Immersive Dance, Art and Music Fusion
Sunday, Apr. 30 | 4:00pm ET (3:00pm CT)
Original art, original music, and original choreography mark this event as the first of its kind at The Acorn. The colorful, dynamic, nature-based imagery of Pam Kirkham’s paintings as a backdrop is combined with an exquisite live dance performance by Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers, moving to the tantalizing sounds of music composed by Silver Rain (Mitch Gregory & Debra Sawyer), brings good vibes your way! Segments of Pam’s eclectic vocals alongside guitarist, Mitchell Gregory, and segments of energetic solo and duet dance numbers by Carolyn and one of her CPR dancers will be interspersed throughout the event.
“The common thread throughout all of my paintings and vocal performances is a desire to help people escape from their life struggles, especially those dealing with a serious illness. You can either fight against your challenges and be miserable, or you can choose to escape momentarily, to re-charge your soul. Whether that is through the “Fight or FIight” series or the “Water, Altitude, & Atmosphere” series, or a song you hear me sing, my goal is to put you in a positive state of mind. I want you to transcend (if only for a short time) to a more optimistic frame of mind. Living in many diverse places including New Mexico, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Michigan, has given me a deep understanding of how other cultures revere nature and why. As the world becomes more technologically advanced, we should never forget that our spirits come from, and are grounded in, nature. I want you to use my art and music to heal yourself from the inside out in a positive and spiritual way.” – Pamela Kirkham
About the Artists:
Pam Kirkham is a well-known local professional fine artist who has recently shown her work in Barcelona, Spain; Zürich, Switzerland (3 Art Expos); New York City, and Venice, Italy. She was an ArtPrize artist for two consecutive years and her work has been acquired by collectors all over the world. She graduated from Kendall College of Art &
Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan and from a class which originally numbered 150 students, she graduated as 1 of 12 worthy of graduating as illustrators in her class. She participated in the largest art competition in the world, ArtPrize, in 2014 & 2015. The artist was chosen as an Oklahoma Arts Division’s Artist-in-Residence to teach throughout the state for 1 year; has been awarded 3 Art in Public Places murals through the New Mexico Arts Division, and has received numerous awards throughout her career. https://www.pamkirkham.com
Pam is also a vocalist performing under the stage name, Blue Aura. She emits rich, sultry vocals that take you to your warm and fuzzy place, or energetic numbers that psych you up. She enjoys entertaining with a wide variety of music including blues, classic rock, folk, and country. Influences include Taj Mahal, Allman Brothers, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Ray Charles, Carole King, Van Morrison, and The Chix. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063767283276
Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers is the Executive Artistic Director of CPR Dance: Inhale Movement, a premiere contemporary dance company in Southwest Michigan. She received her MFA in dance at the University of the Arts under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield and Dr. Tommy DeFrantz and graduated as the Presidential Scholar with a BFA in dance from Western Michigan University. Carolyn has danced in NYC, Miami, LA and Michigan dancing and acting both on stage and on camera. Her dance based works have been featured nationally and internationally, have been a finalist for Maggie Allessee’s Choreography Competition, and awarded support in a KADI grant of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. She can be seen as ‘Abby’ in Moondance (2020) and has performed for Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, Coldplay, Omi, Starbucks, Jockey Bra, Kaplan University, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Diavolo EdCo, Mariana Olivera, Clairobscur, LACDC, Nickerson-Rossi Dance, and Vox Lumiere.
Carolyn teaches adjunctly at Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She judges for CRU national dance competition, and is the Artistic Director of the Midwest Youth Ballet, and teaches at Fusion Center for Dance in Benton Harbor. She has also taught for The Gabriella Foundation of Los Angeles, honored by Michelle Obama in 2015. She is certified as an ABT NTC instructor in Pre-Primary through Level VII & Partnering, ISTD certified contemporary instructor and Reiki and Yoga certified. Carolyn has co-written Ready Movers, a mindfulness and literary curriculum bridging movement, music, and care for Kalamazoo Ready 4’s. She also serves as a board member for Partners in Dance. www.inhalemovement.com
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 25th at 7:00am ET.
RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.
