We purchase season tickets to programs presented by the Alliance Arts Council and the Post Playhouse. It’s interesting to me that the Playhouse is always a sellout, but crowds at the Arts Council programs are usually pretty sparse. Probably because a lot of the Playhouse people are tourists, and home folks are too busy following sports. That’s sad, because the Arts are essential in providing a well-rounded education and a wider world view. There’s a reason why poets, writers, and artists are among the first people persecuted and eliminated in countries ruled by dictators.
I’m grateful to the sponsors and Arts Council board for continuing to offer this option, even in the face of discouraging attendance. If you didn’t attend the last program of this season, you are poorer for having missed an unusual gift. The Hall Sisters are multi-talented musicians. Some performers shine with joy for the opportunity to share what means so much to them, and the Hall Sisters are among this group. I became aware of that kind of magic years ago at a performance by Marty Robbins. He kept singing long after his allotted time frame was up, simply because he and the audience were having so much fun.
The last number in the Hall Sisters program was a combination of vocal and instrumental, and it was pretty long. Suddenly, a young girl from the audience appeared near the stage and began performing a ballet. I don’t know her name, or age, but this wasn’t her first rodeo. I don’t know if she knew the music, but she certainly knew how to interpret it. Likely a star pupil at the 7th Street Dance Studio and, by the way, kudos to them for offering this training to young people in the community. I don’t know if the girl was encouraged by an adult to perform for us, or was just so entranced by the music that she had to dance. I do know it was an offering freely given and, at least for me, provided an unforgettable moment.
I was disappointed that none of the professional performers acknowledged the child at the end of the program. They missed a chance to recognize someone whose talent will brighten the world. Surely someone encouraged them as they began their careers at a young age. There’s a responsibility that goes along with being given innate abilities. Share what you’re passionate about, and encourage others to offer what they have been blessed with.
We all have something to share. Maybe you’re a good cook. Take your talent to the potluck, the shut-in neighbor, start a restaurant, or use your skills to teach someone. Show your child, or another youngster how to fix up that old car. Paint a lovely mural on that building downtown. It might just make someone’s day.
Some people have chosen to ignore their gifts and pursue a career based on monetary rewards. A lot of folks get up every day to go to a job they hate. Life’s too short for that. Acknowledge your passion, and find a way to make a living at it, or at least a way to enhance your life and that of others, by offering it freely.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best. Someone might like it.