Beau Kenyon: The Music Man of Urbanity Dance

*written by Hannah Chanatry
On the heels of #ArtsMatter Day, we spoke with Beau Kenyon, music director and curator for Urbanity Dance’s fall show, about the arts, Pablo Neruda, and the process of collaboration.

Even over the phone, Beau Kenyon’s excitement is infectious.

“It’s important to express ideas, to have freedom of voice,” stressed Kenyon. He continued to emphasize the importance of creative thought, an ability he explains is not exclusive to the arts world, but can be applied everywhere. “To think like an artist can permeate society in interesting ways,” he said.

Kenyon has been thinking like an artist for most of his life. Beginning his artistic involvement at the age of four with piano instruction, he now works as a freelance composer and Associate Director of Extracurricular Programs at Kingsley Montessori School.

Kenyon’s work exploring Pablo Neruda’s The Book of Questions actually began in Mexico, as he worked on a collaborative piece for spoken-word voices. Inspired by the poems, and having already worked with Urbanity through his position at Kinglsey, it wasn’t long before Kenyon and Betsi Graves, Urbanity’s Director, came together to develop Urbanity Dance’s Fall Show, Neruda’s Book of Questions: An Exploration Through Music and Dance.

“Neruda was such a powerful artist and poet,” said Kenyon. “The Book of Questions is a poignant summation of his life’s work.”

As planning for the performance got underway, Kenyon worked closely with Graves and Jacob Regan, the lead choreographer for the show, to the direction and various ideas for the show. From that foundation, Kenyon developed original compositions and curated additional music, incorporating elements of classical music, traditional Chilean music, and Neruda’s own voice.

The final product? A site-specific exploration of the questions Neruda posed about life, passion, sadness, nonsense, and joy.

 

Ready to see the show? Click here to get your tickets, and don’t forget to check out our website!