Störling Dance Theater Presents ‘The Little Match Girl’

Kansas City-area dance group to perform Hans Christian Andersen classic

Kansas City — After receiving critical acclaim for its original productions of “Underground” and “Butterfly”, Störling Dance Theater is now preparing to perform one of Hans Christian Andersen’s classics. Andersen originally wrote the story based on his mother’s life and to raise public awareness concerning child exploitation. With the growing awareness of the plight of millions of children around the world with such films as “Kavi” shining light on this problem, Mona Störling –Enna, artistic director for Störling Dance Theater, sought to reinvigorate “The Little Match Girl” to play her part in improving the lives of the abused.

Rehearsals are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon at The Culture House and 2 to 4 p.m. at Indian Creek Community Church in Olathe.

Presented by The Culture House, “The Little Match Girl” tells the tale of a young girl looking for love and compassion at Christmastime. It will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 at Indian Creek Community Church, 12480 Black Bob Road in Olathe. Tickets are $15 and $25 and can be purchased at www.storlingdance.com.

Launched in 1996, Störling Dance Theater is Kansas City’s emerging neo-classical dance company. In addition to its local performances, the group has toured the United States, Canada and Central Asia. Störling Dance Theater is in residence at The Culture House, one of Kansas City’s premiere arts centers located in Olathe, Kan.

The Culture House is a nonprofit arts academy dedicated to providing quality arts education for the whole family in a friendly and fun environment. Its purpose is to cultivate artistic creativity and personal growth for positive cultural direction.

Founded in 1996, The Culture House has grown to one of Kansas City’s largest and most respected independent schools for artistic training with annual enrollment of over 750 students. For more information visit www.culturehouse.com or call Jeremiah Enna at (913) 393-3141 to schedule a photo and interview.

Christmas in Baghdad

Kansas City-area costume designers create nativity attire for persecuted Iraqi church

Olathe, Kan. — Two years ago, Jeremiah Enna heard Canon Andrew White from the persecuted St. George’s Church in Iraq preach at Christ Community Church in Leawood. The experience was eye opening.

Located on Haifa Street in the “Red Zone” of Baghdad, White’s church boasts more than 3,500 Iraqi Christians. However, the church is protected by several armed guards and often subject to suicide bombers.

“As Andrew got up to speak he received a text message saying: ‘the church has just been bombed,’” Enna said. “His work isn’t just current, it’s now. When someone commits their life to Jesus Christ in Baghdad, they know it very well may be a death sentence. But they do it anyway, because they choose life over death.”

Enna, who founded The Culture House in Olathe with his wife, Mona Enna, decided to do what he could to help White and his persecuted church congregation.

A number of The Culture House’s costume designers will be sewing together nativity costumes to help the church’s children better understand and celebrate the birth of Christ. The costumes will be sent in time for the upcoming Christmas season.

Designers involved in the project include Mona Enna, Christiane Lisabe and Ginger Zemelman from The Culture House; Barbara Williams from Lady Who Makes Dresses; Mary Henderson, Julia Ras and Gina Milbourne from Christian Youth Theater.

Local children from The Culture House also will be a part of the project.

“One of the main motivations is to connect the children in Kansas City with the children in Baghdad,” Enna said. “How great to have our kids building these relationships. One of the ideas with Christmas in Baghdad is to help strengthen the personal bond between Kansas Citians and Iraqis to bring encouragement and support and to humanize the struggle our soldiers are investing in.”

St. George’s is supported by the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME), created by White in 2005. He serves as the foundation’s president and CEO. For more information, visit www.frrme.org.

The Culture House is a nonprofit arts academy dedicated to providing quality arts education for the whole family in a friendly and fun environment. Its purpose is to cultivate artistic creativity and personal growth for positive cultural direction.

Founded in 1996, The Culture House has grown to one of Kansas City’s largest and most respected independent schools for artistic training with annual enrollment of over 750 students. For more information visit www.culturehouse.com or call Jeremiah Enna at (913) 393-3141 to schedule a photo and interview.