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indianapolisrecorder.com Arts & Culture Friday, January 24, 2025AfiSectionMinority and Women-Owned Businesses: Borrow Up to$5 Million1READY TO GET STARTED?Our experienced business bankersare ready to help.LEARN MORE:oldnational.com/empowermentloanPRESENTING THE EMPOWERMENT SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAMWe strengthen all our communities when we provide access to capital for traditionally underserved businesses. This program offers expanded credit guidelines2 and modifiedcollateral requirements on several loan types:%u2022 Lines of Credit%u2022 Equipment Financing%u2022 Owner-Occupied Real EstateAt Old National Bank, we believe that businesses in greater Indianapolis deserve the opportunity to change their community in a big way.PROUD TO SPONSOR THE CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY1 All loans subject to credit approval. Minimum loan amount is $25,000. If the security interest is property, property insurance will be required. Additional program qualifications or restrictions may apply. For full details, contact an Old National Business Banker. 2 Loan Sponsor/Guarantor must be a U.S. citizen. Member FDIC. 2432382-0125-012By CHLOE McGOWANchloegm@indyrecorder.comCRYSTAL, Cirque du Soleil%u2019s first show on Ice, is coming to Fisher%u2019s this week.Cirque du Soleil first premiered the acrobatic ice experience in 2017 and has since toured 145 countries for more than 2 million people. Created by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, CRYSTAL is Cirque du Soleil%u2019s 42nd production and is showing at the Fishers Event Center Jan. 23-26.%u00a0%u201cCirque du Soleil has 40 years%u2019 experience in creating shows %u2026 I think they wanted to do something out of their safety zone,%u201d said Roberto Larroude, Cirque du Soleil CRYSTAL senior publicist. %u201cBut for the rest of the world, seeing their acrobatics on ice is really impressive.%u201dThe show is about a young cheerleader named Crystal who feels as though she doesn%u2019t fit in at home or at school. One day, Crystal goes skating and falls through the ice, ending up in a sort of upside-down dream world where she encounters a cast of unique characters, including a clown and a mirror version of herself. Featuring a heartwarming ending, Crystals%u2019 journey leads her to discover how her personality is what makes her unique.CRYSTAL combines the artistry, skill and intensity of both figure skating and gliding on the ice and acrobatics, Larroude said. Audiences will see swinging trapeze, hand-to-hand, Banquine, aerial straps, hand-to-trapeze, juggling and hand balancing adapted for a thrilling experience on a frozen stage.%u201cYou can see figure skaters who had to learn a little bit of acrobatics, and acrobatic artists who had to learn a little bit about skating %u2026 to participate in the show in different moments,%u201d Larroude said. %u201cSo, you get a little bit of both of these worlds.%u201dBecause the stage is made of ice, which is white, CRYSTAL is the first show to use projectors %u2014 28 to be exact. Larroude said the projectors map the ice with images that interact with the skaters and acrobats.%u00a0%u201cSo, it%u2019s a feast for the eyes on the ice, over the ice and above in the air with the acrobatics,%u201d Larroude said.%u00a0Audiences will also get to experience a high-energy hockey act and clowns throwing real snowballs, which Larroude said is always a favorite for the children in the audience.%u201cAnother moment that we use snow is during animation, when the clown comes out with snowballs, and %u2014 kid you not %u2014 throws them to the audience,%u201d Larroude said. %u201cThe audience can throw them back at him, and he can spray everybody in the first rows.%u201dLarroude said CRYSTAL is perfect for families and kids of all ages, filled with beautiful images, incredible songs, humor and %u201cjaw-dropping moments%u201d that will have them impressed.The cast of CRYSTAL is made up of 45 artists from 23 different countries, 16 of which are trained skaters, Larroude said. The show also features a soundtrack with original Cirque du Soleil music and four non-original songs, including %u201cChandelier%u201d by Sia, %u201cHalo%u201d by Beyonce, %u201cSinnerman%u201d by Nina Simone and %u201cBeautiful Day%u201d by U2.CRYSTAL is showing at the Fishers Event Center for five performances Jan. 23-26. Tickets start at $55 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. The show is suitable for audiences of all ages. Children two years old or younger are free with an accompanying adult but must sit on a lap. For more information, visit cirquedusoleil.com/crystal.Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.powerful and make a huge difference in how well people are and then become a really strong foundation for what people can achieve,%u201d said Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI.%u00a0BBBSCI provides mentors and experiences for youth 8-18 in Marion, Hamilton and Johnson Counties. They host events throughout the year, but once matched, mentor and mentee pairs are expected to meet up at least once a month %u2014 whether that%u2019s to visit the Indy Zoo, attend a Pacer%u2019s game, go to the movies or get pizza and do homework together.Mentors must commit to at least a year with their mentee, but some relationships can last up to 10 years (within the program) or longer.%u201cThere%u2019s so many relationships that we build out through program participation that it really strengthens both the young person, the mentor, the family in the process, because they have a bigger social network,%u201d Palmer-Shultz said. %u201cThey have people to call on if they need help, and they have people who will connect them to important opportunities and experiences that they might not have otherwise.%u201dMentorship is in such high demand that at any given moment, BBBSCI%u2019s waiting list has around 1,000 kids waiting for a match, Palmer-Shultz said. Though, there is now an option to participate in a group mentoring program %u2014 such as the one that matches two or three kids with a Butler University student for eight weeks in the fall and spring.But one organization cannot do it all.For the last 40 years, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis have taken mentorship incredibly seriously, serving kids from pre-K through college, according to executive director Kraig Kinchen.Members often see themselves in the youth around them and happily dedicate %u201creal time%u201d toward positively impacting their development and chances of success, Kinchen said.%u201cWe want those students to know that somebody%u2019s in their corner, to sort of empower them to achieve what they want to achieve,%u201d Kinchen said.%u00a0To build their students up, they first build trust %u2014 which Kinchen said begins to form within their programs.First, they engage students through their interests, whether that%u2019s through robotics, STEM, music technology, African American history, financial literacy or leadership development. Within those classes, young boys are exposed to positive male role models who help them understand their possibilities.%u201cOur motto is, %u2018What they see is what they%u2019ll be,%u2019%u201d Kinchen said. %u201cAnd we really believe that. We believe we have to show them what the possibilities are.%u201dNew B.O.Y., which stands for New Breed of Youth, is another program geared toward mentorship for boys ages 6-18. Founded by Kareem Hines, the mentorship program operates five days a week and includes literary arts, youth podcasts, youth sports league and a young entrepreneurs program.New B.O.Y. mentorship is based around the idea of %u201cmaking connections before correction.%u201d The Guns Down, Gloves Up Youth Boxing program allows the mentors to really get in and start to unpack %u2014 not just the trauma the kids deal with in their lives, but also how they feel about gun violence.%u201cWe give them a chance to work out, hit the pads, which also allows them to release some stress,%u201d Hines said. %u201cAfter the workout, now that we%u2019ve developed this relationship with them, now we can talk about the ill effects of guns.%u201dParents and guardians can sign their children up for the program, but Hines said many of the youth are referred to them %u2014 either by the Department of Child Services, Juvenile Probation Department, local churches or community groups. New B.O.Y. gives these kids a safe place, positive role models and healthy ways to cope.%u00a0Connecting students with the right mentors and programs to help them finish school and seek higher learning is crucial to preparing the next generation to be successful, said Crystal Givens, president and CEO of Starfish Initiative. %u201cI don%u2019t think you ever outgrow a mentor,%u201d Givens said. %u201cEveryone still needs guidance %u2026 I think mentorship helps to give you that, that someone that you can connect with, that sees you, that gives you support and encouragement that you need.%u201dContact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.MENTOR%u00a8Continued from A1indianapolisrecorder.com Arts & CultureGrammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne launches tour in IndianapolisBy NORAL PARHAM IIInoralp@indyecorder.comIndianapolis hosts an exciting night of music on Feb. 27 as hip-hop legend Lil Wayne kicks off his five-city tour at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.%u201cBig news, Indiana: I am hitting the stage at Gainbridge Fieldhouse,%u201d Lil Wayne said on his official Facebook page.Lil Wayne%u2019s career is marked by five No. 1 album debuts, including the 6x platinum %u201cTha Carter III%u201d and the 5x platinum %u201cTha Carter IV.%u201d In addition to his musical achievements, Lil Wayne made contributions as the CEO of Young Money Entertainment, the label behind global superstars Drake and Nicki Minaj.His most recent installment, %u201cTha Carter V,%u201d not only topped the Billboard 200 but also achieved the second-largest streaming week for an album in history.Joining Lil Wayne are Anella Herim and multi-platinum artist Quavo of the award-winning trio The Migos.As a founding member of The Migos, Quavo achieved international acclaim with hits like %u201cBad and Boujee,%u201d which topped the Billboard Hot 100, and the group%u2019s multi-platinum albums, Culture and Culture II. Quavo%u2019s dynamic performances and chart-topping success cemented The Migos as one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the last decade.Meanwhile, Anella Herim, an emerging artist with a fresh sound, promises to captivate the audience and leave a lasting impression.This concert marks Lil Wayne%u2019s return to Indianapolis since his appearance at NBA Crossover during NBA All-Star Weekend last winter. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral.Acrobatics on ice: Cirque du Soleil%u2019s %u2018CRYSTAL%u2019 comes to Fishers Event CenterCirque du Soleil%u2019s acrobatic show on ice, CRYSTAL, is showing at the Fishers Event Center for fi ve performances Jan. 23-26. (Photo/Olivier Brajon)Lil Wayne