Performance

In its more than 40 year history, the Harriman-Jewell Series has presented 18 American recital debuts, including tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Recently, it was soprano Danielle de Niese's turn.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – More than a million people flooded Washington D.C. today to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. In Kansas City, many gathered at the Gem Theater to watch the national events on a big screen and take part in a local celebration which included music and poetry. KCUR's Elana Gordon was there and brought back this audio postcard.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, residents of towns and villages in England would gather together during the holiday season, while guilds produced short public plays called pageants.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – The Shearmen and Taylors' Pageant is one of only two surviving plays of the Coventry Cycle, from the town of Coventry, which became well-known for its lavish Christmas productions.

Richard Nixon was president when the Kansas City Ballet premiered its production of The Nutcracker, set to the music of Tchaikovsky. For thirty-six years running, audiences have been so swept up in the music and the movement that other crucial elements of the piece tend to get overlooked, and what would The Nutcracker be without its extravagant costumes?

By Steve Walker

For the late dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, dance was a way to celebrate and honor the African-American experience. The company Ailey founded, the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, marks its fiftieth anniversary this year.

By Laura Spencer

Ailey Camp is one of the legacies of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. It's more than a summer camp for kids who want to dance. Alvin Ailey started the camp with the idea that dance could be a vehicle for growth and personal development among the community's youth.

By Laura Ziegler