http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18F_007.pdf

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Part of BSU Hosts Explosive Celebration, February 28, 2005

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BSU Hosts Explosive Celebration 5em(l
By KATIE BECZAK
Assistant Arts and Life Editor

The Black Student Union's
celebration of Black History
Month culminated Saturday
night with Black Explosion, an
event designed to showcase
African-American culture and
talent.
The eighth annual dinner
and fashion show was held for
the second year at the Hyatt
Regency in downtown Buffalo.
With required formal wear and
red carpet treatment, the event
provided students from UB with
an elegant night of food, friends
and fashion.
"It's a celebration of the
end of Black History Month
and something for students to
look forward to," said Simone
Hicks, president of the BSU. "It
celebrates fashion, culture, and
presents underground artists
to the UB community. Black
Explosion is our biggest event,
and has grown significantly in
the past couple years ."
A $25 ticket afforded students
a sit-down dinner followed by
a fashion show and singing
The
night
performances.
highlighted some little-known
talent within the community
while simultaneously helping a
good cause. Ten percent of the
profits raised Saturday night
went to Oprah's Angel Network
to supportAIDS research.
"I like the fact that the BSU
can showcase talented students
within the UB community.
It allows students to show
themselves off. Overall, I think
it's a nice event," said Samaria
Crossdale, a graduate economics
student.
Students attended the event
to watch the show and see
new styles, but what they were
wearing was just as important.
"People came out and dressed
their best. I know I put a lot
of hard work into my outfit,"
said Rickey Brown, a junior
psychology and Spanish major.
"It's an interesting and unique
show, it is very cultural, with
good food and good people."
As the 500 well-dressed guests
attending
Black
Explosion
filtered into the hotel's · grand
ballroom they were greeted with
candlelit tables and laid-back
music. All the circular tables in

Saturday's Black Explosion fashion show was equal parts elegance and attitude.

the room surrounded a large
runway.
Meals were served at 7 p .m.,
but many people still weren't
present in their seats to eat. It
was clear that the fashion show,
not dinner, was the anticipated
event of the night.
As show time approached,
people grabbed chairs from
surrounding tables and crowded
around the stage for a better
view.
Offering clothing styles from
Brooklyn designers such as
Woodwear, Pela, and Softlines,
the audience was able to see
a wide range of fashion, from

evening wear and tuxedos to
bathing suits.
were
"The
designers
remarkable, I wish I brought
my checkbook," said Christina
Joseph, a junior communication
and management major and
model in the show. "The BSU
e-board worked so hard to put
this together, it's incredible. I
can't wait for next year to be in
the show again because it was so
much fun . I didn't know Buffalo
had this much going on."
There was no lack of skin
shown off as models strutted
their stuff up and down the
runway in outfits that were by

no means modest. They received
catcall and cheers from the
enthusiastic viewers.
People were singing, dancing,
and clapping along with the
music throughout the audience,
clearly enjoying themselves
while supporting their friends
and relatives on stage.
The audience was treated
to music between runway
presentations. Artistslike Rhyson
and Image entertained the
audience with their different
musical styles, ranging from rap
to a cappella, in addition to the
see EXPLOSION page 6

6

Explosion
from page 5
stylish runway show.
At the end of the night, it
seemed as if most people were
satisfied with the event, despite a
few complaints.
"I think it could have been
a little better. The host was dry
and the food wasn't great.There
could have been a little more
variety," said Asisat Oladele, a
junior exercise science major.
"But I had fun because I was
with great friends who made me
laugh."
Despite the food, others
appreciated Black Explosion
simply for the night of
entertainment it gave them.
"The scenery was beautiful,
and the females were especially
beautiful," said Bernard Blake,
a senior accounting major and
member of fraternity Omega Psi
Phi. "The show was good and
met my expectations. It was just
a fantastic atmosphere."
Black
Explosion,
which
continues to grow and expand
each year, was seen by many as
an exampleof what the BSU can
do for the UB community.
"A lot of hard work and
dedication is put into the show
every year, and it keeps getting
better," said Brown. "I know
when I graduate I'll come back to
Buffalo and see it again."

e-mail:spectrum-arts@buffalo.edu