Members of Kiara Academy of Performing Arts with Wendy (centre) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kiara Academy of Performing Arts presents an Advent and Christmas concert, Christmas is Coming, in the city this weekend. The first part of the evening will consist of popular Christmas music and carols, while the second part will be devoted to cantatas.

“It’s a Christmas or Easter story told as a song,” says Wendy M. Dixon, who directs the show with associate director Tina Dixon Franco. “It has scriptures and is accompanied by musical instruments. The title of the cantata we will present is because of Bethlehem.”

Wendy says most of the singing is accompanied by dancing. “The dances are choreographed by Rachel Ann Franco, who was Kiara’s student. We have an excellent team of dancers, all teenagers as well as a couple in their 20s.”

She says the carol will be a mix of modern and pop, with songs like ‘Kid on Christmas’, ‘Holiday Tango’ and ‘Christmas is Coming’.

“These songs get everyone excited about the first half of the show,” says Wendy. “We wanted to get everyone excited about Christmas. ‘This is Christmas’ talks about the mood, reason and family of the festive season.

Wendy says that while the first half will feature modern songs, the second half will include traditional Christmas hymns. “The songs we chose will talk about shepherds, kings, but we wanted to bring something new and exciting with the tradition.”

Wendy worked as a professor of English at Jyoti Niwas College and started Kiara exclusively for children in 2006. “It gradually began to include helping adults learn music, theater and dance.”

Since 2019, the Christmas concert has doubled as a fundraiser. “We support the Children’s Cancer Wing of St. John’s Hospital to help children suffering from cancer and serious blood related disorders. We do this every year in December.”

The funds raised are donated to the Father Clement Campus Pediatric Cancer Fund at the hospital. “When we started Kiara, Father Clement was our mentor and was also on the advisory board. He died of cancer and the concert became a fundraiser to honor him and his memory.

Wendy says that even though they may not be able to provide funds for every child, whatever they get through the concert goes towards the treatment of the children. “Even if we can fund one child or some treatment, it’s a good thing because cancer treatment is expensive and long-term.”

Wendy M. Dixon (right) started a fundraiser in memory of Father Clement, who died of cancer. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A Christmas market will also be held this year. “We have invited stalls with gifts, books, food, home recipes and more. We started the market last year and thought it would be nice to continue the tradition. We announced the marketplace on social media, and we received responses from independent bakers and home entrepreneurs who wanted to be a part of the marketplace. There will be 20 stalls of food, confectionary, miniature food and all things Christmas related.

Wendy says the idea of ​​bringing more people to the event was to celebrate the spirit of Christmas. “This is a time for people to come together and have a good time, but also support each other.”

The stalls will open one and a half hour before the concert and will continue to operate freely while the concert is going on and even after the concert.

Christmas Is Coming will be presented on November 30 at 6 pm at St. John’s Auditorium, Koramangala. Tickets on Zomato Live. Call 9845274846/9880855688 for details.