about parker genné

Parker is a disabled artist, inclusive teacher, Mom, care partner and naturalist, whose first language is music and dance, and she is based in Mni Sota Makoce, on the ancestral lands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe. Parker’s art is a gift from her ancestors: a practice of healing, love and liberation.

Parker creates original music-theater-dance folk operas. She is an inclusive arts educator and performing artist who has worked with and presented internationally with Kairos Alive (KA) for the last 25 years, now as Artistic Director. Her cabaret comedy work, Ms. Luisa Eats, inspired by her Italian ancestors, the Gennarelli’s who immigrated from Casalciprano, Italy, and the famous Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini, is based in the vaudeville tradition. It garnered praise for her “mix of character comedy, well-executed opera, and spaghetti” (Edinburgh Fringel, 2011).

Genné’s work is inspired by personal and historical narratives on disability, motherhood/parenthood, and folktales. For Genné, folktales are a framework for our lives. Through this work and as founder of Folktopia, an intergenerational and all ability multidisciplinary band, Genné brings programming to settings in health, education, arts, social services, organic and biodynamic farming, community centers, parks and recreation, museums that includes people with disabilities, older adults, and caregivers.
A graduate of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Vocal Performance, and a lifelong dancer, she believes in using the natural world, healing systems, and narratives as starting points for creation. She has developed 22+ works, and has been presented by MacPhail Spotlight Series, and Edinburgh Fringe and created works in collaboration with American Swedish Institute’s programming since 2015. She has received multiple Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals grants, and multiple grants from Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (Minnesota) in support of new folk operas Silver Hands and Pool Party with Folktopia band and Ms. Luisa Eats cabaret. 

With KA she has engaged people at the VA Medical Center, including both people receiving care and professional caregivers and staff, Centro Tyrone Guzman, Minnesota Independence College and Community, Easterseals Florida, Bemidji Pride, International Federation on Ageing Conf. - Bangkok, Thailand, MN Orchestra, Winona Health, and 21 Roots Farm, Community Health workers, among others. Genné engages students of all ages and abilities in teaching and learning communities with KA and Folktopia, and lectures on her own research and pedagogy: Explorations in trauma-informed voice and movement learning for all ability classrooms. Here’s to flying in the light of love.