Below is the complete list of dance nominees for the 2nd Annual Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2003.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held:

Date/Time: 5 March 2004 @ 8.30pm
Venue: Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: RM35
Contact: 03-7493 4240

For more information visit http://www.kakiseni.com/awards03

The Dance Nominees are:

Nominees for Best Performance by a Group

The dancers in the following productions:
. Ubah by Sri Panggung in “Diversity in Motion, MyDance Festival 2003” (ch: Suhaimi Magi)
. Demang Lebar Daun by the Petronas Performing Arts Group (ch: A. Sam Palal & Che Hassan Yahaya; dr: Roslee Mansor)
. A Kind of Radiance by Sutra Dance Theatre (ch: Guru Deba Prasad, Guru Durga Charan Ranbir & Ramli Ibrahim)
. Journey of the Soul by Mohram (ch: Aida Redza)
. Dance of the Flourish by Dua Space Dance Theatre (ch: Anthony Meh & Aman Yap)

Nominees for Best Solo Performer

. January Low in Profound Grace
. Judimar Monfils in If: The Faces, in “Sutrarasa – the 6th Sutra Festival” (ch: Guna, Judimar Monfils & Wei Jun)
. Ramli Ibrahim in Siva Shtaka / A Kind of Radiance (ch: Guru Deba Prasad & Guru Durga Charan Ranbir)

Nominees for Best Choreographer

. Jasni Abdul Hamid for Penusing Senui by Adikara Dance Theatre in “Diversity in Motion, MyDance Festival 2003”
. Syed Mustapha for Rasuk / Temu by Tandak Dance Theatre in “Sutrarasa – the 6th Sutra Festival”
. Anthony Meh for Cloud on a Wheelchair / Dance of the Flourish by Dua Space Dance Theatre

Nominees For Best Lighting Design

. Man Bai for Journey of the Soul by Mohram
. Anthony Meh for Dance of the Flourish by Dua Space Dance Theatre
. Sivarajah Natarajan for A Kind of Radiance by Sutra Dance Theatre
. Mac Chan for Re: Lady White Snake by RiverGrass Dance Theatre
. Visvaraj Ayadurai for Butterfly Lovers by Temple of Fine Arts

Nominees for Best Soundscape Design

. Guna, Sivarajah Natrajan & Padma Subramaniam for Amma
. Sutra Dance Theatre for Divine Encounter
. Sutra Dance Theatre for Pallavi II
. Sutra Dance Theatre for Profound Grace
. Adikara Dance Theatre for Penusing Senui

Nominees for Best Original Music

. Saidah Rastam with Rozario Ghulam Rasul for AWAS by ASK Dance Co
. Bernard Goh for Re: Lady White Snake by RiverGrass Dance Theatre
. Kumaresan Karthigesu & Jotsna Nithyandan for Butterfly Lovers by Temple of Fine Arts
. Mohamad Yazid Zakaria for Di Istana Menanti dan Halaman Mahkota by Petronas Performing Arts Group
. Faizal Uzir for Demang Lebar Daun by Petronas Performing Arts Group

Nominees for Best Set Design

. Sivarajah Natarajan for Profound Grace by January Low
. Man Bai for Journey of the Soul by Mohram
. Lee Swee Keong & Mew Chang Tsing for Re: Lady White Snake by RiverGrass Dance Theatre
. Sivarajah Natarajan for A Kind of Radiance by Sutra Dance Theatre
. Sandrasegaran Ramaiah & Lam Ghooi Ket for Butterfly Lovers by Temple of Fine Arts

Nominees For Best Costume Design/Styling/Makeup

. Ramli Ibrahim & January Low for Profound Grace by January Low
. Shyamala Narayanan for Butterfly Lovers by Temple of Fine Arts
. Mohd Faizal Abbas for Gema Zapin Dari Hujung Tanah / Dance Box Series by Kumpulan Kesenian Seri Budaya Johor
. Mun Lee for Distance by Hoi Cheng Sim in “Diversity in Motion, MyDance Festival 2003”
. Rosman Ishak for AWAS by ASK Dance Co

Dancers nominated for the Most Promising Artists include:
. A. Aris A. Kadir
. January Low
. Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi

For those interested in calligraphy, poetry and dance, there will be a one-hour performance entitled the Three Friends of Winter. The Three Friends of Winter referred to are pine, plum and bamboo. Together they symbolise longevity, perseverance and the virtues of a cultivated gentleman.

Inspired by the works of Sim Mow Yu, Yim Yoo Loon and Bo Yuan in literature, calligraphy and painting, choreographer Anthony Meh has created a performance that explores the meaning behind these three elements.

The performance will feature Anthony Meh, Aman Yap and Albert Tiong. There will also be a live demonstration by the renowned calligrapher, CN Liew.

Date/Time:
28 February (Saturday) @ 4.00pm

Venue:
Wisma Kebudayaan SGM
243 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Admission to performance:
free with purchase of commemorative album (RM30)

For details:
contact Debbie @ 03-8070 0890

Featuring the Drepung Loseling monks, this performance is a complete showcase of all the mystical arts including a sand mandala, sacred music, masked dances and monastic style debates.

In terms of dance, there will be nine altogether accompanied by a style of chanting for which the Drepung Loseling monks are renowned. The dances are to invoke good, purify, eliminate negative energy, rejoice and bring peace.

Part of the proceeds will go towards Hospice Malaysia.

Dates/Times:
28 February @ 3.00pm & 8.00pm
29 February @ 7.00pm

Venue:
Dewan Wawasan
Level 4, Dewan PGRM, Cheras

Admission:
by donation (RM50 / RM70 / RM90)

For more information, contact: 03-2093 8189 or email chpek@yahoo.com / fys@pc.jaring.my

An audition will be held to select students for the 2004 intake of the RiverGrass Dancers Training Course I & II (RDTC). The course is conducted by Mew Chang Tsing (MA in Dance Studies, UK), with Choo Tee Kuang and Judimar Monfils as guest teachers.

RDTC I covers Technique, Aesthetics, Production Skills and Repertoire

RDTC II covers Technique, Movement Analysis, Improvisation and Choreography

Prospects for those who complete the course include becoming dancers/choreographers with Malaysian dance companies or further studies abroad.

Pre-requisite: minimum 3 years dance experience

Call before 7 March 2004 to register

Audition Details:
Date/Time: 21 March 2004 @ 11.00am
Venue: RiverGrass@Paramount
(12A, Jalan 20/16A, 46300 PJ)
Enquiries: 03-7877 8706 / 016-221 0562

Pebbles will showcase what the students of the RiverGrass Dance Training Course have learnt over the past year. This includes company repertoire works such as ‘On Bukit Cina’, ‘Rapid’ and ‘Who’s No. 1?’, as well as pieces specially developed for the students.

Pebbles is also an informal dance sharing performance for the students of other RiverGrass Dance Academy courses eg those studying Children’s Creative Dance, Contemporary Dance and Ballroom Dance.

As RiverGrass continues to focus on intercultural expression, artistic exploration, mind/body connection and creative child development, Pebbles offers a colourful range of dances. From the roots of dances to creative movement, this production will captivate and share with you a multitude of experiences in Dance.

Dates/Times:
13 March 2004 @ 8.30pm
14 March 2004 @ 3.00pm

Venue:
The Actors Studio Theatre Bangsar
Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Centre

Tickets:
RM27 (Adults) / RM17 (Students & Children)

Outlet:
The Actors Studio Box Office (tel: 03-2094 0400/1400)

Enquiries:
RiverGrass@Paramount (tel: 03-787 787 06 / 016-2210562)
RiverGrass@Bangsar (tel: 03-2093 1388)

Organised by Drama Family, this is a continuation of a showcase series aimed at discovering a dynamic vocabulary for the Penang contemporary dance scene through the use of movement, voice, experimental theatre, music and multimedia.

Featured companies include Eastern Dancer, 5678 Studio, Phor Tay Association and Permata Dance Station.

Dates/Time:
28-29 February 2004 @ 8.30pm

Venue:
The Actors Studio Greenhall
Zhong Zheng School Memorial Centre
32 Lebuh Light, Penang

Tickets: RM15

Contact: 04-263 5400

The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts (Washington, DC) is offering a ten-month comprehensive arts management fellowship program.

Pre-requisite:
· Either a Bachelor’s degree in the arts/related discipline and at least four years professional performing arts administration experience
· Or more than five years experience performing with a professional performing arts company

Program includes coursework and practical experience in planning, presenting and producing at an internationally recognized performing arts institution.

Stipend:
US$18,000 plus materials and health benefits; housing not included.
International applicants welcome; U.S. Department of State supported.

Application deadline: 1 April 2004

For application/information visit www.kennedy-center.org/vilarinstitute

Presented by Sutra Dance Theatre, Ramli Ibrahim and January Low will perform Ardhanareswara which depicts the androgynous god, Siva, forever united with his consort Parvati.

More familiar dancers Anushya Nair, Revathi, Guna and Parveen Nair will support the debut performance of new Odissi dancers Nishah Devi, Malini, Tan Mei Mei, Shivani and Shubashi.

Dates/Time:
20-21 February 2004 @ 8.30pm

Venue:
Amphi-Sutra
(12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, 53200 Kuala Lumpur)

Entry:
by donation (minimum RM30)

Contact:
03-4021 1092

Apart from Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Wild Moves, there are several other dance performances taking place in Singapore during the month of February. They include:

‘Opus Cactus’ by MOMIX
A magical mix of circus, illusion, movement and dance, created by Moses Pendleton.
6-7 Feb @ Esplanade Theatre
Tickets: S$91 – S$21

Ballet Nacional De Espana
A fiery blend of dance that fuses flamenco with ballet.
20-21 Feb @ Esplanade Theatre
Tickets: S$101 – S$11

‘Finks’ by Leni-Basso
A dynamic performance with mock fights set to a hypnotic beat and spectacular blend of lighting, video and sound.
20-21 Feb @ Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets: S$26

For more information visit http://www.sistic.com.sg

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MOMIX
MOMIX is a dance company that defies description as easily as its dancers defy gravity. MOMIX dancers are better described as “dancer-illusionists”, as they have a special blend of theatrics, circus acrobatics and gymnastics. But they are dancers first and foremost—with dazzling physical ability, deftness and dexterity.

Opus Cactus was inspired by the Saguaro Cactus, the “Sunflower of the Desert”. It is a sensual celebration of the weird and wonderful creatures of the American Southwest desert. The cast includes fluttering cactus wrens, slithering Gila monsters, desert blooms, ostriches and grubs.

MOMIX comes to Singapore with this brand new show following a highly successful New York run at the Joyce Theatre.

Ballet Nacional De Espana
The premier dance company of Spain arrives to ignite the stage with their fiery blend of dance, which fuses flamenco with ballet. With their impassioned performances, colourful costumes and highly talented dancers performing the most exciting of recent choreography by Spain’s top artists, this multi-award winning dance company will thrill audiences.

This season will see them present the machismo-charged piece ‘Estampio’; the award winning ‘Mujeres’; ‘Taranto’; ‘Mareas’; and ‘Grito’ showcasing the many exciting styles of flamenco.

Leni-Basso
Rather than featuring the individual characters of the dancers, Leni-Basso performances focus on the relationship among them, and the movements that are born from such mutual relationships. Defying any story or direct expression of emotions, they let the dance itself tell an unknown story and build an interactive relationship between stage and audience.

Finks is a dynamic performance as dancers enter into tense, mock fights to a hypnotic beat and a spectacular blend of special lighting, video and sounds. The combination of the visual components and the thrilling communications among the dancers creates moments of tension to stimulate the senses.

Malaysia’s own hotshot performer, Weijun, is now in demand in Singapore. He has been invited by to participate in Wild Moves 1 – Men In Glass by Odyssey Dance Theatre (ODT).

Wild Moves is a 3-part series being launched in 2004 as a platform for the creation of original, unconventional dance in Singapore. The inaugural season will see provocative works by local and guest choreographers under the artistic direction of Danny Tan.

In addition to working with the company’s full-time artistes, the choreographers will interact with the young dancers of ODT’s Young Artists Project Performers via a series of choreographic and dance workshops.

18-20 February 2004
Glass Hall, Singapore Art Museum
Tickets: S$29

For more information see www.sistic.com.sg

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Weijun (Guest Choreographer & Performer, Malaysia)
A Bachelor of Arts graduate from the Queensland University of Technology, Weijun is a multidisciplinary artist who contributes not only as dancer, choreographer and dance instructor, but also as singer, songwriter, performing artist, graphic designer and sound engineer.

Weijun’s first full-length solo Sinful Legs Sacred Body premiered at Malaysia’s Sutra Dance Theatre in July 2002. It received a nomination for Best Solo Dance Performer at The 2002 Cameronian Arts Awards 2002 while Weijun was also nominated for Most Promising Artist.

In 2003, he was involved in Re: Lady White Snake (including Singapore’s HuaYi Festival 2003), Riuh! A Celebration of Malaysian Performing Arts, Visitations, Sound/Wave (Japan), If-The Faces, Rite of Spring, Banjir, Spring In KL (a collaboration between Malaysia’s Five Arts Center and Japan’s acclaimed Papa Tarahumara, and Different Flow On Mutual Ground in the MyDance Festival 2003 (Malaysia).

Zhuo Zihao (Singapore)
A recipient of the NAC-Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship in 2000, Zihao completed his Diploma in Dance at LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts in 2002.

A young and enthusiastic dancer, Zihao began his training under Danny Tan in 1994. Between January and September 2002, Zihao served as Apprentice Dancer at ODT. He was promoted to Artiste-In-Residence in October 2002.

He has travelled with the company to Taiwan (2000), Hong Kong (2001), Australia (2001) and the ASEAN Festival of Arts 2003 (Malaysia).

In Singapore, he has performed in acclaimed works by Danny Tan such as The Origins, I Wish, M Bodies (prelude), Wings, Passion – A Season Of Duets and Passion.Love (excerpt). In May 2003, Zihao made his professional choreographic debut with “Chrono˜Sphere” for Man.Power: A Season Of Male Choreographers.

Danny Tan (Singapore)
Founder and Artistic Director of Odyssey Dance Theatre, Danny has created 7 full-length and more than 14 short works over the last 5 years. He has received much acclaim for the incorporation of Asian and contemporary dance values in his works.

In addition, Danny has been instrumental in grooming several of the best contemporary dancers in Singapore. In January 2002, he established the Young Artists Project Performers (YAPP) division to train the next generation of dancers for the company.

Under his initiative, Odyssey Dance Theatre has embraced and supported numerous mature and young dancers, several whom were selected to represent Singapore at the ASEAN Festival of Arts 2003 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.