The pandemic hasn’t canceled Edmonds Center for the Arts’ annual Kidstock! events.
After bringing performing arts to more than 2,500 children and their families over the years, Kidstock! is transitioning to the virtual world for its ninth annual slate of shows. Free live-streamed performances by two kid-friendly performers are scheduled this month. Three more shows to follow through May 2021, although the details of those haven’t been finalized.
“ECA will stream five live performances of music, storytelling, dance and theater for our youngest audiences and their families, and provide opportunities to interact and engage with artists in real time,” the center stated in a news release. “Though ECA’s ninth year of Kidstock! must adapt, we are committed to providing the same access to diverse and dynamic arts experiences to Edmonds, our surrounding communities and beyond.”
On Saturday, Kidstock! will welcome Eli Rosenblatt, a Seattle performer whose high-energy show combines world music, movement and imagination for all ages. Rosenblatt takes audiences on a tour of musical traditions from around the world, including salsa, hip-hop, reggae, klezmer and samba.
He also incorporates several languages, including leading audiences in singing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” in English, Spanish and French.
On his website, Rosenblatt pays tribute to the artists and traditions that inspire what he does.
“Most of the musical styles that (I have) the honor and privilege to play have their deep roots in West Africa,” the website states. “Many of these rhythms and ways of playing were delivered into the world through the genius, power and resilience of people of African descent in Brazil, the U.S., Cuba and Jamaica.”
Rosenblatt’s show is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Like all the Kidstock! performances, the show is free, but registration is required. You will receive an email with a live-stream link 24 hours before the show. For more, go to www.edmondscenterforthearts.org.
On Nov. 28, Kidstock! will welcome arx duo, the Seattle-based percussion team of Garrett Arney and Mari Yoshinaga, whose missions are expanding percussion chamber music genre, create and present new works involving percussion and educate young artists.
“Dedicated to the creation and presentation of new music, arx duo’s mission is to foster audiences that are imaginative and open-minded through engagement and creation of art; forming intrinsic values that further connect people,” the duo’s website states.
Arney and Yoshinaga are some of the leading pioneers in the percussion chamber music community. They met while studying at the Yale School of Music, where they studied under the noted percussionist Robert van Slice. They’ve performed around the world, and teach at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
The name “arx duo” comes from the artists’ desire to forge new connections, or “arcs,” between composers and the audience.
Arx duo’s show is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 28. As with Rosenblatt’s show, registration is required, and you will receive an email with a live-stream link 24 hours before the show. For more, go to www.edmondscenterforthearts.org.
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