Inside Iowa State

February 25, 2005

Contemporary dance

Ailey II, the critically acclaimed junior company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Manhattan, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Stephens. Ailey II serves as a bridge between The Ailey School and professional careers for exceptionally talented students who have completed advanced training. Ailey II's dance program will include the audience favorite "Revelations," an Alvin Ailey piece based on the rhythms of spirituals Ailey heard as a young man in Texas churches. Pictured is Ailey II member Yusha-Marie Sorzano.

2004-2005 National Tour is sponsored by MetLife Foundation.

SUB celebrates Women's History Month

The Student Union Board will celebrate Women's History Month with the showing of the film Moolaade at 8 p.m. March 3 and 4 in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room.

The film tells a complex tale of societal discord: a clash of young and old, male and female, modern and tradition, and African and Western civilizations.

In a small Sengalese village, six young girls run away from the traditional Islamic "purification" genital mutilation, a ritual that may result in various afflictions or death.

Four of the girls make their way to the home of Mother CollC), the second wife of a village elder who has protected her own daughter from the knife. A simple rope stretched across her doorway gives these girls the sacrosanct shelter known as "Moolaad")."

The 2004 film is in French with English subtitles.

Both the movie and the popcorn are free.

Group combines Zulu/gospel music

The Grammy Award-winning a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at Stephens Auditorium at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.

The African group was founded more than 30 years ago to bring the "gospel of loving one another all over the world."

The group, which combines the musical traditions of Zulu music with gospel music, found fame with an appearance on Paul Simon's Graceland album.

General admission tickets are $24 and $28.

Top picks

Sweepstakes

Finals for the student talent show, Varieties, are this weekend. You'll see the top skits, vignettes and emcee team from three earlier nights of competition. Tickets are $8 at the Memorial Union front desk.

• Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
• Feb. 26, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
• MU Great Hall

Last shot

Haven't seen the Cyclone basketball squads yet this year? Final home games of the season are next week at Hilton. The women host Kansas and the men play Missouri.

• March 1, 7 p.m. (women)
• March 2, 7 p.m. (men)

Poverty simulation

Faculty and staff may participate in a three-hour welfare simulation led by ISU Extension staff for several ISU sociology classes. In four 15-minute "weeks," participants try to meet basic needs as low-income families. Register by Feb. 28. For more information, see http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cyfar/sim/socsp05.

• March 2 or 10, 6-9 p.m., 117 MacKay

Sylvia Waters, artistic director, Ailey II company member Yusha-Marie Sorzano (shown), photo by Roy Volkmann,
Ailey II's.