Scores of artists, makers, musicians and performers will descend on the Village at Palisades for a celebration of all things local at Made in Tahoe Festival on May 28 and 29.
“It gives us a chance to invite all the artists in the Tahoe community to be in the same place at the same time,” says Kelly Smiley of Tahoe Flow Arts. “It showcases a lot of entrepreneurship. All of the people who are part of this event have done that through their art in these beautiful mountain towns that can be challenging to live in. It shows a lot of strength and perseverance and love to keep this going.”
This year, Tahoe Flow Arts, in collaboration with In The Air with Mere, has created a special production of music and movement entitled “Iconic Women through Music History.” The show features more than a dozen aerial silk artists performing to a soundtrack of some of the most recognizable female musicians of all time including Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Dolly Parton and more.
“Being a performer, you have to be open to the vulnerability of expressing the true essence of who you are. It’s about what lights you up inside to live your purpose.”
–Kelly Smiley
The dancers will be backed by folk-rock duo Honey Vixen featuring salt-of-the-earth vocalist Kandy Xander of Metal Echo and shredding guitarist Nicole Gaich formerly of Burning Nylon.
“It’s empowering being with this tribe of amazing women and performers,” says Xander. “We’re really embracing each story of these songs in its own way. It’s like a rock ‘n’ roll circus. It’s so much more of a spectacle than a show.”
The production shines a spotlight on the challenges people overcome to stake their claim in the world. It’s also the celebration of a journey of redemption for Smiley and her collaborators.
Growing up in Las Vegas, Smiley was surrounded by entertainment. Her mother worked on the Strip and many of her neighbors were performers.
After studying education at University of Nevada, Reno, she decided to spend one winter in Tahoe. A decade later she was still here, working as a snowboard instructor at Northstar until a serious back injury forced her to reassess her life. Without mountain sports, she decided to try somewhere with more access to culture. She lived in San Francisco and eventually Austin, Texas, but Tahoe never stopped calling her name.
“Everything in me wanted to go back to Tahoe,” she says. “So, I had this grand idea that I was going to bring performing arts to Tahoe.”
While in recovery from her injury, Smiley had discovered aerial silks and yoga as a means of healing. She created Tahoe Flow Arts in Tahoe Vista as a sanctuary where the two practices fuse to create a transformative nexus of restoration and hope. Along the way, she attracted a community of like-minded women who kept the studio alive while supporting each other’s inner journeys.
For her own routine, Smiley will fly on silks to “Hello” by Adele.
“She’s not afraid to let people see her pain,” says Smiley. “When we hide our pain, we store it and it can turn into disease and other things. But when we can express it and let people know it’s safe to be feeling, then we can start the healing process.”
Smiley hopes the production will inspire others to trust in themselves to follow their own dreams.
“Being a performer, you have to be open to the vulnerability of expressing the true essence of who you are,” she says. “It’s about what lights you up inside to live your purpose. It is through the discovery process of our own needs that we can nourish and connect with other people who are going through the same things, so we aren’t alone.”
Tahoe Flow Arts presents “Iconic Women through Music History” at 2:30 p.m. on the community stage both on May 28 and 29. | tahoeflow.com, palisadestahoe.com
Made in Tahoe
MAY 28
All day | Mr. D | Community Stage
11 a.m.-Noon | Oldman Fuller | Events Plaza Stage
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Tahoe Flow Arts | Community Stage
12:45-2:45 p.m. | Space Heaters | Events Plaza Stage
1-2 p.m. | Truckee Dance Factory | Community Stage
1-2 p.m. | Steel Sparrows | First Street Stage
2:30-3:15 p.m. | Tahoe Flow Arts | Community Stage
3-4 p.m. | BC & the Remedy | First Street Stage
3:15-5 p.m. | Peter Joseph Burrt & The Kingtide | Events Plaza Stage
3:30-4 p.m. | Truckee Dance Factory Dance | Community Stage
4-5 p.m. | Interactive Play with Tahoe Flow Arts | Community Stage
MAY 29
All day | Mr. D | Community Stage
11 a.m.-Noon | Mighty Mike Schermer Duo | Events Plaza Stage
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Tahoe Flow Arts Workshop | Community Stage
12:45-2:45 p.m. | PorterHaus | Events Plaza Stage
1-2 p.m. | Truckee Dance Factory | Community Stage
1-2 p.m. | Down the Rabbit Hole | First Street Stage
2:30-3:15 p.m. | Tahoe Flow Arts | Community Stage
3-4 p.m. | Wild Ginger | First Street Stage
3:15-5 p.m. | The Residents | Events Plaza Stage
3:30-4 p.m. | Truckee Dance Factory Dance | Community Stage
4-5 p.m. | Interactive Play with Tahoe Flow Arts | Community Stage
