Aimee Howarth brings you an interview with The Yorker directors on the final day of the advent articles
Aimee Howarth speaks to YUSU's sabbatical officers about their Christmas Day routine for day 17 of the advent calendar
For the final time this term, Vicky Morris updates you on this weeks film news
50 years after the publication of 'James and the Giant Peach', the works of Roald Dahl continue to celebrate success.
The theme for this year’s event, named ‘Fusion in Motion’, sees the cast and crew take on the guise of different movie genres, with horror, sci-fi, action, western, and musicals scenes to name a few.
Only in its fourth year, Fusion has grown to become campus' biggest event, incorporating the talents of students from a wide range of York University societies.
This year the production will feature fashion designs from a number of York stores, York students, and pieces designed by postgraduates from the University of Huddersfield.
The fundraising efforts will see all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, and the local special needs charity SNAPPY (Special Needs Activity and Play Provision in York), where many of this year’s committee have volunteered.
The Yorker caught up with some of this year's cast and crew during rehearsals.
Michelle Ndbele
Why did you get involved in Fusion?
“I really love dancing. I’m a street teacher for Dance Soc and thought that instead of just teaching and making money for myself, I’d use my skills to help raise money for charity.
“I’m co-choreographing the whole thing, but we do have a few other student choreographers. Last year they did have a professional choreographer come in but this year we decided to do it ourselves.”
What are your thoughts on the bad press surrounding the event?
“There's been a few bad articles about Fusion, they didn’t mention the charity at all. It affects the committee; we were pretty upset about it because we try to focus on the charity aspect.
“We have an audition process as we need to limit the numbers because of health and safety numbers in Central Hall, and to find the confident people on campus who really want to do the show. Charity is really what Fusion’s all about.
Charity is really what Fusion’s all about.
“The reputation is just completely incorrect.”
Who would you like to win the US Presidential Elections?
"I don’t know, probably Clinton. It would be good to have a woman in power in the White House, but it would also be good to have a person of an ethnic origin. Women are in power in the western world, but it is rare to find a person of ethnic origin comes to a prominent position”
Ollie Webb
Why did you get involved in Fusion?
"A lot of my friends encouraged me to get involved and I used to do a lot of dancing before I came to university so I thought why not!
“In first year I didn’t really know what Fusion was, but during second year I found out it make money for charity by selling tickets to a really good show.
"This year there was the opportunity to get involved. It’s an added bonus that we are doing it for charity.”
What is your favourite scene in the show?
“My favourite scene in the show is probably Robots. It involves about ten of us doing a robot dance! Of the ones I’m not involved in, the musical or street scenes are amazing.”
How much of the show have you seen so far?
“Although we’ve been rehearsing since week one, we’ve only seen the Fusion dancing and models. We all rehearse together - but there are things from societies such as the ACS, break-dancing and Dance Soc that we haven’t seen yet.”
Who would you like to win the US Presidential Elections?
“I would like Obama but I think Clinton will win it.”
Becky Milne
Why did you get involved in Fusion?
“Last year I watched the show and thought it looked so fun. All my friends did it and I really regretted not being involved!”
What is your role in the show?
“There’s normally a theme, for instance I’m in the horror scene so I have to act all zombie like! I’m also in 'Power Girls', which I thought would be just strutting around but there’s actually a bit of dancing as well. There’s a lot to learn!
Are you looking forward to the show?
“Im looking forward to the show but I slipped the other day. If I do that in the show it will be unbearable!”
What would you say to people who think Fusion is a clique?
"It's a bit of a mixture. I've got to be honest. There are the cliquey people. Personally I try to avoid those types of people. I stick with my own crowd."
Who would you like to win the US Presidential Elections?
"McCain probably. I don’t really have an explanation though. I'm not really into it!"
Hannah Middleton
What sections of the show are you in?
"I'm in action, western and other sections. Everyone is a bit nervous."
How are you balancing your life with rehearsals?
"It's really hard! We've been rehearsing all day on Sundays for the past month or so and some mid-week, but now it has increased a lot!"
What would you say to people criticise Fusion?
"They have to remember it’s all for charity!
"Auditions aren’t that bad, they’re really friendly. I didn’t know any of the committee before I got involved. It’s not cliquey at all."
Who would you like to win the US Elections?
"Obama. I just think he will win!"
Could you sum up Fusion in three words?
"Sociable. Accessible. Fun!"
Tara Minshull
Why did you get involved in Fusion?
“I’m a dancer, I was a dancer last year and then decided I wanted to be on the committee side of things, to raise the Fusion profile. They were so good last year, it’s so busy doing both but it’s worth it."
What is your role in the show?
"I'm just dancing, it’s very difficult. It's intense now. You’re practising all the time. When you’re walking to your lectures you’re rocking out to Fusion soundtracks! You've got the music in your ears and the moves in your head."
What are your thoughts on the bad comments some people have made of the event?
“I think they need a big hug really! They blatantly haven’t come to see the show. From the outside it’s just a whole bunch of models and dancers, and you don’t see the the sweat, the effort, and the danger of it all.”
What is it like putting your trust in the guys during the lifts?
"It is dangerous. We have practised a lot. There have been heads bumping on wooden floors, cracking noises and bruises. But you trust in your partner and hope it all will be alright!"
Who would you like to win the US Presidential Elections?
"Obama. It think it would be unified if they had a black president. They need something new and fresh."
Could you sum up Fusion in three words?
"Intense, exciting, and...grimey!"
Tickets for Fusion on Friday 29th February and Saturday 1st March are available at www.yusu.org/tickets, or Vanbrugh stalls all week.
“We have an audition process as we need to limit the numbers because of health and safety numbers in central hall, and to find the confident people on campus who really want to do the show. Charity is really what Fusion’s all about.”
Incredible how that Health and Safety process just happens to chose only the really good looking ones, eh?
Someone a bit sore for being rejected? too ugly?
Health and safety dictates that no fatties are allowed on the stage, lest it collapse.
If you'd actually watched Fusion last year you would know that you are all off the money.
comment deleted by a moderator So what you're trying to say Adam is that holding auditions is a bad thing?Don't the sports teams hold trials, don't other societies such as central hall musical soc, drama soc, Gilbert and Sullivan soc, panto soc etc...hold auditions?
You seem to have a problem with fusion because its auditions have lead to an abnormal quantity of 'attractive people' ... so is the reason why you don't have a problem with all of the above auditioning that you don't think their casts/team members attractive? cause thats just insulting!!
Besides this fusion isn't only a fashion show...theres a lot of dance involved and auditions are necessary in order to find people who have dancing ability!
To summarise: Your point makes no sense!!
Fighting talk all.
Think Adams point is that whilst other events have auditions for talent - Fusion has auditions for Models.
FUSION says modeling requires skill
ADAM says modeling requires looks
Probably the truth is somewhere in between
Modelling requires a very shiny head.
I'm a model you know what I mean? And I do my little turn on the catwalk. Yeah, on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah. I do my little turn on the catwalk.
I am in fact barred from entering Milan, New York and Japan on account of my sexiness.
I think there's a misconception of whats actually required. Its classed as modelling but there's more to it than that, Come watch it and you'll see..
More so, theres more society members from gorups like dancesport, gymnastics, ents tech, YUSU etc involved than people who had to audition to get in and even then there's more dancers who had to auditon than models, so there's plenty of scope to get involved if ya want to. U Just have to focus on what your good at , same with any group/team/Society/event as mentioned earlier. A rugby team doesnt consist of just wingers, it'd be crap if it did. To focus on modelling alone is to focus on a small group of individuals...
Any ways come watch on Friday or Saturday and make your opinons then,
keep it cool
ps: Mitch, you could always model in London. no?
I feel you may have missed the point slightly, Tim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipZDG6__Zfc
comment deleted by the author Maybe so...
was just generally replying to the whole wall but yeah... get your tickets come watch, get involved...
keep it cool
I wish people would stop bitching about Fusion. The nature of any fashion show is that people on stage look good - but anyone thats been dolled up or given a sharp suit to wear isn't gonna look half bad! Also, the modelling audition process doesn't cast off people who are 'arent pretty enough', it looks for people who can walk to a beat. Yeah it's cliquey but to be fair a lot of societies are [this may be down to only handful of people], and a portion of this percieved 'cliqueyness' is probably a by-product of the fact that some people feel insecure in their own head.
I say just chill out and appreciate all the effort that has gone in to raising money for good causes!
well said ... come watch help a good cause, we have a target to reach and it woul be fab if you could all help us reach it
To be honest, Fusion is a fashion show as well as a dance show. Models should obviously be auditioned for their looks... they are models! they're there to make the clothes look good! I think its ridiculous to slate fusion for auditioning people! they need talented ones otherwise no-one would go and see it!
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