Author: Calvin Wilson
B
Ballet Tells a Haunting Tale
Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” has haunted readers for almost seven decades. Its narrative is simple: In a fictional town, an annual rite is held in which one of the citizens is murdered — by stoning. The townspeople approach the lottery with a chilling nonchalance. Betraying one of their own — in this case, a wife and mother named Tessie Hutchinson — is merely something that must be done to maintain the social order.
W
Wylliams/Henry Celebrates a Quarter-Century of Excellence in Dance
For any arts organization to reach its 25th anniversary is cause for applause. But such an achievement is perhaps even more notable for a dance company. Dance, one of the most revered art forms, is also among the least understood. But Kansas City’s Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, founded by the late Leni Wylliams and Mary Pat Henry in 1991, has clearly found an appreciative audience.
O
Owen/Cox: Balancing Profundity and Fun
Kansas City’s Owen/Cox Dance Group brings to the stage an intriguing blend of classical and contemporary influences. But perhaps more importantly, the company pursues that approach while striking a balance between profundity and fun. This fall, the critically-acclaimed company will once again appear as part of the “New Dance Partners” series at Johnson County Community College.
H
Honors: Jordan Stempleman
Regardless of their differences, the arts and faith communities share a belief in the human need to connect. It’s also true that, to a great extent, local artists depend on community support. REACH—an alliance of Kansas City-area churches—has established the “Gift of Faith” awards to lend such support to Kansas City-based artists.