 "Photo: veronica wilson")
Spunky children scampering onstage are usually a sign of the start of a horrific elementary school concert. However, these students from Franklin Magnet School of the Arts were just doing their part to raise funding for their educations as part of Friday night's "My Big Fat Charity Showcase."
The Goldstein Auditorium show benefited both Franklin Magnet School of the Arts and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Central New York, which works to find a cure for the disease of the lungs and pancreas.
Orange Pulse dance organization sponsored the showcase and performed second with a jazz and tap piece to "My Love is Like ... Woah" by Mya. Wearing black or red striped pants illuminated by similar lighting, the dancers moved seductively across the stage. In the middle of the act, the mood shifted and broke into an a cappella tap piece with about one third of the dancers. Though the dance was well executed and nicely choreographed, the tap part seemed to break the momentum of the song. As the music continued with the other dancers and they each struck a pose, the number was met with rousing applause.
The Mandarins, an all female a cappella group, followed Orange Pulse with "Accidentally in Love" by the Counting Crows. Their act was overflowing with energy, including slightly corny but cute dance moves which accompanied the harmonized lyrics.
Next, came T.A.P., with an innovative dance consisting of choreography to "Rock Your Body" by Stagga Lee. In an attempt to jazz up the tap piece the group combined traditional tap technique with soulful gyrations and vibrant motions. The primarily tap piece combined tap technique with hip-hop moves to match the upbeat song, and all nine performers had high energy and excellent footwork. Though the group has only been in existence for two years, the act showed experience beyond its true age.
Lauren Lamensdorf, a junior accounting and music industry major, took the stage with an originally composed song, "Always on my Mind." Though she played the piano beautifully, her voice was somewhat shaky, perhaps due to nervousness.
Any lasting impressions Lamesndorf's performance may have had were subverted by the powerful and soulful performance of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble. Wearing striking black and red choir robes, the gospel Mass choir sang with incredible volume, bringing a sense of spirituality to the auditorium.
Though a hard act to follow, three dancers from Danceworks rose to the challenge. The dance trio performed a tap piece to "Mess Around" by Ray Charles. Despite its brevity, the piece was well choreographed and executed.
Closing the first act, Student Association president Travis Mason entered the stage alone to sit at the piano. His fingers flew over the keys, introducing his tender yet powerful voice in an original composition. His voice was chilling, and his technical skills were impressive.
After a brief intermission, Orange Pulse took to the stage again with a lyrical piece to "Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette. There was a sense of tension in the rhythm and movements of the dancers, well consistent with the slow paced music. Although a few errant un-pointed toes were noticed, the overall control and the presentation was commendable.
The Cabaret Performance Troupe, represented by a singer and accompanist, came next with the vocalist garbed in a red feather boa who sang "When You're Good to Mama" from the recent rendition of the musical "Chicago." The addition of the red boa served as a distraction, due to her constant twirling of the accessory, which detracted even more from the act. In the film, Queen Latifah was confident, strong and sexy in her presentation, but this singer failed to recreate the full sense of the song. This may have been due to her lack of confidence rather than any vocal malady.
ECHO, a music ministry group which frequently performs at the Alibrandi Catholic Center, sang "In the First Light" a cappella. The group had nine singers total and featured two soloists. Though the song was pretty, the singing itself was nothing exceptional. Even still, Goldstein Auditorium was once again graced with a spiritual atmosphere due to ECHO's harmonics.
Rachel Maurer, a senior education major, performed a song of her own composition. Her strong voice and piano playing allowed her to perform with emotion, depth and accuracy. She was the best of the singer/songwriters, but her song did drag on slightly.
Virtuous Expressions danced to "Welcome to Our World" with long flowing white skirts that twirled with the dancer's movements. Their slower piece was refreshing as four dancers moved gracefully across the stage.
The last act was the male counterpart to The Mandarins, Orange Appeal. They performed "Walk Away Renee'" by The Left Banke and "Drive" by Incubus. Much like The Mandarins, the men sang with energy. The soloist had a strong resonating voice that blended well with the background voices. Overall, they had an awesome performance.
The showcase succeeded in its goal of wholesome entertainment highlighted with spectacular tap demonstrations, excellent ambiance, and vibrant vocals. A particular note of interest came in the form of the fresh up-and-coming talent Syracuse University fosters. The original songwriter's compositions were complex and melodious which were reflected in their skillful delivery.
A key aspect to the success of the showcase was the diversity each of the acts offered. Heather Olsen, a senior chemistry major, was amazed by Maurer's performance in particular.
"It's great to come out and support charities," Olsen said.
Jennifer Katzoff, a junior pre-law student, said she enjoyed the tap dancing acts and thought the whole show was well put together.
Orange Pulse should be praised in their attempt to raise money for noble causes, as well as provide artsy entertainment for the community.
"We try to give back as much as we can," said Stephanie Isabel, a senior communications and rhetorical studies major, and founder and president of Orange Pulse.
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