The Florentine Opera Company and Danceworks will share the spotlight at the Indaba Band Shell on the north side at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, as part of the United Performing Arts Fund’s UPAF Connect program. The band shell is on the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave.
St. Ann Center is a brand-new partner with UPAF Connect, which brings world-class performing arts experiences to those who may not otherwise have access. Both the Florentine Opera and Danceworks are UPAF member groups.
The free night of music and dance features the Florentine Opera’s Baumgartner Studio Artists, who will perform music from “Carmen” and “La Traviata,” along with an American spiritual by Aaron Copland.
Soprano Kathryn Henry, mezzo-soprano Meghan Folkerts, tenor Luke Selker and baritone James Dewese will be accompanied by Janna Ernst, the company’s principal pianist. The singers are artists-in-residence, performing in a nine-month professional opera training program and serving as cultural ambassadors in outreach concerts.
Danceworks will showcase three pieces in different dance styles: hip-hop, classical Indian dance and the solo “Maestra” performed by Danceworks Artistic Director Dani Kuepper. This audience-participation piece will have the crowd dancing in their seats.
The Indaba Band Shell, opened in early June, features a hillside audience area and a wheelchair-accessible seating area. Built in partnership with Parklawn Assembly of God Church, the Indaba aims to bring family-friendly entertainment to the north side community.
For more information about performances at the Indaba, contact Gloria Miller at (414) 210-2428 or gmiller@stanncenter.org.