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Ritual of the Body Electric at la Esquina

Dancers during a rehearsal of Ritual of the Body Electric at la Esquina
photo: Laura Spencer, KCUR
Dancers during a rehearsal of Ritual of the Body Electric at la Esquina

A passage from a poem by Walt Whitman sparked the inspiration for a new multi-media work, Ritual of the Body Electric. It incorporates a chamber ensemble, dancers, and video.

By Laura Spencer

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-763160.mp3

Kansas City, MO – The 30-minute work is loosely based on a section of Walt Whitman's "I Sing the Body Electric" and expresses the emotion behind the loss of a parent and celebrates relationships.

Urban Culture Project presents
RITUAL OF THE BODY ELECTRIC
A Multimedia Music and Dance Work
Friday, September 5, 8 & 9:30pm
at la Esquina, 1000 West 25th, KCMO 64108
Ritual of the Body Electric

Composer William Lackey, artist Nate Fors, choreographer Jennifer Owen

The production features dancers: Chloe Abel, Jesse Cooper, Matthew Powell, Rebka Sakati, and Jennifer Tierney; and musicians: Dr. Rebecca Sherburn, soprano; Jonathan Borja, flute; Mary Ann Lucas, oboe ; Cheryl Melfi, clarinet; James Keel Williams, bassoon; Liz Dunning, horn; Chris Larios, trumpet; John J. Jenkins, trombone; Marja M. Kerney, percussion; Mark E. Lowry, percussion; Christopher Levin, piano; Kara Land, harp; Marvin Gruenbaum, violin; Christian A. Fatu, violin; Tim Eshing, viola; Mark Stauffer, cello; Kristin Shafel, bass. The conductor is Christopher Kelts. Mica Thomas is the lighting designer and Christopher Biggs is the technical coordinator.

Tickets are $10 at the door. Fifty percent of all proceeds will be donated to Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Cancer Program. This work is dedicated to the memory of Kathryn Ann McCallum Lackey.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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