I it f 9 By Cliff Hicks and Emily Wray Surreal book incorporates sci-fi, religion It’s snowing—blech. Snow’s OK, but the wind bugs us. That and the ice. This is the perfect time to go read a bode — anything but endure this weather. This Week, the bode was of my choosing. The name of the book is “Cyber Way” by Alan Dean Foster. It is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating books ever. Emily suggests not reading it before bedtimfcjlt gave her weird dreams. , X'"-" And this is a change? OK, so it can be a bit—surreal. The bode is set in the not-too-dis tant future, where technology has advanced somewhat, but life hasn’t changed all that much. lilC piUl tuutvuia a muiuva, a mystery and a sandpainting. This sandpainting is a lot more than it seems, though If you aren’t familiar with the Navajo art of sandpainting, you will get a full lesson with this bode. It involves applying different kinds of sand in many layers to form a co herent image. Emily said she liked murder mysteries and religions, but even this bode was pretty far-fetched. Mmm. Maybe that’s why it’s science-fiction. I didn’t find it all that far-fetched at all, but maybe I’ve just been rendered immune to sci-fi after years of reading it. “Cyber Way” does deal with re ligion (spectrally Navajo religion) in some points and waxes on human 'l existence as well as the understand ing of concepts that are far above our heads. The sandpainting, without giv ing too much away, is like an alien version of the World Wide Web— fully interactive, and more so. So when you read this dook, you’ll be able to draw parallels from where we are to where we might be going. It’s'not as far-fetched as it may seem, ifyou think about it. OK, to get off philosophy Foster’s strength, like many of my favorite authots, is developing char acters. The lead, Moody, is an over weight Tampa cop from Louisiana. The murder of an art collector 7 takes him from Tfcmpa to the South west, where what seemed like a simple homicide gets a lot more complex very quickly. In the Southwest he gets a part* ner, a man named Paul Oidjee, who works for die Navajo Department of Public Safety. Ooljee teaches Moody about a woridfar older than the one he is accustomed to. The mystery thickens and then it delves into science and religion even further. Oh yeah, stuff blows up, too. And it’s an OK book, Emily adds, as long as you don’t read it before bedtime. Hicks is a sophomore iews editorial and English major. Wray is a junior news-editorial major. They are both Daily Ne braskan staff reporters and avid booktovets. j By Liza Holtmeier Staff Reporter A varied range of modem dance styles and emotions will be performed during “Fast Track”, an original con cert presented by the UNL Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. J The evening will consist of five pieces which will feature choreography by UNL dance faculty and guest artist Gail Chodera, with performances by the UNL dancers. - ' The new director of the UNL dance program, assistant professor of theatre arts and dance Chaffotte Adams, will present “I Need You * This piece, originally set by her former dance com* pany, the Arizona-based 10th Street Dance Works, provides a humorous, though somewhat dark, lode at obses sive love. The music in the piece ranges from James Brown to Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas.” Adams will also premiere her new est work, “Fast Track”. This piece, set to rode ‘n’ roH music, revolves around the sensory overload that many expe rience in today’s modem society. Adams said she especially enjoyed. “Fast TVack” because of the role the dancers played in the creative process. *6 ~ I always like going Beckt DtttJv^ senior dance m^jor — ^ ^ ■ ■ ■ ■ s';' ■ * vB$ i i i I II I. i '.; I ■■h . I 1r% i ..■■Ml *1 fi ‘liT ,fc. ■ I “As we went along, they would cre ate moves, and I would shape and mold and form themfor the piece,” she said. According to the dancers, the rock ‘n’ roll music lends a very driving, ath letic and exhausting energy to the piece. “It ’s the hardest piece in the show,” senior dance major James Farren said. He said the choreography allowed the dancers to experience die emotions felt by those overwhelmed in society “By the end...I’m almost in tears,” he said. “It’s a very painfUl piece.” Senior dance major KrisaKamrath said adapting to Adams’ choreographic had her for their technique classes. * “I especially like her style,” Kamrath said. “She incorporates a lot of gymnastic and acrobatic movement into her choreography.” -------TT-----•* of the dancers had waked with her before. Many said the transition to her style was Very smooth. “Her movement conies very easy to Robidoux said “I don't feel ^struggle. (The movement) is very soft and lyri cal, and I am able to use my ballet tech nique and training ” T- ■ Guest artist Chodera's piece “From the Wastelands'* revolves around six female dancers and is based on the tales of. Native Americans from the Vancouver Islands. Adams said the dancers had to work hard to grasp Chodera’s technique and the nuances other choreography in the •* short time frame. “There was some really hard move ment,” Kamrath said. “There wasn’t anythingjMfflliar tome.” ted from the experience. “I always like gang to new styles. You expand your horizons in your body and in your mind,” sad senior dance major BeckyJ>mm. Farren and Robidoux will perform a contemporary balletic duet, choreo graphed by professor Lisa Fusillo. Farren stressed the differences in the choreographic styles of Fusillo and, Adams. “Dr. Fusillo, coming from a very balletic background and being a pro fessional ballet dancer, her piece is very lyrical,” Farren said. “Ghariotte’s choreography is a lot more organic... a lot more^roynded.” Because the evening’s pieces con sist mainly of modem dance, many of the new dancers had to make a transi tion, Adams said that when most danc ers come to UNL, their previous train ing consists mainly of ballet and jazz. For many, the university program is their first introduction to modern dance, she said. Please see DANCE on 13 By Bret Schulte Staff Reporter -•* -f Although he can no longer lay claim to “Millions,” Harry Dingman is still working toward making it big. The former guitarist for die Lin coln-based band The Millions, Dingman recendy started a new band to replace the now-defunct group — Starla the Nudie Dancer. Dingman teamed up with old friend Emily Madison (The Millions’ bass ist), who knew a friend from a class, Shaun Sparks. Sparks was the vocalist for the now-defunct band Gravy Train. Dingman then went on to recruit his guitar student, Kelly Derscheid, as their drummer. :f/\ ■ “She was a real good guitarist when I first met her,” said Dingman. “Then it turned out that &e could drum, too. So that worked out real nice.” v | Things quickly got underway for the new foursome, their sound evolv> ing from the eclectic and high-stringed sounds of The Millions to a harsher and edgier feel which Dingman likens to a mix of Tool, Joy Division, and The Replacements. Despite these compari sons, Dingman said the band is tough to pinpoint on the plane of musical geography. _ Please see NUDIE on 13 ‘7 ^ V*/ '• ' *• - • •' “ -../"VI . • - .