Events

“Arabica”- A timeless romance between music and dance

An afternoon of live music by Light Rain and belly dance by Sisters of the Moon

As summer sets in, sounds of timeless treasures and Arabic beats roll over the desert from far-off lands. Hallucinations of fabric flowing and delicate belly flutters float in the crisp air and melt into the essence of the musicians. The tone is set with lacing violin melodies around rhythmic percussion, which frees the spirit of dance. The moment has slowed as traces of beauty artfully lift from dancer’s fingertips. The dancers, embody all that this moment deeply is soulful. The union of music and dance is art flowing freely with non-attachment of anything other than this very pause in time. And it lasts forever in this paused silence between the beats of the drum.

Presented by The El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre.

Bring your mothers, children, friends, and enjoy a day in downtown El Paso.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Sisters of The Moon was a dance troupe started in the 1970s in El Paso by 13 vibrantly talented women. The daughters (Leilainia and Kareesha) of the original members have revived the essence of the troupe with the sounds that inspired it to begin with (Light Rain) This is an example of how the heart of Art can be timeless and connective.

“Music transports us through timeless memories,” said Leilainia Marcus. “Although most audiences will not know the connection of Sisters Of The Moon, Light Rain, and the City, the heart of the Art impacted so many people here in EL Paso. Culture comes from the expression each member of a community collectively and unconsciously creates. By keeping the art of the community alive you keep the culture alive in true expression. The expression of Sisters Of The Moon and Light Rain is one of beauty, fluidity, softness, collaboration, and peace. In the 70s it created a community of inspired artists who all went on to write books, sell paintings, produce albums, perform internationally, inspire youth, etc. To have that same spark reignite 50 years later is the heart of ART.”

THE MUSIC: If you’ve ever seen the Joffrey Ballet perform its signature dance “Light Rain,” then – regardless of whether you are aware of it – you’re familiar with the music of Doug Adamz. Back before the s became a z, Adams introduced most of the rest of the world to world-beat music. With their initial offering, Dream Dancer (Magi, 1977), Doug Adams & Light Rain precipitated the first drops of what would become a downpour of sound. Some labeled the music New Age, others called it World Beat. However you look at it, Doug Adams, by lacing violin melodies around rhythmic percussion, helped develop a genre that has expanded exponentially since its inception. Light Rain’s Dark Fire (Magi, 1993) is a collection listeners and dancers come back to on a regular basis.

After years of filling California with his melodies, Doug Adamz has recently moved close back to his hometown area of El Paso, Tx.

THE DANCERS: Sisters Of The Moon consists of Kareesha Willow and Leilainia Marcus, as well as their students and dance friends. The name is a tribute to their mother’s dance troupe of 13 women called “Sisters Of The Moon” in El Paso in the 1970s-80s. Kareesha and Leilainia have been dancing to Light Rain since they were in their mother’s wombs and are delighted to revive the essence of the music’s core through dance in this production.