HOLLYWOOD—Earlier this year, children and parents who wanted to learn to sing like a Vox member or to dance the Merengue gathered at Cantwell Sacred Heart High School. The free workshop featured choral group favorite Vox Femina singers and the fabulous dancers from Contra-Tiempo! It didn’t really matter if participants were tone-deaf or born with two left feet, because the event was geared for fun.
An eclectic crowd gathered to try to make some magic. Described by Vox Femina’s artistic director, Dr. Iris Levine, as, “A doozy of a time for the whole family!” the workshop was a predecessor of the upcoming collaborative efforts between Vox Femina Los Angeles and Contra-Tiempo’s concert NUESTRAS which offers a performance that is a syncopated, sensual, sumptuous program of music and dance that may just have you dancing in the aisles! Together, the two artistic groups combined into the presentation works that are the result of a shared exploration of one another’s art form. The performance also featured each ensemble showcasing their individual art forms. Other instrumental performers included the highly respected talents of Cristian Graces and Robert Fernandez. Concert contents included the music of Argentina, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Latin dances such as Merengue, Tango, Joropo, Baiao, Duerme Negrito, Maquerule, Maximina and Te Quiero.
Throughout its history, Vox Femina has sought out collaborations that extend its reach into different audiences, that allow the ensemble to express its support of a broad definition of diversity, and that utilize choral music to deliver messages about issues that affect women and support diversity. For this concert, VFLA looked into the community to identify an artistically strong and innovative partner in Contra-Tiempo.
What makes this especially compelling is strengthening each ensemble’s own artistic expression through greater self-awareness of the power of each other’s artistry, but also expanding audiences’ view of the world by melding two distinct art forms.
Vox Femina Los Angeles is a women’s choral ensemble dedicated to the performance of quality choral literature with an emphasis on music by women composers. Choral singing is one of the oldest performance arts in existence, but Vox is excited to perform new works and accept new challenges for themselves and for the audience. Dr. Iris S. Levine founded Vox in 1997. In the past 13 years, Vox has established itself as one of the preeminent women’s choruses in the United States, with a demonstrated ability to perform highly eclectic repertoire, which can be heard on the ensemble’s recordings. Vox Femina Los Angeles has actively fulfilled its goals through an exciting schedule of performances, touring and educational outreach. The organization is funded through grants and private donations.
Details for upcoming shows and events can be found at voxfeminala.org.
The 2010/2011 season is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the LA County Arts Commission.
The Nuestras Voices Concert is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.
