When I first heard about Sandor Szabo’s upcoming performance, *An Invitation to a Dance*, my immediate thought was: *Yes, this is exactly what classical music needs right now.*
For too long, organ recitals—and classical concerts in general—have been framed as serious, almost solemn affairs. Audiences sit in silence, absorbing the music as if it were a museum piece. But what if we reimagined these experiences? What if, instead of treating classical works as artifacts to be studied, we invited people to *feel* them in a more visceral, physical way?
Szabo’s program, featuring works by Bach, Mozart, and even modern composers, isn’t just a performance—it’s a proposition. The title says it all: *An Invitation to a Dance*. This isn’t about watching a performer from a distance; it’s about letting the rhythm pull you in, letting the harmonies stir something in your body, not just your mind.
Dance and music have always been intertwined. Bach’s suites were meant for movement. Mozart’s minutes were social dances. Yet somewhere along the way, we divorced the two, placing “serious” music in concert halls and relegating dance to separate spaces. Szabo is bringing them back together, and I’m here for it.
In an era where live classical music competes with streaming services and shortened attention spans, performances like this are essential. They remind us that music isn’t just sound—it’s motion. It’s emotion. It’s human connection.
So if you’re anywhere near the First Congregational Church this Saturday, consider this your personal invitation. Don’t just listen. *Feel it.* Move with it. And remember: sometimes, the most profound way to honor tradition is to let it breathe, evolve, and dance.
