It was dangerously cold. In Minnesota terms that means your skin could freeze if you are outside for more than a few minnutes. Yet people came with their children, their parents, and their hearts ready for another incredible ritual show by Kari Tauring and Friends. The interior of the Cedar Cultural Center was completely transformed by the paintings of trees by Maris Gilbert and the Quilts of Terri Allen.

Lights dimmed as the cast members encircled the audience with their song Round and Round the Earth is Turning and the directions were called. Tauring sang a moody rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy" in a minor key with new, original lyrics to further illuminate the relationship of these two plants. "The Ivy clings to the holly as all of us cling to hope, they grow in peace together feeding eachother's souls."

All were encouraged to see themselves as trees, with spines as the trunks and feet as the roots, hair and hands the branches. Then we were treated to a performance of "Imani and the Magical Bird". Puppeted to song we followed Imani's journey from scattered inquisitive child to centered and listening young woman. By sitting quietly in a tree she is able to draw strength and lessons, finding the bird of wisdom in her heart space. As the puppeteers waved like trees, the Imani and the bird puppets magically transform into live masked dancers. It was truly awesome.

Then, an evergreen is brought out and the children (young and old) were called to dance around it in the traditional Nordic style. Icelandic songs were sung by Ken Sherman for the dancing children to conclude the first act.

The second act began with "Winter's Come" and a spoken word piece by Maya Rose entitled "Epiphany." Her personal experiences of traditional, rigid religious doctrine were likened to the potted trees adorning the church. Each tree carefully pruned and completely dependent on outside help to survive. Missing a tap root, these trees are unable to communicate with one another or the divine. In contrast, out the window there was a grove of oaks, roots and branches entwined and able to survive any force of nature because they were in community. She eloquently emplored us to discover our own tap roots to the divine. It was a moving and powerful piece.

Then the trees themselves came in. As Tauring sang her "Crone, Maiden, Mother" the root dancer, 7 foot and 9 foot stilt dancers representing the trunk and blossoms of the tree dazzled young and old.

The show concluded with great power as Tauring and Maren Amdal began their Staving, chanting, and drumming. "You flew, didn't you?" was the question asked as Tauring whirled around the room on her little wooden horse. "Yes," she replied, "I do believe I had lift off."

Then the traditional spiral dance began and everyone joined in and moved beneath the arbor provided by the stilting trees to the song "Everyone 'Neath."

"And everyone 'neath the vine and fig tree, shall live in peace and unafraid.

And into plowshares turn their swords, nations shall learn war no more."

It was an enchanting, emotional and powerful show. In the end, no one noticed the cold.