Despite cancellations, the dance programme of the Singapore Arts Festival, 30 May to 22 June will still comprise:

. 4-5 Jun
(AND)
Needcompany (Belgium)

. 10-11 Jun
The Fall of the House of Usher
Ballett Nürnberg / Oper Nürnberg (Germany)

. 17-18 Jun
Swan Lake City
National Theatre of Northern Greece

. 20-21 Jun
Le Festin d’Immortalité
Singapore Dance Theatre & H. Art Chaos (Singapore / Japan)

For further information visit www.sistic.com.sg

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(AND)
(AND) is a collision of song, dance and theatre based loosely on Puccini’s opera Turandot. It digs at that awkward emotional space where one both desires and disdains love.

The Fall of the House of Usher
Choreographer Daniela Kurz creates an intense meeting between dance and opera in the strange world of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. Based on the opera by Philip Glass, bodies and voices melt in an exceptional symbiosis of hypnotic imagery. Sung in English.

Swan Lake City
Leading Greek choreographer Konstantinos Rigos’ interpretation of Swan Lake screams ATTITUDE. Swan Lake City develops as the characters present their idiosyncratic lives by the lake.

Le Festin d’Immortalité
A potent alliance of two of Asia’s leading dance forces, Singapore Dance Theatre and Japan’s H. Art Chaos’ choreographer Sakiko Oshima, create a resonating full-length contemporary dance piece to an eclectic musical collage.

Sutrarasa, the 6th Sutra Arts Festival under the artistic direction of Ramli Ibrahim will run 20 May to 22 June 22 2003 at MTC (Jalan Ampang) and Amphi-Sutra (Titiwangsa).

This festival coincides with and celebrates not only Ramli’s 50th birthday but also the twentieth year of Sutra Dance Theatre’s existence and service to Malaysian Arts.

Sutrarasa focuses mainly on new ideas and creations in the field of contemporary dance and music, new choreographic and compositional ideas emerging in dance and gamelan.

Sutrarasa will feature no less than ten world premieres in dance, spanning both local and international works. These dance works will showcase creations by seven choreographers such as Anita Ratnam (India), Wong Kit Yaw, Syed Mustapha, Aida Redza, Guna, Judy Monfils, Weijun and Ramli himself.

Sutrarasa will also present new creations in gamelan music by the Gamelan Club. The gamelan, one of the most original sounds to emerge from South East Asia, is given a fresh contemporary presentation by the Gamelan Club, under the artistic direction of Jillian Ooi. New works by Saidah Rastam and others will be featured.

Sutrarasa Festival Programme

Visitations – Malaysian Contemporary dance choreography by Ramli Ibrahim
20 May @ 8.30pm: Gala Premiere (By invitation only)
21-24 May @ 8.30pm @ Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman, MTC
Tickets: RM50, RM30, RM20 (students with valid identification card – limited to 50 only)

Temper: Spirit of Gamelan – by the Gamelan Club; compositions by Jillian Ooi, Susan Sarah John, Adilah Junid, Maya Tan Abdullah and Saidah Rastam. Arranged by Sharmini Ratnasingam, & Sunetra Fernando
25-26 May @ 8.30pm @ Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman, MTC
Tickets: RM50, RM30, RM20 (students with valid identification card – limited to 50 only)

Utpala: The Awakening – Contemporary dance by Anita Ratnam, one of India’s dance icons, and dancers; choreography by Anita Ratnam
30-31 May & 1 June @ 8.30pm @ Amphi-Sutra
Entrance by donation (minimum RM30)

Passing – Contemporary dance choreographed by Wong Kit Yaw
6-8 June @ 8.30pm @ Amphi-Sutra
Entrance by donation (minimum RM30)

Temu – Contemporary dance by Tandak dancers; choreography by Syed Mustapha, Aida Redza, Abdul Hamid Chan and Ramli Ibrahim
13-15 June @ 8.30pm @ Amphi-Sutra
Entrance by donation (minimum RM30)

If: The Faces – Contemporary dance by Judimar Monfils, Guna, Weijun & Biljana Kiryazova; choreography by Judimar Monfils, Guna & Weijun
20-22 June @ 8.30pm @ Amphi-Sutra
Entrance by donation (minimum RM30)

Venues
Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman
Malaysia Tourism Centre
Jalan Ampang

Amphi-Sutra
12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3
Kuala Lumpur

Ticket outlets
Sutra Dance Theatre, Persiaran Titiwangsa 3 (03-4022 9669)
Topaz, Bukit Tunku (03-6201 0397)
Silverfish, Bangsar (03-2284 4837)
Skoob, Brickfields (03-2272 2731)
Selangor Institute of Music, Section 19 (03-7956 6202)
J.S Ragaa Music, Jalan Gasing (03-7960 2486)

Sponsored by
Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism Malaysia
Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang)
ASTRO
Concorde Kuala Lumpur

Enquiries
Tel: 03-40229669 (11am –5pm, weekdays)
Website: www.sutradancetheatre.com
Email: sutradancetheatre@yahoo.com

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The first Sutra Festival, Ready When You Are! (1990), was originally conceived as a performing arts festival in Kuala Lumpur geared to showcasing serious arts. Subsequent festivals, Up to You! (1991), Harum (1993), Restu (1995) and Gerak Angin (2001) followed and became a prototype for other ‘alternative’ arts festivals to emulate.

Sutra Dance Theatre has consistently given the Malaysian audience a diverse and original offering of Malaysian performing and visual arts. Through its previous festivals Sutra Dance Theatre has invited national and international performers, commissioned new dance from choreographers and music from composers, besides paving the way for new ideas in many related fields associated with the performing arts.

These related fields include the development of set and lighting design, dance photography and painting, innovative art graphics right through to foyer display concept. Over the years, the festivals have collaborated with an impressive list of distinguished Malaysian artists and theatre-makers such as Eric Peris, William-Harald Wong, Valerie Ross, Najib Nor, Mustafa Nor, Chandrabhanu, Sabera Shaik and many others.

Sutrarasa will focus mainly on new ideas and creations in the field of contemporary dance and music; on the new choreographic and compositional ideas emerging in dance and gamelan. Ramli says, “The rich and diverse multi-racial background of Malaysia stimulates the creators in the performing arts field to redefine what is contemporary. No longer do we need to pay homage to just the Euro-American traditions to state our contemporary ideas. Instead, we can draw inspiration from our indigenous background. Our own diverse cultures, our landscapes and environs can stimulate us to create original works that we can relate to.”

A jury of specialists will select the best choreographers in the following categories:
· Performance recording
· Creation for video
· Reporting and documentation
· Dance and Tradition
· Exterior recording offline and online

Participants will also attend five workshops for professional training in video dance and one round table discussion.

Location: Quito, Ecuador Dates: 15-21 September 2003

Contact president@cid-unesco.org for further information

Global Train, a consulting company experienced in organising seminars and workshops, is jointly organising with the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan a workshop in traditional dance for pre-primary school teachers.

This nationwide workshop will provide basic skills in 4 different dances including Joget, Zapin, Sumazau and Endang. Due to time constraints, these 4 dances have been chosen as they reflect the diversity of dance styles in Malaysia. These dances are also fairly energetic and vibrant and will hopefully capture the imagination of the participants.

The workshop schedule is as follows:
25 May – Kuala Lumpur
7 June – Penang
22 June – Johor Baru
19 July – Ipoh
20 July – Malacca

The workshops will be led by Joseph Gonzales and conducted by Mohd Kamaludin Mohd Daud, Azizi Sulaiman and Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi, outstanding graduates of the Akademi and already reputed to be among the most talented dancers in the country.

For further details, call Mr Yeow at 03-6250 8112 / 012-325 9090 or email yeow@globaltrain.com

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For true development of culture and the arts, the situation must be tackled at the most basic and grassroots level. This is why the target audience for the workshops is pre-primary school teachers who, besides the parents, are the first teachers of young children. The intention is to hopefully, instill a knowledge and love of these dances to the teachers who can, in turn impart these to those in their care.

This is the first time for such an approach by the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan, and if successful, may be developed to include teachers at all levels. The response to these workshops will help the Akademi gauge and plan possible paths for the future.

The Education & Training Network of MyDance Alliance and The Actors Studio have organised a workshop on Tarian Piring, an Indonesian folk dance from Sumatra. This version differs to the Malaysian Tarian Piring and is seldom performed and taught here.

Junainah M. Lojong, co-principal of Studio Chombrang, will conduct the workshop. Apart from teaching the unique body postures and important technique to holding the plates, Junainah will brief the participants on the history of this interesting dance form. All movements and postures in the dance form will be carefully explained to enable the participants to better understand and able to relate to its rhythm.

This workshop is suitable for beginners and intermediate level dancers.

Date: 24/5/2003
Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Venue: The Actors Studio Academy, Dataran Merdeka
Fees: RM 25 (Adults), RM 15 (Students)

For further information contact: Gan Chih Pei (012-390-3242) or Amy Len (012-670-8454)

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Junainah M. Lojong is an experienced dancer and teacher, and a graduate of the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan. A strong performer, she is very active in the Malaysian art scene as well as in the international arena. She represented Malaysia during the 1999 Dance Festival in Spain and in the Asia Pacific Young Choreographers Workshop in Taiwan in 2000.

The Temple of Fine Arts has organised a two-day dinner come charity performance to raise funds for its new building. As part of this event it will restage Butterfly Lovers, which received much acclaim when presented in Malaysia and also during its tours to Sri Lanka, India and Australia.

Based on a famous Chinese legend, the lead roles will be danced by Umesh Shetty and Dhanya Thurairajah. The music (combining Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western rhythms) has been composed by Jyotsna Prakash and Kumar Karthigesu.

28-29 May 2003 @ Petaling Jaya Civic Center Auditorium

For further information contact: 03-2274 3709

The Federal Academy of Ballet will hold a performance entitled Dance for Peace – Dance 2003, showcasing ballet, modern, tap, jazz and contemporary.

24 May 2003 @ 8.30pm
25 May 2003 @ 5.00pm

Petaling Jaya Civic Center

Tickets available at all FAB branches

Tel: 03-7957 3413

Pusaka – center for the study and documentation of traditional performance in Malaysia is proud to present Rombongan Mak Yong Cahaya Matahari of Kuala Besut, Terengganu. Led by the renowned Mak Yong actress Che Siti binti Dollah, the troupe will present an hour-long excerpt of the famous Mak Yong story, Anak Raja Gondang.

Mak Yong is a Malay dance-drama tradition found primarily in the Northeast Malaysian state of Kelantan and in the Pattani region of Southern Thailand. It encompasses elements of stylised dance, drama, music, singing and storytelling.

23 May 2003 @ 8.30pm

Admission is free

The Actors Studio Box, Plaza Putra, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Contact: 03-2694 5400

This event to celebrate the diversity, creativity and energy of Malaysian Performing Arts has been sponsored by Lancome, supported by Mandarin Oriental and organised by Kakiseni.

In addition to music and theatre, there will be dance performances by Ramli Ibrahim of Sutra Dance Theatre, Tandak Dance Theatre performing Zapin Hanuman and Weijun, a contemporary dancer.

Date/Time: 12 May 2003 @ 8.30pm

Venue: Emerald Ballroom, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Tickets: RM80 / RM110 / RM140 (excluding Axcess ticketing fee)
10% group discount for group bookings exceeding ten RM140 tickets

For further information and tickets visit www.kakiseni.com or contact Axcess at 03-7491 9999

The Gelombang Baru series presented by the dance department of Akademi Seni Kebangsaan began in 1999. The catalyst was the realization that dance training should continue outside the studio and after the acquisition of a diploma.

This contemporary dance series provides exposure for upcoming generations of choreographers. They are provided with an opportunity, not only to create but also market their performances, seek sponsorship and generally garner valuable management skills.

This year’s performance will feature Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi, Azizi Sulaiman, Junainah Mohd Lojong, Mohd Kamaludin Mohd Daud and Mohd Firdaus Mustapha Kamal.

Dates/Times: 10-11 May 2003 @ 8.30pm

Venue: Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, MTC
Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Tickets: RM10 (available at the door)

For further information call 03-2164 9180 (ext 266)