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Day: 21 April 2016

Victoria Wood: The “humble genius”

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

2016 has already taken its handful of greats; Alan Rickman, David Bowie and Ronnie Corbett to name but a few. And yesterday Death chose to take a true Northern great: Victoria Wood.

Wood, a master of her craft, grew up in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, the youngest of four children. After studying drama at the University of Birmingham she won the ITV talent show New Faces which saw her land her first regular role as a novelty act on the BBC’s consumer affairs programme That’s Life! in 1976.

Wood’s cocktail of fierce determination and outstanding versatility successfully saw her secure a place as one of Britain’s most popular standup comics. Her longtime collaborator Julie Walters, who she first met at Manchester Polytechnic’s student theatre aged 17 would prove to be a lifelong friend. When asked for comment regarding today’s loss Walters stated she was, “too heartsore to comment—the loss of her is incalculable”. Their shows laced through the 1980s included Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and Wood and Walters, which showcased her knack of social observation and sharply witty songwriting.

Wood had said in previous interviews that she stood by the “life-affirming” value of comedy. Her work spanning over four decades also spanned across the various arenas of entertainment—of which she triumphed in all. Arguably her most famous was Dinnerladies which as well as writing and starring in  for two years also brought now-heavyweights such as Maxine Peake to our screens.

As well as this, Wood wrote in abundance for theatre. 2005 saw her pen a musical, Acorn Antiques, which was based upon the long-running feature of her sketch show. She also wrote The Day We Sang which stemmed from famous recordings of Purcell’s Nymphs and Shepherds made by Manchester Children’s Choir. The play debuted at the Manchester International Festival in 2011 and this was to be her final piece of work.

Four decades of work didn’t come without its rewards. To list a few; in 1997 she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), she was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours. In 2003 she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 Funniest Acts in British Comedy, as well as this in 2005 Channel 4’s poll of the Comedians’ Comedian spotlighted her as the highest-ranked woman of the list, beating names such as French & Saunders and Joyce Grenfell.

Her work also won her five BAFTAs from 14 nominations—the highest amount of nominations bestowed upon and won by an individual. Her records also include the highest amount of television BAFTAs ever won in history as well as holding the record for fifteen consecutive sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

Today is not just a sad day for British comedy but British culture. Her appetite for regional, relatable comedy held no bounds. “Life’s not fair, is it? Some of us drink champagne in the fast lane and some of us eat our sandwiches by the loose chippings on the A597.’’ Today, it certainly wasn’t fair.

TEDxUniversityofManchester – Infinite Possibilities

Written by Alexandra Bickell on . Posted in Features, News, Science & Tech.

TEDx came once again to the University of Manchester on Saturday 16th April, with the theme of ‘Infinite Possibilities’.

TED was founded in 1984 and has since provided “short, powerful” talks to educate, inspire and engage its global array of viewers. TEDx events are independent, “community-driven” conferences set up by locals for locals, that use the same principles as the main TED organisation.

Saturday’s ‘Infinite Possibilities’ was set up by two final year students, Emrana Khatun and Liz Tiong Li Chen, who chose the mysterious and vague theme on purpose. They said that they picked this title as they liked its “very ambiguous nature”, as it could “signify hope and highlight the potential that lies within each and every one of us.”

The conference took place in the busy Rise space on Deansgate, an events area provided by Barclays and paired with the Grindsmith café. On entering, I thought that I had walked into a kitsch coffee shop—flat whites and beanie hats abound, set against open brickwork, steel arches and spotlights. Rounding the corner, the industrial-style auditorium opened up, seating 100 people; with this including the speakers themselves, tickets sold out extremely quickly—some people reported that they were gone in four seconds.

However, the relatively small crowd allowed for a much more intimate and friendly mood than I had been expecting. The atmosphere was alive with chirpy conversations and excitement about what was to come over the course of the day.

An Arts Management Master’s degree student said that she was hoping to gain “a lot of inspiration and creative ideas” to use in her studies from the day. Another attendee, Urban Planning undergraduate Felix, told The Mancunion that he was trying to follow his dreams and “get inspired.” Clearly, everyone in the audience had high hopes.

After some technical difficulties causing a slow start, Shiv Tulsiani, the TEDx host for the day, stepped onto the stage to welcome us. Straight away, it was apparent that the informality and friendliness would extend to the speakers as well as the crowd—jokes were frequent and applause was plentiful.

The first guest of the day was dancer David Kam, from the Natalie Su company in London. He began with a brief talk about his homeland of Malaysia, describing the multicultural nature of Kuala Lumpur. He spoke of how the city itself has developed its own ‘Lingua Franca’, a mixture of Malay, English and Tamil, to enable people of different cultures to communicate with each other.

Kam described his goal and that of the Natalie Su company as an artistic equivalent. Their aim was to incorporate multiple creative disciplines into one performance, to create an interactive and experimental display. He, along with illustrator Joanna Layla, violinist Henry Webster, projection designer Graham Robinson and choreographer Natalie Su Robinson, worked together to improvise a live performance on stage for the TEDx audience.

The result was like no other exhibition or performance I’ve ever seen. Initially, there were so many things going on simultaneously, I was not sure where to look. However, as I started to understand the concept behind it and the artists became more in sync with each other, the point became clear and the work more compelling. It was less a performance and more an experiment.

The applause was heavy and the wide grins on all of the artists’ faces were enough to convince me that they had thoroughly enjoyed it. Later in the day, I caught up with David and Joanna to discuss how they came up with the idea.

David stated that he refused to think of the display as a performance, but instead as an “experimental process in action”. They did not rehearse beforehand, to make sure that they were all improvising entirely, forcing them to be completely absorbed in the immediate situation; Kam repeatedly emphasised this, adding “the more immersed you are in a moment, the more authentic the output is.”

He went on to say that the mixture of modes allows a “sense of investment and respect” to be shared between all of the contributors, even though, perhaps oddly to outsiders, they “don’t talk about the fact that we [they] work in different mediums.” When asked finally what he wanted the audience to gain from the group’s presentation, Kam thought for a moment before saying “to have a direct conversation with the performers themselves”, using the “speaking pencil, drawing violin and listening body.”

The second speaker of the day was 18-year-old Hassan Iqbal, a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards and CEO of Creative Pixels, his own creative media agency. Hassan gave a talk on being successful in business and the questions to ask yourself to get your dream job.

Iqbal advised the audience to “be unique and do something that you enjoy, even if it’s out of the norm.” He described some of his contemporaries entering the 9 – 5 world doing jobs that they do not enjoy because “society thinks they should.” He followed this with a heartfelt plea to not “do things for the wrong reasons”, but to “take every opportunity, even if it’s small… to change your life.”

Richard Ramachandran was the next guest, a Scottish man who could be unusually described as part-filmmaker, part-scientist. An Illustration and Animation graduate, he has helped to create a new genre of film—that is, mind-controlled movies.

These films require the watcher to wear a piece of equipment that looks much like a large Bluetooth headset, which monitors the wearer’s brain’s electrical activity to control the outcome of the movie. Ramachandran had to create four distinct but interchangeable layers of film and scores that the headset can cut between to create a personalised movie for each watcher. As he spoke, he showed us clips from the different film layers he had made and demonstrated how they swapped unnoticeably between each other.

Richard left his audience in awe as he finished with the question that he will be basing his upcoming doctorate on—“Can we make a film that is unique to one person and will they like it more than one that someone else made?”

Fourth on stage was bubbly American Jennifer Arcuri, whose quick jokes and fast pace made her a firm crowd favourite. Her subject was computer hacking and how it is very difficult, especially for young people and children, to know where the ethical boundaries lie online. As somewhat of a technophobe, I was not expecting to understand, let alone enjoy her talk, but it turned out to be relatable and interesting to even me.

After introducing the topic, she turned to the audience and said bluntly: “There’s something here we need to talk about… It’s too easy to be illegal.” She followed this with ideas for how to solve the problem, from new legislation to workshops for young people. Arcuri is a co-founder of Hacker House, a company based in London that aims to tackle these issues, as well as to provide cyber security services for companies.

Steve Rawling was up next, a man known in the media industry as the ‘Infinite Storyteller’, with over 25 years of experience across a variety of roles in the field. He provided storytelling and presentation tips and tricks, stating frankly to bear in mind that “it’s not about you… telling other people’s stories is the way to become an infinite storyteller.”

Ash Dykes followed, the 25-year-old Welsh explorer who in 2014 became the first person to traverse Mongolia on foot, solo and unsupported. He spoke of his many journeys, both leading up to the trek and the 78-day expedition itself and the challenges he has faced along the way. His inspirational speech included advice for any would-be adventurers—“You must mentally believe that you can do it before you physically put your body through it.”

Solicitor and consultant Will Baker later spoke on prisons and immigration detention centres and the necessity for the public to “hold a mirror to power”, to ensure that conditions are kept fair and safe. He described the groups of volunteers that visit these centres and accompany the asylum seekers if they are deported, stating that they must ask “is this fair? Is this reasonable? Is this decent?” He highlighted that deportation cannot be avoided, so it “must be done in the fairest way possible.”

Baker praised the British authorities in their ability to “deescalate problems… with as little physical force as possible”, but still emphasised the importance of the public increasing their involvement with official processes, to prevent key organisations from gaining too much power.

The penultimate speaker was Marcus East, a technology director who prefaced his lecture by declaring “this is not supposed to be inspirational… this is a warning.” This attention-grabbing statement was startling after a day fairly full of positivity and inspiration, causing the audience to sit up and focus perhaps more even than previously.

He went on to discuss the rapid pace of technological advance and how there is a hidden side of it, of “dark tech” that could potentially be used to control people in the near future. He warned of the “civil unrest suppression” robots currently undergoing construction in Silicon Valley, as well as the armed drones that are being tested every day in the USA. East finished his speech by reminding the audience of the first of Isaac Asimov’s famous 1942 Laws of Robotics: “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”

The final guest of the day was digital artist Sumit Sakar, who worked with a whole range of mediums before moving onto software and 3D printing. He showed many examples of his previous multi-modal work, much of it based on Hindu mythology and “comic iconography”.

After showing these pieces, Sakar informed us that he would be making live digital 3D sculpture then and there on his tablet. The screen was initially filled with a pixelated ball, but within 10 minutes of stylus tapping and trance music had become a screaming demon clawing its way out of a box. The transformation was astonishing and it was a fantastic way to finish the day.

Closing the conference, Tulsiani and the event organisers Khatun and Chen came back onto the stage to present gifts to the speakers. We were reminded that 12 years ago, neither Air BnB, nor Facebook, nor Uber existed, but are today worth a combined £250 billion—a real-life illustration that possibilities truly are infinite.

Project Parent: the inevitable embarrassment of graduation day

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

There are only two camps who are exempt from being embarrassed by their parents. There’s those who are best buddies with their exceptionally cool parents and all their friends can ring up your mum Jocelyn anytime they like, and there’s those who are so chilled and laid back that they see no reason to be embarrassed.

Sure, your mum may have turned up looking like she’s Princess Eugene at Ascot and your dad hasn’t worked out how to put his phone on silent so his BBC News notifications won’t stop going off, but why should that bother you? You’re your own person.

For the rest of us, graduation is potentially going to be a bumpy ride. Never before has there been such a minefield for disaster. Nicknames that you casually chuck about at uni are going to have to be thoroughly vetted, lest you have to explain in detail why your friend Mike is being called ‘Juiceifer’ and no, he doesn’t work at a smoothie place.

Similarly, now might be the time to warn your friends that Mum and Dad are not going to ‘lol’ at that hilarious story where you vomited into your bag and fell asleep on your friend’s doorstep. Nor the one where you did 48 hours of work straight because you’d left it until the last minute and then had an unfortunate incident with some energy drinks. Definitely not the one where you took home ‘Rick’, sang him ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and realised the next morning that his name was Nick. NO. None of these.

Talk about that great day trip to the Lowry Museum, the hilarious time that Sarah accidentally burnt the sausages one Sunday morning and other equally tame situations. Once you’ve set the ground rules for conversation between parents and friends, now all you have to worry about is your mum potentially sobbing through the ceremony or shouting when you go up.

If you’ve got older siblings or your dad went to uni himself, he will most likely spend the majority of the day comparing prior graduation ceremonies and admiring the architecture. Seemingly harmless, until the whole family realises that your older brother Tim is now going to need therapy after the three hour period of your Dad indirectly telling him his 2:2 degree in Economics from Bangor University is worth shit if we’re basing it on graduation ceremonies.

Generally though, just treat it as what it is—a highly embarrassing day to celebrate you scraping that degree, with you getting to wear a floor length black cape and a cap.

Enjoy.

The taxing demands of being a leader

Written by Jessica Chow-Lau on . Posted in Opinion.

Prime Minister Cameron and his taxes: a simple situation turned into the angry mob scene in Frankenstein. Movie, not book. Among the crowd is The Guardian, which resorted to conspiracy theories based on the name of Ian Cameron’s offshore firm, Blairmore Holdings, in effort to justify cries for resignation. Critics are rabble rousing to make Cameron seem guiltier than he is. Which is to say, not at all. The left-leaning publication also spun facts to make it seem as though he never paid tax on his profits from said corporation. He did, as did the rest of the family. According to the leaks, he has paid more tax than necessary by refraining from the tax-exempt £20,000 allowance that PMs receive to cover the expenses of holding office.

Often used by those who find the Prime Minister “dodgy”, tax dodging is substituted for the official term, tax avoidance. Besides for “dodging” being the derogatory sibling to the more neutral “avoidance”, the definitions are almost identical. They both mean to step away from something, the former additionally having the condition of doing it suddenly and quickly. Because of its unofficial status, I shall place tax dodging between tax avoidance and tax evasion on the scale of legality. Where tax avoidance is legal, tax dodging is frowned upon, and tax evasion is illegal.

Common ways to save money include: taking advantage of your personal pension scheme, donating to charity through gift aid, or claiming capital allowance for entrepreneurial reasons. The government encourages people to have Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) where after-tax incomes are exempt from income tax and capital gains tax on investment returns. Consulting with a qualified accountant on financial planning is advised, as you might be paying more than legally required. Because tax palliations can very easily become unknowingly abused, speaking with a tax lawyer if engaging in isolated practices to ensure legality would also be wise. Mr. Cameron’s mother, after speaking with her friendly neighborhood financial advisor, gifted the PM an additional £200,000 after his initial inheritance of £300,000 from the death of his father. Separate apportionments were made to avoid breaching tax thresholds, which would have resulted in paying inheritance tax. If she passes away before 2018 however, the “seven year rule” will dictate that her estate (liable to inheritance tax) will include earlier gifts to children. This is so that parents don’t quickly transfer assets to their children before dying to avoid tax responsibilities. Note that Cameron’s gifts had already been subject to tax, double taxation being the result if the mother had not arranged the assets accordingly.

For most people, lower taxes are preferred. One reason being that they don’t completely agree with most of the spending allocations the government uses revenue for. The deviated group that prefers high taxes calls tax avoidance immoral. There’s no arguing with people’s values, but I would hope that they respect others wanting to keep more of their income. HMRC defines it clearly: “Tax avoidance is bending the rules of the tax system to gain a tax advantage that Parliament never intended”.

As previously mentioned, avoidance can easily become dodging by using practices solely for a tax advantage rather than to produce capital. Artificial transactions for the sake of not paying taxes are widely criticized by supporters and critics of tax avoidance. Where avoidance still works with the spirit of the law, dodging only technically follows it. Whether or not dodging is deliberate, whereby falling under tax evasion, varies from place to place and should be consulted with a professional. This information is not hidden from the general public. Advice is everywhere, even from politicians. George Osborne helped a caller avoid paying tax using “clever financial products” in 2003.

It wasn’t about Cameron’s taxes, people are angry at his wealth. He didn’t cheat or do anything remotely illegal, but he did inherit a large sum from his father. But the country already knew his background when they elected and re-elected him (with an overall majority). Still, it’s understandable for minimum wage workers to be frustrated. Mr. Cameron knows his outsider status, people don’t let him forget it, and so he’s responded by revealing a private part of his life. Cameron did something analogous in 2010 when he sold his stake of Blairmore Holdings for £30,000, the same year he became Prime Minister. Again, he was under no obligation. But he knew that it wouldn’t help his public image, and thus a deed unmentioned. And to clarify, the Camerons paid British taxes on their income from the trust. Therefore his involvement in the Panama Papers is simply tax avoidance.

Taxes are a private matter, yet MPs are now calling for tax returns from fellow members due to public interest. Instead of a public shaming, investigative duties could be given to a parliamentary committee so that the affairs of politicians are expertly scrutinized for dishonest behavior. Stigmatizing legal tax practices and an inflated sense of social justice stemming from the idea of working the most leading to being paid the most contributes to the downfall of innovation. Speaking from his defense and in general, we expect too much from MPs. David Cameron wasn’t born with extra, otherworldly qualities that made him naturally fit to run a country. Building up leaders to impossible standards allows us to not have to think for ourselves. Energy spent immortalizing our leaders, would be better served strengthening institutions—those are the ones that last.

The Junction that is the Old Trafford job

Written by Magnus Henderson on . Posted in Sport.

Manchester United have pulled up at a crossroads. Like any normal crossroads, there are three options: left, Ryan Giggs; right, Jose Mourinho and straight on, continuing Louis Van Gaal’s reign. In the past four months, as results have dropped off in the league and in Europe, separate rumours have confirmed all three individuals as conclusive managers of United next season. With the fans and generally bemused public all waiting for the soap opera to finalise, I have decided to investigate the pros and cons of each suitor.

Giggs pros:

There isn’t a man who embodies Manchester United more than Ryan Giggs. Having played for the club for 23 years, racking up 963 appearances (a club record), winning 13 league titles, 4 FA cups, and 2 Champions League trophies amongst other honours, the Welshman is the most decorated player in British football history and a loyal servant. For this, Giggs has forever won the hearts of United fans all over the world. When Moyes failed in his one and only season at the club, the Welsh wizard took over as interim manager of the club for four matches. In those games, Giggs demonstrated that he wanted to project the ‘United way’ onto the players, playing free-flowing attacking football, and when defeated by Sunderland, Giggs relied on youth, giving James Wilson and Tom Lawrence debuts, in which the former scored a brace and secured a 3-1 home win against Hull. This, in some fans’ views, is enough to merit Giggs at least the opportunity to prove himself as a permanent manager. If Guardiola can do it at Barca, why not Giggs?

Giggs cons:

Quite simply, zero real experience. Whilst Giggs was an incredible player for United, that does not necessarily mean he will make an incredible manager. For example: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to make it with Cardiff, Bruce hasn’t got the nous to manage a top club, Roy Keane couldn’t do it at Sunderland or Ipswich and, most recently, Gary Neville failed to live up to his own punditry as manager of Valencia. While Guardiola is an example of a legend becoming a successful manager at the same club, he is an exception, not the norm. The same cannot be expected of Giggs and if he was to fail, his golden reputation might be tarnished. Is that a risk the Welshman is willing to take?

Another serious blot on Giggs’ career is his association with Moyes and Van Gaal. As coach and assistant manager under respective reigns, if Van Gaal is sacked like Moyes was, for failing to reach the Champions League, then surely Giggs should get the boot, too? While the team is not his sole responsibility, Giggs has failed to influence both managers into a winning mentality and has clearly been unsuccessful in projecting a positive attitude on the players. Two of his long-term potential successors on the left wing, Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj, have reportedly poor attitudes when it comes to training. It is Giggs’ responsibility to be a role model and turn that attitude around, which he has so far failed to do.

 

Mourinho pros:

Mourinho stormed onto the European managerial scene in 2002/03 winning a treble (involving the Europa League) for Porto, before defying the odds and completing the ‘real deal’ treble (involving the Champions League) in the following season. His successful start never really ended; Mourinho went on to manage Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, winning six league titles, six domestic cups and another Champions league trophy all in the space of 12 years. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, Mourinho has stood head and shoulders above the other managerial heavyweights in terms of success. Manchester United seem to have forgotten the taste of success; the last title came to Old Trafford in 2013. If there was ever a man to guarantee trophies, Jose would be that man.

There are also clues regarding Mourinho’s love affair with United, most tellingly after his Los Blancos side defeated the 10-men Red Devils at Old Trafford, sending them out of the Champions League, and claiming that, “the best team lost”. An extremely unusual compliment given a man of his arrogance. Ferguson retired later that season and Mourinho reportedly broke down in tears when he heard that Moyes was to be the successor. The stage has been reset for the union he supposedly desires.

Mourinho cons:

As John Steinbeck stated in Of Mice and Men, “success comes with a price to pay”. The more keenly-eyed Wikipedia user would notice that Mourinho has not lasted more than three seasons at a single club. The high levels of performance from his players come with high levels of intensity from Mourinho; high intensity for a prolonged amount of time causes tension, which causes fracture. The Portuguese man has either moved from one club to another to fulfil ambition (e.g. Porto to Chelsea, Inter to Real) or because he has fractured the club with his intensity (e.g. Chelsea 2007, Real 2013, Chelsea 2015). While Mourinho is without doubt a serial winner, is the success justified by the probability that he will leave the club in disarray? What Manchester United need is stability, not a man to rock the boat any further.

Mourinho also has a reputation for not giving youth a chance; a philosophy that is deeply ingrained into United’s history. At Chelsea this season, he failed to spot the talents of youngsters such as Kennedy, Bertrand Traore, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, all of whom have been rotated effectively into the first team by the current Chelsea coach, Guus Hiddink. The influx of Old Trafford academy products this season has been notable, especially the likes of Rashford, Fosu-Mensah, and Borthwick-Jackson. There is a fear surrounding the fanbase that Mourinho, if given the choice between buying superstars and integrating youth, would settle for the former.

 

Van Gaal pros:

As a decorated manager, there are few who can compete with Van Gaal’s illustrious career. Successful at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and most recently the Netherlands, the Dutchman has experience flowing out of every orifice. A Champions League trophy and seven league titles evidences success, no matter which club he has been at. Van Gaal is also renowned for leaving the foundations for future victory. At Barcelona, he famously had a back-room staff of Mourinho, Koeman and Guardiola, three current prosperous managers who learnt their trade from the Dutchman. It is no coincidence that the three most successful footballing institutions in their respective countries, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Ajax, were once managed by Van Gaal. His reputation for blending experienced quality with talented youth led to a lasting dynasty in each club and the same can be seen at United; his integration of Martial, Rashford and Borthwick-Jackson into the team with Schweinsteiger, Carrick, and Rooney provides a balance of raw pace with experienced heads, hopefully allowing the United youngsters to become the latest academy “class of 2016”.

Van Gaal cons:

The results! While the experienced Dutchman succeeded in retaining Champions League football in his debut season, he has fundamentally failed in mounting a title challenge (his own aim for his second season). Square pegs in round holes (the squarest of pegs in the roundest of holes being Ashley Young as a striker against Spurs), the uninspiring football, Rooney’s “special privileges”, the unnecessarily small squad and the scattergun transfer strategy. In a football world where clubs don’t have time to wait around for success, the Dutchman’s position is becoming increasingly untenable, especially if he fails to attain Champions League football. He has been given the time and the financial backing to create his own prosperous United squad, yet he has failed by the exacting standards he set himself.

 

Pole Fitness at the University of Manchester

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Sport.

During Freshers’ Week at the Society Fair many of us sign up for multiple societies, then go to one session and never return. Everyone has a society they stick to and Pole had me completely addicted! Everyone’s first session is a bit of a struggle as many of us stare blankly at the instructor as she spins graciously round the pole, then we proceed to tangle ourselves and end up in a heap on the floor.

Often us pole dancers can be subject to a lot of prejudice about the sport and many don’t understand or appreciate the skill and dedication required to take pole fitness to a high level. We are often overlooked as a sport and not taken seriously as individuals. To those of you reading this that still think its easy or just about looking sexy in heels then I challenge you to try just one class and you’ll never look at someone on the pole in the same way again. Everyone underestimates the core strength and flexibility Pole requires. Not only is it artistic but it’s a great way to build strength and keep fit and it really works; I came to my first class unable to manage one press up and now I’m amazed at what my body can do. As the weeks progress you can feel your body changing and building strength you never had. Like many sports, with pole, you get out of it what you put in. Progression is made by attending multiple classes and building on your own flexibility! Although it’s more appealing to girls as a society we encourage everyone and anyone who’s interested in the sport to try a class with us. Personally I love going to classes because of the range of moves we work on and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you finally hit that trick you’ve been struggling with.

Our society offers four classes a week for all levels, from beginner to advanced, and all styles of Pole from pole sport which focuses on strength to sexy pole; honouring our stripper roots with a racy high cardio routine class. We also offer regular pole jams which give our members an opportunity to practice moves outside of the studio, and, like most societies, we have socials on a regular basis to give everyone a chance to get to know each other, taking our pole with us whenever we can. A lot of our members love Pole so much they buy their own personal pole for practice at home and we love seeing everyone’s progression photos posted on our page! Our classes are not only fun but you really feel the workout and they’re great for building confidence too. The combination of artistic moves—like spins and strength moves—means there’s something for everyone: dancing types and sporty types.

Because Pole requires skin for grip, the clothing required to wear during classes is smaller than most sports, but come to class and you’ll realise what a necessity it is, this makes it a great sport for body confidence as we create a warm environment where anyone can feel comfortable in their own skin and this is something you can continue after University! As a society, we’re fortunate to have a relationship with a professional pole studio in Manchester with such friendly and experienced teachers who add to the fun and positive vibes of our classes! I’d encourage everyone to give Pole a try if you’re getting bored of the gym or just want to try something new, it’s definitely a conversation starter!

 

We asked some of our members to give us a line or two on why they loved Pole:

“Something I personally love about pole is that it’s a powerful, sensual and liberating exercise without feeling like a hefty workout! Like a sexy gym!”

“Pole Fitness is a creative way of doing workout, where you improve your strength and flexibility!”

“Pole is an excellent way to get in shape and build your confidence no matter what your size, shape, or level of fitness! And it’s such good fun.”

“Pole makes you feel so good about yourself and helps you build your self confidence.”

Fashion Class of 2016

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

One of the greatest things about Manchester, whether the city or the university, is its eclectic, vibrant, and confident style. Whether strolling to Sainsbury’s in your pyjamas or donning a pac-man outfit to the latest Pangaea, the distinct attitude that sets Manchester students apart from the rest is the ‘do-I-really-look-like-I-give-a-shit-what-you-think?’ defiance spread across the faces of the vast majority.

Wearing your personality on your sleeve is the recognised style of the city and it’s what makes dressing for every day that much more exciting. The opportunities to experiment with your wardrobe are endless, primarily because it is guaranteed you will never be the quirkiest on the street that day.

When I started at Manchester in 2014, I had no idea where the three years would take me. Admittedly, certain aspects were predictable: spending most of my student loan on clothes; devoting more time to Asos than Jstor; gaining a second home somewhere on the third floor of Affleck’s. But essentially, whilst many might start their university experience with degree aspirations and career goals in mind, you can never predict how the method of achieving these will change the fundamental elements of who you are.

After this photo was taken, I realised by coincidence that it perfectly illustrates four main aspects of my personal style: a quick mental scan through my wardrobe revealed that these elements infiltrate my wardrobe in some way, shape, or form every day.

Vintage treasures:
I had always enjoyed shopping in vintage stores and charity shops before starting at Manchester but upon my introduction to the Northern Quarter, enjoyment turned into an (arguably unhealthy) obsession and adoration. My cropped jumper is from COW, whilst my trousers are from a vintage sale held at the Ruby Lounge. Previously loved items are the crux of my wardrobe; I love how I am adding to the history of a piece of clothing, which has a past and even future I will never know about. I’m not one for corny attachments but my wardrobe is about as sentimental as I get!

Something statement:
I live by the rule that every outfit must have one bold statement: without, there is no eye-catching interest; with more than one, your outfit can become too crowded and less punchy.

A little flash of skin:
A complete sucker for a cropped top, my go-to outfit of choice is high-waisted jeans and a navel-baring top. I nearly always role up the end of my jeans too to change the shape and show off my shoes. Although a Southerner born and bred, a bare stomach even in winter makes me realise there may be a little Northern in me yet…

Power complex:
At 5’11’’, I naturally stand amongst the tallest in a crowd but heeled black boots are my weakness; I am rarely without them. As the shortest woman in my immediate family and possessing a slightly competitive edge, I donned my first pair of heeled boots six years ago and since never looked back, or rarely up, again.

Sophie Soar

 

Photo: The Mancunion

From first year, colour has always been important and, although my style has changed a lot, I still love a huge pop of colour three years later. In this picture, I’m in my halls, keeping it simple with an Aztec pattern dress and black strappy shoes. As I’ve gone through uni, I’ve realised that simplicity is key, sometimes I will even wear head to toe black and my colour will come through my nail and lip colour. With Manchester being such a great hub for fashion and, of course, shopping, my wardrobe collection has doubled! I have experimented a lot with what I love because Manchester and uni life had given me the platform to do that. Never be scared of trying something new and that goes for your make up too.

Perisha Kudhail

 

Photo: The Mancunion

I would say my style has more or less stayed the same since coming to Manchester, maybe slightly less out there, converse to the Fallowfield trend for increasing your alternative flair. Since becoming a student I have bought far less; I mainly rewear and recycle things I already own, so I favour items which are less recognisable when worn frequently. I have always loved inconspicuous skinny jeans, and always buy these from Zara, the only place which do trousers which don’t ‘bag out’ on me, and I hugely covet ankle boots, with my favourite being my pointed toe red snakeskin pair. Other favourite wardrobe features are long skirts in summer, backless tops, and different textured silver rings. I’m envious of how chic French models look; the model Caroline de Maigret is one of my icons—British Vogue featured her in a YouTube segment where she describes French style and ‘how to dress well’ which is endlessly cool. I’m a fan of the ‘normcore’ vibe; neutral colours and blankness of pattern make me happy. When I graduate I aspire to shop all the time in The Kooples, & Other Stories, and Whistles; I love how simple and eye-catching their looks are. My newest purchases have been dark navy/green silky culottes and some black ‘guy’ brogues, and I’m trying to decide if I’m brave enough to wear them both at the same time.

Rebecca Thomas

 

Photo: The Mancunion

I would say when it comes to my fashion sense, I have less of a style and more a uniform. Black skinny jeans, oversized/high-neck knitwear and white T-shirts (the underrated classic) feature pretty heavily on this set menu. Trainers are de rigueur. (Stylish and supportive, all in two lovely shoes. What’s not to love?) No matter how hard I may try a jazzy colour palette, I always fall back on some vibrant shades of grey. Everything stays pretty monochrome, with the occasional splash of blue denim. Spending a year living in France did not help matters, as I am pretty sure sporting coloured clothing across the Channel is punishable by law. I am dreading the time when I need a more grown-up wardrobe as the end of my university career draws nigh. Perhaps I will swap the skinny jeans for a chic fitted trouser à la French Vogue editor Emmanuelle Alt. As far as today’s fashion forecast is looking, however, I think I see myself dressing like a female Steve Jobs forever.
Jacket – Vintage Levi’s, Jumper – H&M, Jeans – Zara, Shoes – Adidas

Millie Kershaw

 

Photo: The Mancunion

My personal style is fairly simple. I want the clothes I wear to fit and flatter my body. New seasons bring new trends along with them, and I try to be open minded to the new styles available, but I never like to let the trends lead my taste. It is more about the current fashion trends adding to my style. I am a lover of black, denim and stripes; it is a rare day that I’m not wearing one of the three! They are so fabulously interchangeable and just work in my eyes. I’m not obsessed with bright colours; to me it’s whether they fit my mood. And when it comes to shoes, I think the pointier the better.

Sarah Kilcourse

 

Photo: The Mancunion

I call this look The Diamond Geezer.

Sports jacket and steel toe-cap boots shows I’m not going to a fucking picnic. I flash my Timex to any doubters. Long hair shows I’m in touch with my emotions n that. Slim fit navy jeans because what the fuck else is there. Brown belt to keep my trousers up.

Who am I wearing? Oxfam, Adidas, and sort of Ralph Lauren Polo. I say ‘sort of’ cause the man on the horse has lost his baton, so to speak. It’s fake, in other words. The rest of me is real though.

Henry Scanlan

 

Photo: The Mancunion

As Head Fashion Editor, you’d expect me to dress far more adventurously. Fashion, for me, is all about comfort. Baggy jumpers and thick scarves have always been my groove. I remember when I first moved to Manchester; I was overwhelmed by the five-storey Urban Outfitters on Market Street. Each time I visited during Freshers’ Week, I swooned after an oversized navy jumper fashioning red raccoons until I finally cracked and made my first mancunian purchase. Three years later, it sits contently amongst my evergrowing jumper collection, not having been worn since Christmas of First Year. My impulse buys have become few and far between as my student loan has become almost non-existent (big shout out to Student Finance), but I definitely still break from time to time. This block-coloured Zara jumper was bought on a whim after a long and hard day. Retail therapy and all that…

Kassi Allcock

 

Photo: The Mancunion

How would I define my style? I can’t really. A lot of people tell me I am excellent at co-ordinating but in actuality I just only like a few colours, makes life a lot more simple. The outfit I am wearing here is a bit more snazzy than my everyday uni-wear which would consist of jeans, timberland boots and a knitted jumper. I have the promise of cocktails after a six hour library session so went for more of a versatile day to night look. My skirt is from a really cool shop in Withington called Mockingbirds which has helped shape my wardrobe and get rid of my student loan. I don’t think my style has changed that much since I have come to university, apart from I have acquired a lot more pyjamas.

Kathryn Murray

The Seven Study Sinners

Written by Louisa Hall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

The University Kingdom is rife with a large variety of different species, but during the annual Exam Season in the summer months, 7 new specimens emerge and seize control of campus and its surrounding area. They may have binge-eating as a common trait, but other than that their characteristics are far from the same.

Perhaps the most common species is the Procrastinator. They may not be able to tell you what they’ve been learning for the past six months, or where all of their time has gone, but they do know the lyrics to every Eminem rap, the full account of How I Met Your Mother, and can now speak fluent Welsh.

Now if you listen quietly, you’ll be able to hear a cackling sound coming from the kitchen. It’s that ‘study sesh’ that the Psychology clan of Brainstormers are having which sounds too much fun to be educational. The house, tainted with the smell of baking to act as their study snacks (they iced the cake with ‘Freud’ so they’re still learning), becomes a social hub, decorated top-to-bottom with comically large sheets of paper full of these so-called ‘brainstorms’.

Photo: chloebaileyx @Flickr

The cleanest of them all is the fresh-faced, smartly dressed Library-goer who arises early to bagsy a computer. Breezing out of the house with a fully-prepared rucksack at the crack of dawn, their main role in the University Kingdom is to add to the guilt and stress of the other studiers. But don’t be fooled! There are many sub-species to the Library-goer: the ITV Player addicts, the ‘I’ll-do-all-my-printing-at-uni-then-go-home-and-tell-myself-that-was-all-I-needed-to-do-for-today’ phoneys, and the poor, despairing ‘reading but not retaining’ pupils.

After spending three days drafting the revision schedule, and having blown half their student loan on stationery, the Post-It note warrior is now hidden under a mound of brightly coloured paper. Need a stapler? They have three sizes, and 14 colours (but you can’t use magenta because it’s their favourite). Need a sticker? No. Neither do they, but they reward themselves for every top-notch poster with a gold star, secretly knowing that, deep down, they’re not worthy of it. That spelling mistake on the mind-map isn’t glaringly obvious, but they know it’s there. They will try to stick it onto the wall but, inevitably, it’ll eventually have to be redrawn. After all, it was the wrong shade of blue anyway.

Photo: srtuba @Flickr

The Caffeine-oholic pulled an all-nighter again last night and was surprisingly productive, as you can tell from the waft of success coming from their room… or perhaps that’s just the sickly sweet odour of Red Bulls. As you try to sleep every night, the constant pulse of the bass from their speakers vibrates through the Kingdom. A persistent reminder that people are learning stuff whilst you’re just lying there, thinking about all the stuff that you have to learn.

There’s something stirring upstairs. A strange aura fills the house. The Wallower has emerged. They’ve risen from their pit in a state of confusion, a layer of grease, and wearing the crumbs of last week’s cheese and onion crisps in a trail from chin-to-PJ top. Apparently self-hygiene isn’t important to everyone during  Exam Season. We don’t know what they’ve been doing, we don’t know how much work they’ve done, but we do know that that they need a nice, long shower.

The seventh, and perhaps most deadly, study sinner? The self-proclaimed Moron who, having insisted that they haven’t done any work at all, comes out with better results than everybody else. Fuck them!

Festival Preview: Bilbao BBK Live

Written by Calum Pinder on . Posted in Music.

Bilbao, Spain
7th – 9th July

For festivalgoers looking for something slightly further afield and hopefully warmer, this year’s BBK Live Festival, Bilbao promises a wealth of good acts over the course of the weekend.

Headlining this year’s festival are indie giants Arcade Fire, Pixies and Foals. The support is no less impressive. Alongside the more established acts of New Order and Hot Chip, BBK have booked some of 2015’s best acts to perform this year.

Grimes, Father John Misty, Tame Impala and Courtney Barnett all made it onto our top 10 albums of 2015. Most of the rest line up consists of Spanish and Basque acts, including Belako and Greenclass, who are both worth keeping an eye out for.

Taking place in the scenic hills overlooking Bilbao, there is a 30 minute bus transfer to the city allowing the more culturally and culinary inclined festivalgoers to spend mornings sampling what the Basque city has to offer. Pintxos and drinks in the city centre are an affordable way to make your boozy festival experience feel somewhat more classy. The Guggenheim probably need not even be mentioned.

Tickets for the weekend start at £100 with camping. Moreover, coming in at just over £200, including a return flight, BBK is a strong choice for those seeking a great European festival at similar prices to some of the larger ones on offer here in the UK this year.

Live: Half Moon Run

Written by Rebekah Shaw on . Posted in Music.

Albert Hall

18th March 2016

7/10

I went into this gig with few expectations, enjoyed myself more than I thought I would, and left with more of an understanding of how important a producer on an album is.

Half Moon Run’s two albums are alright, they’re not bad in any respect. ‘Full Circle’ stands out as a cool track on their debut album, Dark Eyes, but knowing only this track did not help typify, for me, what Half Moon Run would be like live.

Listen to their two albums, then add two frontmen who love country music—I’m sorry, it’s probably trendier to say Americana—and also showing off. Their four-piece harmonies were better, guitar solos stood out more, American folk influences were clear, and each song ended in such an abrupt way that it left you wanting more.

All in all it was a really fun show, but you wouldn’t have been able to guess so going from their records. Even the crowd seemed slightly surprised—pleasantly so—that Half Moon Run threw their chill out of the window at the Albert Hall.

Watching the two frontmen of the Canadian four-piece working off each other worked well; half the time you felt like you were watching them play intimately and awkwardly in their bedroom as teenagers, the other half felt like they were flinging all they had at their audience, totally relishing centre stage. At times it felt over dramatic, and I cringed violently when the singer Devon Portielje decided to play a guitar solo with his teeth.

Seeing Half Moon Run live though made me appreciate the music they’ve made much more, but also made me sad that their albums were produced in such as a way as to not showcase the potential shown on stage.

Listen to their Spotify Session version of ‘Call Me in the Afternoon’ if you don’t believe me.

Album review: Yeasayer – Amen & Goodbye

Written by Jacob Bernard-Banton on . Posted in Music.

Released 1st April via Mute

6/10

Yeasayer are a frustrating bunch. Of all the experimental Brooklyn alt bands that emerged during the noughties, they’ve rather unfairly become shorthand for a certain type of Pitchfork band. Around the time that TV On the Radio and Dirty Projectors discovered more critical acclaim and more fans—having brilliantly located the sweet spot between daring, mind-frazzling experimentation and accessibility without compromising their sound—Yeasayer sat out any chances of greater appeal, bar 2010’s hugely enjoyable Odd Blood. That’s fair enough: Liars aren’t likely to release a sugary assortment of chart-topping hits, but they definitely have more fans. You might wonder why Yeasayer aren’t as popular as their peers; their albums have been pretty good, yet consistency isn’t a strong point of theirs: 2012’s Fragrant World, if well-produced, was particularly patchy.

Amen & Goodbye, the band’s fourth, answers why Yeasayer lack a large following. There’s just too much going on, particularly on ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’: it doesn’t know if it wants to be clever art rock, steeped in staccato horns, or agitated psych-pop. ‘Gerson’s Whistle’, like the beatless ‘Prophecy Gun’, lacks something to anchor it. Nevertheless, it is certainly interesting and genuinely inventive, filled with fabulously pretty arrangements, not least the faintly overwhelming chorus of massed voices and plinking piano—though you won’t remember it in any hurry. You’re not sure what overall effect it is after; there’s just no cohesion.

‘Half Asleep’ strolls in on a cloud of subdued funk and eastern influences: sumptuous, yes, but memorable? Hardly. Once again, confusion stands in for cohesion. Still, the jerky off-kilter synthpop of ‘Silly Me’ sparkles. The riffs and vocal hooks hit their marks, the serpentine melody, furnished with muted brass, is zany as it is tuneful. Likewise, ‘I Am Chemistry’ just works. As ever, Yeasayer’s stubbornly nonconformist pop spasms are in spectacular abundance—listen as it shifts from shapeless, churning worldbeat to grinding electropop to baroque balladry—but never serve as annoying distractions. There’s no discernible chorus, yet the bustling sea of sounds and styles is winning. Meanwhile, the canned applause on ‘Child Prodigy’ is self-regarding and pompous.

All is not lost however. ‘Cold Night’ is bright, incandescent pop; it succeeds where other tracks fail by virtue of it stripping away the excess and ploughing a superb, unfussy melody. Unfortunately, nothing here grabs you by the scruff of the neck and demands your attention quite like fellow experimentalists Gang Gang Dance’s glorious Eye Contact. Great psychedelia leads you through a door and into a world of colourful, mind-expanding possibilities. Yeasayer are too busy trying to sell you the house before they even let you in.