” The flipside? Dillard punts it to my player, who immediately drops it, therefore turning the ball back over. My response? Nothing. IT’S A GAME — remember, Dillard? This little back and forth between us progressed the entire length of the game, just like it has the entire season. I’ll be the first to admit that Dillard is better than I am at the game — I’m 4-9. He came back and won. Nothing to write home about. But for dear, sweet Dillard, there’s nothing to be gained in actually enjoying our mid-day virtual battles. It’s more about preserving that dwindling pride he has in himself. After tonight, the guy is job less. Nick Parker is taking over the reins as sports editor, while I’ll be back in the spring. Who’s the loser now, Dillard? NCAA Football 11 Central Florida 35, Georgia 31 ◄ Joe Williams (4-9) Zach ► Dillard (9-4) STATS University of Georgia Passing Yards: 311 Rushing Yards: 76 Total Offense: 387 Turnovers: 4 Passing touchdowns: 4 Rushing touchdowns: 0 3rd Down Conversions: 4-5 University of Central Florida Passing Yards: 226 Rushing Yards: 195 Total Offense: 421 Turnovers: 1 Passing touchdowns: 2 Rushing touchdowns: 3 3rd Down Conversions: 8-11 Players of the Game UGA: Aaron Murray, torching the Knights for 311 yards and three touchdowns UCF: Ronnie Weaver, running for 195 yards and two scores Editor’s note: It is war between sports and variety. The rules are simple: each week we will flip a coin to designate who will repre sent our beautiful university in NCAA 2011. Seven-minute quarters and updates roster changes will set the table for our epic full-season battle. Though it may seem the two editors are disguising their friendship with a false bravado of hatred — they are not. It is all true. Stay tuned each Friday for the latest installment of the virtual bloodbath between the hedges. Sports Editor’s Take Georgia Ending the year on a posi tive note is essential for any top program, and that was the goal entering the Bowl Edition of Fourth & Forever. It has been a successful year to date, and for the sports department to garner a win over the variety department was essential to going into the winter break on a high note. What better way to spread holi day cheer than to decimate Joe Williams’s hopes to salvage a disappointing season? And it happened in the most heartbreaking of fashions this time around — almost to the point where you felt bad for the variety editor. He had his favorite Bulldog team. He held the lead the entire game. He had my Central Knights frustrated and floundering, trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter and facing a seemingly insur mountable lead. Then, Joe got in the Christmas spirit. It would have taken only a few first downs on the ground to win the game, but greed got in the way. By greed, I mean a Central Florida defensive back jumping in for an unlikely interception. By continuing to throw the ball with the game more than in hand, the variety editor made his final fatal mistake of the season. The interception opened the door — and a quick strike with 14 seconds remain ing on the game clock closed it. The most competitive edi tion of Fourth & Forever, a nail- biter of the highest degree, ended in a similar fashion. Joseph Williams now has much to consider this holiday season — many questions in need of answers. Will anyone still give me gifts following this tragic end of the season? Do I deserve any? Is Santa Claus real? Am I on his list of the little kids who actually have a chance at find ing presents under the tree? As I look over to Williams in the next cubicle, it is obvious the questions are already both ering him. So don’t tell him Santa is not real yet — I don’t think he could handle it at this time in his career. Get the most Visit www.ugabookstore.com for buyback hours and locations. If you rented your books from the FTX Bookstore you can check them in at the UGA Bookstore 17 8 5 University of Georgia Bookstore Next to Tate Center • 706-542-3171 www.ugabookstore.com “ITS WHERE DAW'GS SHOP" CHECK IN By: December 15 We helped University of Georgia students save more than $205,000 this fall through Rent-A-Text! 95/332W8B10
