I'm with the band (UA) at Nationaltheater Mannheim

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When ballet director Kevin O’Day, the New York composer John King and a group of musicians meet to create a new piece, many things are possible: different styles collide, urban rhythms mix with other musical traditions.

For over fifteen years Kevin O’Day and John King have been pursuing a path that challenges dance and musical forms while allowing two equal partners to create with independence and freedom. John King has worked closely with dance legend Merce Cunningham, composed several operas, radio plays and has been commissioned by many classical contemporary music ensembles such as the Kronos Quartet, Red {an orchestra}, Ethel and Bang On A Can All-Stars, among others. He is persistently pursuing and refining a method that has been described by the New York Observer as follows: “Perhaps it’s the listener, ultimately, who breathes life into Mr. King’s piece, or pieces. But it’s the composer’s invention that makes that possible, and Mr. King’s is of a rare kind.”

The saying I’m with the band comes from a method some have used to sneak into overcrowded clubs and concerts. Mannheim’s ballet director refers to this trick with a wink. Aren’t we all part of the band? In O’Day’s tenth season the ballet production I'm with the band is more than just a birthday serenade. This anniversary premiere celebrates dancing, making music and coming together.