Love Jones Gives Talent its Time to Shine

Igwebuike’s event lets students express passionsVictoria YuTHE SANTA CLARANovember 7, 2013[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here are always great capabilities waiting to be revealed here at Santa Clara. Whether it’s juggling, singing or dancing,- everybody has a skill to share. Every quarter, Igwebuike, a student club from the Multicultural Center, organizes Santa Clara’s largest student showcase: Love Jones. Although Igwebuike originally started Love Jones as an “open mic” night for slam poetry in The Bronco, over the years, Love Jones has grown into a major event showcasing all kinds of talent relating to music, dance, poetry and more. Named after the movie, Love Jones is ultimately centered on embracing diverse talents and sharing them with the world.Loves Jones, unique to Santa Clara, is not a typical talent show. It’s not a competition or mere exhibition, but rather, a meaningful night of entertainment, inspiration, community and discovery. In other words, Love Jones is an opportunity for anybody to shine onstage and have their voices heard through different forms of expression. Students are not limited to showcasing more traditional talents such as singing or dancing. They also have the freedom to exhibit talents that people may not expect, such as sign language or juggling.Getting involved with Love Jones is simple. Igwebuike tables outside Benson Memorial Center three to four weeks before the actual event, providing every student the opportunity to sign up and perform in the show — no auditions required. Love Jones is also a unique opportunity for individuals of all majors and from all different parts of campus to come together, express themselves and bring Santa Clara closer together. At Love Jones, there isn’t only one type of group performing. Members from all throughout Santa Clara’s student body are involved. From freshmen to seniors, the variety of talent is plentiful. In fact, one of the most exciting parts of Love Jones is when an individual, whose talents may have previously been unknown, courageously performs onstage and wows the crowd.With 21 solid acts, increasing attendance with every show and a dance party after the event, Love Jones is truly a fun and unifying event growing in popularity. Igwebuike will also hold a bake sale and sell fresh cookies and brownies for $1 during the show. All of the profits will help Igwebuike offset the costs of the event.Come to Love Jones on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Locatelli Activity Center and discover all the diverse talent at Santa Clara. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., performances begin at 8 p.m. and the entire show is free. Contact Victoria Yu at vyu@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.