All They Want To Do Is Dance: Mucca Pazza... The Movie!

By Michele Lenni in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 3, 2011 7:00PM

Over the past five years or so the boisterous clan of 30-plus circus punk band geeks known as Mucca Pazza have managed to carve out a special place in our hearts. Between the cast of crazed, costumed characters playing instruments ranging from a trombone to an accordion, to the over-the-top extravaganza that are their live performances that have us dancing in the aisles. We have been more than happy to catch them live numerous times. Mucca Pazza is not only a Chicgoista staple, but an essential part of the live music culture here in the windy city. An experience this unique musically will be remembered by many and now will be documented for all according to the Chicago Reader.

This new documentary, Marching Banned, was developed by Chicago-based artists Danièle Wilmouth (filmmaker), Peter Carpenter (dancer / choreographer), and Mucca Pazza themselves as a way to document the spirit of the group through the medium of dance. What a great idea right? Well through a generous commission from the Jaffe Fund for Experimental Media and Performing Arts, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the group will embark on a 10-minute, Super 16mm dance film choreographed by Carpenter. There is one catch: the group needs $4000 to do things like produce professional DVDs of the film, posters, postcards and website to promote the film. All of these components will enable the producers and the group to send Marching Banned to film festivals and exhibit the film around the USA and the world.

Now you may ask, what is a humble fan of Mucca Pazza to do to help get their jubilant dance film up-and-running? Well, go to their fund raising page at Kick Start and become one of their many backers before April 2, 2011. As of this post, Mucca Pazza has raised $1,157 of their $4,000 goal. The band plans on shooting the spectacle in April and May, so if you are a fan that wants to spread the celebration to a wider audience, now is the time to pull out your wallet and donate. We know we'll be scrounging our couch cushions for the cause.