The event features a performance by the University of International Business and Economics Students Art Troupe of Beijing, one of the leading university performance troupes in China. Their acts include music, dance, martial arts expositions, instrumental performances, operas and even a performance of "Little Bitty" by country music singer Alan Jackson.

The appearance is sponsored by the UCA Confucius Institute for Arkansas and UIBE.

JingJing Li, deputy director of the Confucius Institute on campus said the audience can expect to experience a real Chinese performance.

"I think some of the people that will come, it will be their first time to see a performance like this," Li said.

Not any more. You can have one of those bears for free today.

The Student Activities Board is sponsoring the "Bear Mill/Build-A-Bear" program and will provide free supplies for up to 400 students. It begins at 1 p.m. in the first floor lounge of the Student Center.

"Basically, this event is comprised of several different kinds of stuffed animal shells [and] skins," event coordinator Kendra Regehr said. 

You can build a giraffe, a lion, a tiger, a cat, a dog or several other animals. The toys are stuffed with items such as Xs and Os for hugs and kisses or wishing stars before they are sealed with Velcro.

"We usually go through 400 stuffed animals in a couple hours," Regehr said.  "Students are limited to one bear each."

You will have to move down a line of toys and stuffing materials to build your animal.

The event is funded through the student activity fee.

It was a high-energy night of dance, rhythm, singing, drumming and language. Children and old folks alike joined in the interactive performances led by the Birmingham, Ala.-based dance company and its founder and choreographer, Johannes “Jomo” Xulu.

Umdabu dancers performing

Asha Xulu, Jomo Xulu’s wife and Umdabu’s executive director, introduced the group.

“You all are about to go to South Africa,” she told the audience. And go to South Africa we did.

The audience joined in from the beginning as Xulu herself played the drums. Almost every set of hands was clapping to the beat as the four men entered the stage, dressed in traditional South African clothing made of sheepskin and cowhide.

During the dance, Jomo Xulu spoke of the energy in the room and the unity between the different races represented.

“[There is] no more white, no more black … just us,” he said.

The night got more interesting when he taught the audience some of his native language. He taught them to say “hello,” “how are you,” “I’m fine,” and also how to pronounce the letters ‘x,’ ‘c,’ and ‘q’ with clicks of the tongue.

Arguably the most entertaining part of the night was when the men donned workers’ outfits and boots and did a dance that originated in Johannesburg, South Africa. It included making amusing facial expressions.

However, there was much more meaning to this dance than tapping boots and funny faces.

The workers’ dance originated in the days when men and boys from many different African countries were forced to work in diamond mines under harsh conditions. Because the workers spoke many different languages, they used dance as a form of communication and competition.

This dance, Asha Xulu said, would “take [you] back to where the rhythm began.”

In addition to the performances, Asha Xulu spoke with the audience about the various cultures represented on campus and encouraged minority students to remember their heritage.

“Don’t let your culture die,” she said. “Your culture is beautiful, [something] to be proud of.”

The last dance of the night, like the others, did not disappoint. Nearly every person in the room participated.

“You convinced me that you can dance,” Jomo Xulu said.

The night was a truly authentic South African experience. Among many other things, Jomo Xulu left the audience with a powerful sense of unity.

“We are all brothers and sisters of the universe," he said.

Here's a video we shot of one of the performances.

If you like the music at Ernie Biggs and the young, fun atmosphere of the River Market in downtown Little Rock, you will love Kings Dueling Pianos at 1020 Front St. in Conway.

Inside Kings

This brand new venue has been the "talk of the town" and a gathering place for students since it opened in late December. Kings features a bar with all of the drink selections you can think of. I mean, these bartenders can literally make anything. They have nightly drink specials, too.

There's a stage with two dueling pianos and plenty of comfortable seating, including V.I.P. seating upstairs. Kings is attached to  The Ford Theater, a music venue where all of the live music events and performances are held.

Kings is co-owned by James Buck and Campbell Hatch who wanted to provide a gathering place for music lovers of all ages. Buck said he wants Kings to be a "keystone for the growth of downtown" by appealing to all ages.

There are no more excuses that there is nothing to do around Conway. Everyone enjoys live music and good company, right? Kings is a classy, hip bar that provides live "feel good" music. You can even request your favorite song. I request "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns and Roses every time I visit and they always play it for me.

The Owners

I know what you thinking. You're a broke college student barely feeding yourself. Kings can help with that. Every Wednesday is college night, with $2 well drinks and $2 Bud and Miller drafts.

Kings is open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. There is a $5 cover charge at the door.

If you're not digging the live music at Kings, you can go next door to The Ford Theater. The theater features some of the hottest local DJs playing your favorite hip-hop, R&B, rock and dance music. There's also a dance floor so you want to get your "groove" on.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with Kings. They have something for each and every one of you. So, if you're bored or stuck in the house, grab your girl or guy and some friends and go to Kings where you'll find good people, good music and a good time.

Here's a short video of a recent performance at Kings.

Why should you care about Frozenburr? It's where all of the world's ice cream is mined.

You can see the humor and drama unfold at 7:30 p.m. today at Reynolds Performance Hall in the UCA Theater Department's production of "The King of Ice Cream Mountain." Admission is free and no tickets are required.

UCA Theater does a children's production every year and performs it at elementary schools within a 60-mile radius of our campus.

Members of the cast are Joey Walsh, Sarah Jane Rawlinson, Emily Cooper and Madison Ledbetter. Elizabeth Weatherford designed the set and Haley Tynes designed the costumes. Liz Parker, production manager at UCA Theater, is directing the play.

"It was chosen with children in mind," Parker said. "It is bright, cheery, fun and enchanting, all of those things that children love to see."

Parker said that parents and children both will enjoy this play.

"You can expect a jolly good time," Parker said.

If you miss tonight's production, it will be performed again at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The dance company, based in Birmingham, Ala., exposes its audiences to South African history and culture through the dance performances. It was formed in 2000 by Johannes "Jomo" Xulu, an experienced South African dancer, choreographer, and drummer. Xulu's wife, Asha, is the company's executive director.

The company gave its debut performance at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2001. Since then, it has toured the country, giving performances at more than 75 colleges, universities, and festivals.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Services, The Minority Membership Program, and SGA.

Here's a sample of what you'll see tonight.

We leave you with one last webcast.

P.S. We'll be back next semester.

McConnell, 41, was born in Mobile, Ala., but has lived in such places as Hawaii, Peru and Italy. She graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with two degrees: Studio Art and Communications. She later pursued a master's degree in Modern Latin American Art from Tulane University in New Orleans.

We sat down with McConnell for a brief interview. Here's what she told us:

Q: What do you like best about your position as the new director?

A: I most enjoy interaction with students although I love organizing the exhibitions.

Q: What is your new vision for The Baum Gallery?

A: I would really like it to be more visible to the public eye. I want everyone to get in here and to know that's it's available and fun. This is the most sophisticated gallery in Conway. We are bringing more cutting-edge contemporary type work and very academic work. My staff and I hand wrote notes to every department on campus, even the housekeeping staff, for the 15th anniversary exhibition. We are creating a marketing plan and we will be sending out e-newsletters.

Q: It's been a few months into your new position. How are you adjusting?

A: It's been a real success so far. I really like it here. I come from a position that had a very intense, stressful work environment but I don't have that here. I have very kind and supportive co-workers.

Q: What did you enjoy most about the places you have visited?

A: I lived in Hawaii and I miss being able to jump in the water. I lived in Ireland for a while and there was a warmth of the people and when the sun came out everyone got excited and they would take off work. I studied art in Italy and was in Peru for a while. I was in the rain forest there. I miss waking up in the morning and hearing huge bands of monkeys moving through the trees. I miss the trees in Alabama.

Q: Is there somewhere you would like to visit?

A: I want to sail around Turkey. Morocco interests me. I have been through Spain, but I want to explore Barcelona and always wanted to walk El Camino de Santiago. I think that anyone who has a spiritual interest should have a pilgrimage experience in their life.

Q: What is something most people don't know about you?

A: I'm secretly working on a children's book about the time I lived in the rain forest.

Carville got off to a great start as he engaged listeners and explained his father/daughter relationship. He mentioned that he had been talking on his cell phone and got pulled over and was expecting a ticket. Immediately, he told his daughter to follow his lead and agree with everything he said.

"No, sir, I wasn't talking on the phone. I was scratching my ear with it. You can ask my daughter here," Carville said.

His daughter replied, "My mother taught me to never argue with Daddy when he's been drinking."

After a few more light-hearted jokes, Carville got down to serious business.

He mentioned that past demographics favor a Democratic president in the popular vote because people understand what the current president went through before taking office.

His statement, "This Republican feel is awful," caused a wave of claps from the audience.

His sarcastic flair definitely came through.

"(Texas Gov. Rick) Perry wanted to get rid of the Social Security and Medicaid. We can't employ adults in this country so the solution to that is we are going to start employing children. Now we should put a thing on the ballot: Should we repeal the 20th century?"

Carville stated that there is one good thing about the upcoming election. "Usually in politics we kind of know. Now, we don't know. I can't sit here with any confidence and tell you that I know what is going to happen."

Afterward, he addressed the students and told us that politicians want to make us believe that our voice or opinions don't matter and that there is nothing we can do.

At 67, Carville's advice to us was, "The decisions you are making make a difference. You can change things. Get involved. Stay involved."

After his 3o-minute speech, audience members had the opportunity to ask questions. Carville spoke on the Occupy Wall Street movement, healthcare and education costs, troops overseas and the possibility of losing the middle class.

He mentioned that social media is not the problem in America. It's Congress and it's power.

He finished his speech by giving pointers to bring back the strength of the middle class.

"Bend the curve on health care, reduce costs and raise the value of education," he said.

Carville built his reputation on being able to transform troubled political campaigns into landslide victories. After a string of political victories in the U.S., he spent several years working with international clients, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel, former President Eduardo Duhalde of Argentina and former President Fernando Cardoso of Brazil.

His brash style earned him the nickname of "Ragin' Cajun." He is married to Mary Matalin, a Republican political strategist. He teaches political science at Tulane University in New Orleans.

"What he has to say will be very interesting because of his great insight on politicians," said Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA Public Appearances.

Free tickets are still available at the Reynolds Box Office.