Yoga House and Interfaith Center host kirtan event with world-renowned duo Shantala

Posted on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10 a.m.

Yoga House and Interfaith Center host kirtan event with world-renowned duo Shantala

By Pam Stout

Heather and Benjy Wertheimer comprise the music duo Shantala.

Yoga House and the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth are co-hosting a kirtan (sacred chanting) event with acclaimed duo Shantala on Oct. 28 as part of their "Unity in the Community" tour.

Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan worldwide as the duo Shantala. According to their publications: "Shantala creates a sublime soundscape of musical harmony between East and West with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics, and exotic instrumentation. Call and response chanting with Shantala is fun, uplifting, and inspiring." The audience participates fully in the kirtan through call-and-response chanting, dance and meditation.

The Wertheimers have performed their music nationally and internationally through the years. Benjy has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter and Narada Michael Walden, and he has toured with Walter Becker of Steely Dan.

Michele Bond from Yoga House, who is co-sponsoring the event with the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth, said kirtan "can help us realize some of the effects of meditation without the hard work of trying to quiet the mind. It is a wonderful way to bring people together." About the interfaith nature of the event, she said: "It is so amazing to have Buddhists, Quakers, Christians, Jews, Wiccans, you name it, all gathered together creating joyful vibration, with effects that last long after the hour-and-a-half or two-hour event is over."

The event will be at 7 p.m. at the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth at 704 Airport Blvd. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 the day of the show. For more information or tickets, visit Yoga House Ann Arbor or call (734) 358-8546 or 327-0270.