Combining music, dance and visual effects, Bella Gaia brings something a little different to the Sedona International Film Festival.
“Inspired by astronauts who spoke of the life-changing power of seeing the Earth from space, Bella Gaia successfully simulates this overview effect from space flight, in a tone of communion and celestial wonder,” the Bella Gaia website states. “The audience will experience a visceral flow of unencumbered beauty that manifests for all the senses by combining supercomputer data-visualizations from NASA, high-fidelity orbital views of Earth, cultural photography and stirring live performances of music and dance from around the world.”
Kenji Williams is the director and composer of the performance.
Bella Gaia can be seen at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 28, beginning at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for the two-hour performance are $15.
According to the SIFF program guide, the award-winning Bella Gaia tells a cosmic story, exploring both human and natural expressions of the living universe, illuminating the relationship between civilization and nature as we enter the Anthropogenic Age by visualizing our effects on the biosphere, while celebrating the evolution of art and culture.
“Bella Gaia is a new story for our time, delivered in the language and technology of the future,” the program states.
“Audiences are going to see and experience something truly extraordinary and be completely immersed in a beautiful production that combines dancers and musicians from around the world with some of the most stunning visual imagery of our beautiful planet from NASA,” said Patrick Schweiss, SIFF’s artistic director.
“It is a phenomenal performance that is unlike anything we have ever featured here at the Sedona Film Festival and it will make everyone appreciate the rich culture of our planet and the beauty of this place we are lucky to call home,” he said.
Schweiss said the performance would not be possible had it not been for a grant given by a local foundation, Arcos Cielos.
“Bella Gaia is an act I wanted to introduce to the Sedona International Film Festival community and also in support of the upcoming Earth Day events,” the foundation’s Alisa Maynard said. “Our foundation is honored to be able to sponsor this special event for our community in support of the arts, education and the environment.”
