For the 18th year in a row, students gathered in Pauley Pavilion to dance for 26 hours in support of the Pediatric AIDS Coalition.
Gallery: Humans of Dance Marathon
This year’s Dance Marathon included a shark, an astronaut and many exhausted dancers.
Men’s volleyball falls in tight matchup to rival USC in final regular-season game
The Bruins ended the regular season with a defeat.
No. 5 UCLA men’s volleyball (18-8, 8-4 MPSF) lost to No. 6 USC (16-9, 7-5) in five sets by scores of 25-19, 15-25, 25-14, 20-25 and 11-15.
The Bruins started off the match hitting for .684 in the first set and accumulating 13 kills with zero attacking errors. Junior middle blocker Daenan Gyimah had five kills in the set and led UCLA with 21 total kills throughout the game.
The Trojans had 13 kills in the first set, but five service errors and three attacking errors from USC contributed the Bruins’ set win.
UCLA could not match its first-set hitting percentage in the second set as it hit for .167 and started the set by dropping the first three points. The Bruins were able to tie the game back up at 8-8 and took the 9-8 lead on a kill from Gyimah.
USC went on to win the next seven points and took a 15-9 lead with four kills, one service ace and two UCLA attacking errors. The Bruins never came back and dropped the set 25-15.
UCLA started the third set on a 4-0 run, with senior setter Micah Ma’a accounting for three of the four points – with one service ace and two kills. Ma’a led the Bruins in third set kills with five as UCLA claimed the set by a score of 25-14.
The Bruins lost the fourth set after hitting for .192 and tallying five attacking errors. UCLA kept the set close, trailing by a score of 16-14, but USC went on a 7-2 run and the Bruins fell behind 23-16 before eventually losing 25-20.
Senior outside hitter Dylan Missry said the new lineup is trying to establish better chemistry.
“We’re just trying to gel with our new lineup, but we’ll have it together for the postseason,” Missry said.
The fifth set started with the teams going back and forth, with no team getting a lead bigger than one point until the Bruins took the 6-4 lead. They were unable to hold the lead as USC came back to win the set 15-11, due in part to service aces from setter Jameson McKibbin and middle blocker/opposite Kyle Gear.
Coach John Speraw said USC’s defense played well in the last set.
“They made a couple great digs and defensive plays,” Speraw said. “We did pretty well, just didn’t make enough plays.”
Gyimah said failure to keep up service pressure was a reason for dropping the final set.
“We had inconsistent service pressure and made a couple crucial errors,” Gyimah said.
UCLA has the second seed in the MPSF tournament despite the loss and will next play in the quarterfinals against Concordia University Irvine on April 13 at Pauley Pavilion.
Concert review: Vulnerability takes center stage in Quinn XCII’s engaging, humanizing performance
Quinn XCII led fans to “Another Day in Paradise” at The Wiltern.
The Saturday show was part of the electric pop musician’s “From Tour with Love” tour, titled after his second album, “From Michigan with Love,” which celebrates individualism and nostalgia. Quinn XCII delivered heart-stopping bass rhythms from songs across his two albums. His encore went back even further than those albums as “Another Day in Paradise” is listed on the artist’s first ever EP. Such a set list reminded artist and audience alike to remember their roots and origins through a devastatingly reflective night.
However, before Quinn XCII’s breathtaking visual experience, openers Christian French and Ashe set the scene for a carefree night. French, a pop singer from the American Midwest, peppered his performance with love songs, and with his girlfriend in the audience, the message became all the sweeter. Romantic energy then transformed into an appreciation of unapologetic living as Ashe took center stage, reminding the audience that “It’s not your fault/ … Sometimes people suck.” As opening acts, these two artists perfectly complemented Quinn XCII’s honest and uplifting set.
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By the time Quinn XCII bursted onto stage following an on-screen countdown, the energy from the pit to the mezzanine buzzed with anticipation as people pressed ever closer to the stage. As album art was projected on screen in neon lights, his first number, “Sad Still,” provided all the right tempos for the crowd to jump along to. Lyrics such as “Wanna treat the term ‘anxiety’ like it’s taboo/ Come off that opinion,” also brought forth the idea that individual struggles do not have to be isolating.
The theme of finding strength in the midst of struggle continued into the night, as songs such as “Life Must Go On” had fans belting out familiar lyrics about being present in life. With other performances carrying similar messages, Quinn XCII provided more than a concert, but also a space for listeners to be vulnerable. In talking to the audience, he hoped that this open perspective could continue even after the show has ended. However, such a message hardly impeded on the overall experience as spirits were quickly lifted with the next song, “Fake Denim.” It was a performance that had the walls of The Wiltern shaking as people screamed out “Won’t waste another dollar on you.”
Quinn XCII’s performances of “U & Us,” “Panama” and “Another Day in Paradise” covered the topic of relationships and the chances people take – or, more often, miss – in life. The songs, celebrations of the good along with the bad and the ugly, grounded the audience even as the beats had them jumping higher. These were real songs about issues people battle every day, but rather than trying to shove it aside, the artist infused these issues into his lyrics and transformed it into a pulse-racing concert.
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“From Tour With Love” did not shy away from heavier topics like love, hope, struggles and even regret. The set list took all of this in stride, asking the audience not to forget about what they are struggling with, but to release their frustrations, to scream about it and to find support in each other.
Quinn XCII announced his request of the night halfway through the show: to catch him when he falls, or in this case, dives. And at the final note of “Flare Guns,” he launched himself off the stage into a sea of eager hands. Lasting only seconds, his stage-dive seemed appropriate as he intertwined nostalgia with vulnerability: He grasped onto the opportunities his life as a performer presents and asked the audience to support him in the most physical way possible.
It was clear that Quinn XCII, Christian French and Ashe truly offered viewers a place to free themselves from the issues that come with being alive. For a few moments, no one was quite so “Sad Still.”
Dance Marathon concludes 18th annual fundraiser with emphasis on embrace
Drag queen Lorelei, hip-hop artist DaniLeigh and HIV awareness advocate Dontá Morrison took the stage throughout Dance Marathon.
The 18th annual fundraiser, hosted by the Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA, took place from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon in Pauley Pavilion. Speakers, student performers and musical headliners alternated their presence on the main stage as dancers aimed to stay on their feet for the full 26-hour event.
“I want to learn more specifically about pediatric AIDS and the causes that I donated to. You got to keep a positive mentality and know you’re doing it for the right reasons,” said Jake Rich, a first-year economics student, during the start of the event. “That will keep me on my feet.”
[RELATED: Enthusiasm abounds in Pauley Pavilion as Dance Marathon 2019 begins]
Awaken A Cappella’s national anthem officially marked the beginning of the lengthy stretch, during which student performers and organizations took the stage. LGBTQ student dance group Taste The Rainbow also performed Saturday afternoon, including dances to theme songs from childhood shows like “That’s So Raven,” as well as a dance to the Scissor Sister’s “Let’s Have A Kiki.” Prior to the event, Phoebe Glick, a second-year chemistry student and the club’s internal director, said Dance Marathon is special to TTR because of the LGBTQ community’s history with HIV and AIDS.
“AIDS is not necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking about,” said Jazlyn Ocasio, an alumna and TTR’s external director. “For me, this event is a lot about visibility, being in solidarity and supporting the cause.”
Later on in the evening, UCLA’s drag queen Lorelei reeled in one of the largest crowds of the event. Accompanied by two backup dancers, Lorelei danced and lip-synced to multiple numbers on stage as well as to a Lady Gaga interview.
Advocate Dontá Morrison followed Lorelei’s set and discussed those affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly addressing black men, the demographic most affected by the virus.
“As someone living with HIV, I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your empathy, your compassion, your love and your efforts to get the message out,” Morrison said.
Slightly after 9:00 p.m., DaniLeigh, Dance Marathon’s first headliner, kicked off her set, accompanied by four energetic backup dancers. The artist evoked enthusiasm from dancers as she performed her unreleased song “Pleasure” as well as her other fast-paced tracks “No Limits” and “Lil Bebe.” In between her performances, DaniLeigh reminded students of the cause behind Dance Marathon.
“It’s really dope to see people here for a cause; that’s incredible,” she said. “You guys are out here standing for it; that’s amazing.”
[RELATED: DaniLeigh delivers Dance Marathon’s first headlining performance at 10-hour mark]
Dance Marathon’s second headliner, Lostboycrow, followed DaniLeigh’s set soon after. Lostboycrow’s band showcased its indie style, a relaxed change in pace compared to often upbeat songs played by the Dance Marathon DJ and by DaniLeigh. The artist emphasized his latest releases, as songs from his recently released album “Santa Fe” frequented the set list. He also highlighted his band’s instrumentation – specifically through guitar riffs and a focus on drumming. Fourth-year political science student Isaac Chan said he appreciated Lostboycrow’s performance and the electric-indie genre he brought to the event.
“I think it’s good to change it up. Don’t get me wrong, I love a throwback, I love hip-hop to keep you amped, but also sometimes you can’t always be going,” he said. “To slow things down a bit, it was nice.”
Performances began to subside as dancers hit the halfway mark at midnight, and things took a more solemn turn in the early morning hours. Around 3:30 a.m., alumna Kelly Gluckman took the stage, giving a speech about her experience with HIV and performing a spoken word segment. Gluckman began by explaining she was diagnosed with HIV more than eight years ago, but uses storytelling to heal and feels healthier than ever before. She said she has found a welcoming, embracing group of people through the HIV community, and hopes to focus on changing the stigma around the disease.
Students Ulani Mafate, Kevin Jang and Jason Mally were some of the last people to perform before the fundraiser wrapped up. Mafate and Jang, a second-year English student and a third-year political science student, sang and played the piano to perform medleys of Ariana Grande’s “God is a woman” and Ella Eyre’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off.”
Mally, a fourth-year computer science and cognitive science student, followed, performing two original songs that touched on his own experiences with mental illness. He said he wanted to break down the stigmas that often surround mental illnesses. He said Dance Marathon is about keeping an open mind despite preconceived notions, and unifying participants through understanding and empathy.
“One of the reasons that I think Dance Marathon is such an effective way to raise funds and awareness for AIDS and the transmission of (HIV) is because music is a unifying force,” Mally said. “So when people are brought together using art, it’s easy to influence and change people’s minds and hearts for these issues.”
Contributing reports from Alissa Evans, Daily Bruin reporter, Eva Kaganovsky, Daily Bruin contributor, Max Flora, Daily Bruin contributor, Brooke Cuzick, Daily Bruin contributor, Alexsandra Coltun Schneider, Daily Bruin contribuor, and Drake Gardner, Daily Bruin contributor.
Student musicians support AIDS awareness in waning hours of Dance Marathon
Two student singers and one pianist addressed the usefulness of Dance Marathon as well as expanded the topics covered to address mental illness.
Second-year English student Ulani Mafate and third-year political science student Kevin Jang took the stage early Sunday morning. Mafate kicked off the performance, singing a medley of “God is a woman” by Ariana Grande and “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off” by Ella Eyre, while Jang accompanied on piano.
Following 22 hours of dancing, the crowd began to mellow, but Mafate and Jang’s medley was emotionally moving, said Olivia Handrahan, a third-year communication student. Handrahan said even though the dancers were delirious and may not have been paying attention to specific lyrics, she could still feel the powerful emotion in Mafate’s voice. Prior to the event, Mafate said the duo practiced putting a lot of emotion into the songs. Mafate said Dance Marathon is shrouded in a layer of misconception, as it said it believes that the fundraiser is grounded in understanding that passion is a coping mechanism for pain rather than finding a cure.
“Dance Marathon is just a way for us to take control of what’s happening right now, or just the illusion that we’re in control,” Mafate said. “In a much more light sense, having fun and having a purpose by contributing to a larger cause that we have created.”
(MacKenzie Coffman/Assistant Photo editor)
Mafate said since there is no cure for HIV and AIDS, through events like Dance Marathon, participants should enjoy themselves and embrace the feeling of control – Dance Marathon is about trying to make light of a dark situation, it said. Jang said he and Mafate want to show people participating in Dance Marathon who are affected by HIV and AIDS that they are supported and are not alone in their struggle.
The second performer during the time slot was Jason Mally, a fourth-year computer science and cognitive science student who performed two original songs and completed his set with Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper,” to which the audience sang and danced along. Mally’s intentions during his performance, however, were to raise awareness for more than just HIV and AIDS, he said prior to the event.
The primary inspiration for his performance was to break down the stigmas surrounding mental illness, he said. Mally’s first two original songs were a window into his experiences, he said, with mental illness conveyed through his lyrics. He said he wanted his music to present his own experiences to help fight stigmas while unifying people through understanding.
“(Dance Marathon) is about the concept of maintaining an open mind and fighting preconceived notions that you’ve been taught your entire childhood,” Mally said. “Many people at UCLA are open-minded, and I think that’s really a blessing that we have at this school.”
In response to Mally’s performance, Handrahan said it was meaningful to hear a fellow student sing his own music. She said it was fulfilling to not only support the cause of Dance Marathon but also to support fellow Bruins and their stories through their songwriting.
“One of the reasons that I think Dance Marathon is such an effective way to raise funds and awareness for AIDS and the transmission of it is because music is a unifying force,” Mally said. “So when people are brought together using art, it’s easy to influence and change people’s minds and hearts for these issues.”
Jaylen Hands announces entrance into 2019 NBA Draft, forgoing college eligibility
Another Bruin is headed to the NBA.
UCLA men’s basketball sophomore guard Jaylen Hands announced via his Twitter account Sunday afternoon that he intends to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and enter the 2019 NBA Draft.
To UCLA … thank you for the best 2 years of my life! Thank you for each and every high and low. Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and supporters along the way. I have signed with an agent and will enter the 2019 NBA Draft with the full intent to stay in. #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/S5X8EVPtaQ
— Jaylen Hands (@JHANDS08) April 7, 2019
Hands also entered his name into the draft pool after his freshman season, but decided to return to UCLA after not hiring an agent.
The former five-star recruit appeared in 64 games over two seasons with the program, starting in 46 of them. As the team’s full-time starter this past season, Hands averaged 14.2 points, 6.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game – earning him second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Hands – a projected second-round pick – is the second Bruin this offseason to declare for the draft after sophomore guard Kris Wilkes announced his plan to leave last month. UCLA is still awaiting word from sophomore guard Chris Smith and freshman center Moses Brown, both of whom have appeared in mock drafts in the past few months.
The deadline for early entry into the NBA Draft is April 21st.