Northrop's Music on the Plaza 2019 concert series kicks off Wed, Jun 12 and is featured as one of the University of Minnesota’s new #GopherSummer roundup of campus events this summer. The first band to perform as part of Northrop’s series is Funktion Junction. We asked the band to describe themselves and their mission. Catch them live noon-1 pm or watch for our Facebook Live recording of the concert. 

The band explains: “The smooth and energetic dance band Funktion Junction is the brainchild of vocalist Gary Hodges. With the addition of good friend and fellow vocalist “Big Mike” Mothershed, they doubled their efforts to create what is now one of the most dynamic and entertaining show bands in the Midwest. Funktion Junction come complete with tight vocals, choreography, wardrobe, and commentary that has set them apart. 

The band’s mission is to pay homage to those legends that have gone before them by presenting a musical showcase that is a tribute to great R&B music.

With the advent of the internet, which helped with musician networking, meeting demanding standards and adding a 5-piece rhythm section, their mission objective was met. 

The result is an ensemble of some of the best both formally trained and experienced musicians the Twin Cities has to offer. They love and are blessed to have the ability to make the magic music of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s materialize like few can. From Stevie Wonder and the Temptations, to Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross, these musicians, with diverse backgrounds, have successfully fused their professional experience into an audio and visual experience that will transport you back to purchasing your favorite 45 RPM vinyl records and 8-track cassettes. Funktion Junction have played all over the Midwest and have been met with rave reviews. If you were a fan of American Bandstand, The Midnight Special and Soul Train, this band is the band for you.” 

David Roussève's movies are meditations on personal and interpersonal truths

Welcome to Reel Motion, a series of blog posts that examine the Northrop Film Series selections. Find out more about the screening of Bittersweet and Two Seconds After Laughter on Wed, Apr 10 at 6:30 pm ahead of David Roussève/REALITY's performance at Northrop on Sat, Apr 13.

Drawing on his childhood growing up surrounded by strong women, David Roussève weaves the echoes of his childhood observations about those women into an inspired fictional narrative of Bittersweet. Bittersweet was Roussève's first solo foray into directing for film. His use of close-ups is both experimental and at the same time, expertly deployed. Hauntingly scored by Nina Simone, Bittersweet is 15 minutes of poetically feeling the mysterious internal moments in the lives of three women of color in 1940s America. In this, Roussève creates a joyous and tragic intersection of dance, gesture, and dialogue on the human condition.

And although Roussève maintains his second work for film, Two Seconds After Laughter, is not a documentary, it has been programmed in that category in some of the 45 film festivals in 11 countries where it has been screened. A dreamlike quality pervades the film in which choreographer Sri Susilowati’s reflects on her life after she returns to her family home in Java after 20 years of living in America. Using a visual and choreographic vocabulary that blends traditional Indonesian dance with western post-modern gestures, these elements influence the cinematographic language of the film.

For this final entry in the 2018-19 Dance Film Series we will have David Roussève himself at the screenings Wed, Apr 10 to discuss the films. This is the first time the Dance Film Series will feature the director (and choreographer as well), and I hope you'll come see these two jewels of dance on film.

Shayna Houp is Northrop's Artist Services Manager and curates the Film Series each season.