Mary from Hudson called to tell me about a few new performers they have had this summer. I haven’t heard of these folks before, and from what Mary says, I’ll probably be hearing about them at other libraries in the area soon.
Ragamala is a dance company in the Twin Cities practicing Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form. They have had much acclaim and travel internationally. They add contemporary ideas and themes into the classical dance, keeping it current. The company sent two dancers to Hudson, where they used dance to tell a few familiar stories, and invited audience participation. The audience was fascinated, and Mary was terrifically impressed with their artistry and their ability to engage the audience.
Another new performer on the Wisconsin scene: The Marvelous Magical Music Museum and Instrument Petting Zoo. Geoffrey Guy Weeks is a musician, instrument collector, and teacher who lives in Northfield. He brought an entire van chock full of instruments from around the world to Hudson! Here’s a tip from Mary–make sure you have some strong young backs on hand to volunteer to help unload the van. The kids were enthralled, though Mary wished he had played a little more and talked a little less…
What performers have you had this summer? What projects have gone over especially well? Anything you can take a few minutes to share? Anything not going as you planned? Tell all! Send in your ideas or submissions to langby@ifls.lib.wi.us!