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Elkhorn talent show provides a chance to shine

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

Michael Suess plays a frog percussion instrument that produces a sound like a frog at night, this is one of many unique instruments that he brings to his "Drumming for Peace" act, a drum circle with audience participation that he will be bringing to a community talent show sponsored by Elkhorn High School's Random Acts of Kindness club at the school's auditorium.

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

Michael Suess plays some of the drums on what will be the showroom for Fire Circle Drums, at its new location in Elkhorn, Suess' business has a variety of drums from around the world and he brings them to his "Drumming for Peace" act, a drum circle with audience participation that he will be bringing to a community talent show sponsored by Elkhorn High School's Random Acts of Kindness club at the school's auditorium.

ELKHORN — Michael Seuss wants to show Walworth County that drumming is a community-building experience.

Seuss, 52, who recently moved to Elkhorn, is the founder and director of the nonprofit Drumming for Peace, a project to bring drumming circles to communities to spread joy, connect people and create a feeling of inner peace for those involved.

“We are so ingrained with rhythm; vibration is part of life all around us,” Seuss said. “What I’m trying to say is: We all have rhythms.

“We were born listening to our mother’s heartbeat. It’s in our DNA.”

On Saturday, Seuss will bring out his more than 100 instruments—rattles, tambourines, sticks and others—and gather a group of Walworth County residents for a drumming circle in Elkhorn.

Drumming circles are like prayer or meditation, he said. They are soothing, relaxing and create a sense of connectedness among participants.

“Everybody comes and thinks they’ll sit and watch,” he said. Seuss quickly surprises participants by handing out drums and teaching each participant a part.

“We’ll try to make some music together,” he said.

In the end, it will be more than just music for Seuss. He drums for peace.

“I’m following my passion, which is creating drum circles with communities, trying to spread the joy and wellness of that particular event,” he said.

Seuss’ drumming circle will be a part of the Elkhorn Community Talent Show at the high school’s auditorium, 482 E. Geneva St. The event is sponsored by the school’s Random Acts of Kindness club, a group of students working to create better communities locally, nationally and internationally.

The Saturday event will feature local musicians, storytellers, dancers and other performers. Acts include Elkhorn guitar prodigy Tallan Latz, who has performed with guitar legend Les Paul and was on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and Delavan-based Dance Factory performing selections from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”

“I hope this will be our best year yet,” said Stephanie Killen, Elkhorn High School senior and member of the club.

“It’s nice to see people from the community get out there and do a talent that we’ve never seen them do before.”

Proceeds will be split among the high school’s science department and other projects. A bake sale before and after the event will benefit the Walworth County Resource Center Food Pantry.

It will be the third Elkhorn Community Talent Show. The first one was about six years ago, and the second was last spring.

“Last year when we did it, there was a family whose house had just burned down, so the bake sale went for them,” said Carol Wilson, a physical science teacher and Random Acts of Kindness adviser. “We also Christmas shop every year with underprivileged families.”

Random Acts of Kindness members have worked with food pantries, tsunami relief and other philanthropic organizations. Members are required to do a certain number of hours of community work and be involved at home.

“My biggest reason for having this is for building community,” Wilson said. “That’s the essence of Random Acts of Kindness.”