A new Performing Arts Programme is going to begin soon at Sunway College, created by Rey Buono. To know more about the programme, come to a presentation that will be given by Rey.
Date/Time: 14 July 2003 @ 7.00 pm
Venue: Five Arts Centre/Dramalab
27 & 27A Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7
Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur
For directions contact: 03-7725 4858
After a hiatus of seven years, Bavani Kanesamoothy, director of Bharathanjali Dance Academy, will showcase a solo Odissi dance recital entitled, Bavani in Expression.
Date/Time: 12 July 2003 @ 8.15pm
Venue: MAS Auditorium, Petaling Jaya
Admission: by invitation only
Contact: 03-7957 4798 / 013-351 3165 / 017-331 0480 / 017-382 8511
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Bavani started dancing Bharata Natyam under Kalamani Malayadevi Aiyappan at the age of three. After completing her arangetram, she started to train under various renowned dance gurus including Lakshman, Srimathi Nagamani Srinivas Rao and Dr. Chandrabhanu.
In 1986 she took up Odissi under Ramli Ibrahim and performed with him in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India in 1991.
Bavani has also enrolled with Padmashri Dr Vempatti Chinna Satyam to further her knowledge of Kuchipudi.
Barely over Sutrarasa, its 6th Sutra Festival, the irrepressible Sutra Dance Theatre, true to its promise of continuously bringing the best of dance to Kuala Lumpur audiences, is now ready for its annual Under the Stars series of performances under the artistic direction of Ramli Ibrahim.
Running 3 July to 3 August 2003, the Under The Stars series will see an impressive array of dance productions dished up according to three main themes – Those Man Enough (male dancers performing Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi), A Season of Odissi (featuring some of the most bewitching Odissi dancers) and Salam Benua (contemporary dance melding Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with Usman Awang’s Salam Benua).
Programme 1) Those Man Enough (Bharata Natyam & Kuchipudi)
· 3-4 July – Saayujya (An eternity of longing) Bharata Natyam by Ajit Bhaskaran Dass with live music
· 5 July – Amma (Mother Goddess) Bharata Natyam by Guna & Nadarajan Muniandy with live music led by Padma Subramaniam
· July – Divine Encounters II Bharata Natyam by Ramli Ibrahim, Guna, Nadarajan Muniandy, Dennis Shambumani, Santiago Samathanam, Ajit Bhaskaran Dass, Vemana Appannah & Jagathesywara
· 11-12 July – Bharata Natyam by Lakshman, a Malaysian Bharata Natyam dancer, based in Chennai
· 13 July – Kuchipudi by Dennis Shambhumani, a Malaysian Kuchipudi dancer
Programme 2) A Season Of Odissi
. 18 July – Pallavi II by the Sutra dancers and Ajit Bhaskaran Dass
· 19-20 July – Heightened States with Ramli Ibrahim and Leena Mohanty
· 26 July – Odissi by Ileana Citaristi, an Italian born Odissi dancer
Programme 3) Salam Benua
· 1-3 August – Salam Benua is a specially commissioned work of contemporary dance between Sutra Dance Theatre and choreographer Ileana Citaristi
For all performances:
Venue: Amphi-Sutra, 12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: RM30 / RM20 (students with valid identification – limited to first 50 only)
Time: 8.30 pm
Enquiries:
Sutra Dance Theatre
Tel: 03-4022 9669
Email: sutradancetheatre@yahoo.com
Website: www.sutradancetheatre.com
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Those Man Enough
A provocative series of Malaysian male dancers in Bharata Natyam – the southern Indian temple dance – usually the domain of female dancers. Pioneered by internationally known dancers such as Ramli Ibrahim and Chandrabhanu, Malaysia is recognized in the Indian dance world for producing some of the finest male dancers in Bharata Natyam.
In spite of the general social stigmas and lack of encouragement, Malaysia continues to produce exciting male Bharata Natyam dancers who have taken the challenge of making their presence felt in spite of society’s pressures to do otherwise.
Saayujya (an eternity of longing) is that passionate quest urged by the summons of desire. Saayujya explores the emotion that lures and entwines. It features dancer Ajit Bhaskaran Dass who, with his ‘Nureyev appeal’, gives a spellbinding performance that transcends all boundaries of gender, space and style.
Amma (Mother Goddess) returns by popular demand. For those who missed this powerful homage to The Goddess by two of Malaysia’s best-known Bharata Natyam male dancers, Guna and Nadarajan, Amma is a chance not to be missed! Distinguished carnatic singer Padma Subramaniam contributes to this evocative and unforgettable insight to our Universal Amma!
Divine Encounters II – returns with new works. Never before has the stage been graced by such a stellar group of male dancers including Ramli Ibrahim, Guna, Nadarajan Muniandy, Dennis Shambumani, Santiago Samathanam, Ajit Bhaskaran Dass, Vemana Appannah & Jagathesywara. The tradition of male dancing in Malaysia has finally come to full flowering in Divine Encounters and surely, Siva the Lord of Dance must be well pleased.
Bharata Natyam by Lakshman, a celebrated Malaysian Bharata Natyam dancer based in Chennai. Having established himself as one of the most sought after male dancers and a recognised guru of dance in Chennai, A. Lakshman is also making a name for himself for his dance compositions presently in the repertoire of Chennai’s top dancers such as Urmila Satyanarayan and Priya Darshini Govindan. Lakshman finally makes his presence felt in his Malaysian debut performance.
Kuchipudi by Dennis Shambhumani, a well-known Malaysian dancer and teacher with a large following. Trained in both Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, Dennis takes the stage in a rare performance of Kuchipudi, the popular androgynous style of Andhra Pradesh made famous by the male dancers of Kuchipudi village who don women’s clothes to perform this dance. Dennis performs new works in the Kuchipudi repertoire, which he has just acquired from his recent sojourn in India.
A Season of Odissi
An exciting series of Malaysia’s favourite Indian classical dance showcasing three bewitching Odissi dancers: Leena Mohanty, the best in the Deba Prasad Odissi tradition; Italian born Ileana Citaristi, a phenomenon and considered one of the best of the senior Odissi dancers in India; and of course, our very own Ramli Ibrahim.
Heightened States with Ramli Ibrahim, whose name is synonymous with Odissi in Malaysia, and Bhubaneswar-based Leena Mohanty. Leena Mohanty is a prodigious talent emerging as one of the most impressive Odissi dancers in India today representing the Odissi style of the late Guru Deba Prasad.
Odissi by Ileana Citaristi, an Italian born dancer who has made Orissa her home and Odissi her calling. One of the rare non-Indians recognised as one of the top Odissi dancers in the world today, Ileana Citaristi continues her legacy and contribution to dance in India not only as a dancer but as a teacher, writer and scholar.
Salam Benua
This work of contemporary dance has been commissioned by Ramli Ibrahim of Ileana Citaristi to choreograph a work that melds Stravinsky’s most famous work, the Rite of Spring, with the well-known poem of the late Usman Awang, Salam Benua.
Ileana Citaristi (presently making waves in India for using martial arts elements, especially those of Chhau, an indigenous martial arts/dance of Orissa) takes on the challenge of interpreting Usman Awang’s humanitarian plea to world peace and setting it to this well known musical piece commissioned by Diaghilev and choreographed by Nijinsky at the turn of the twentieth century.
Seven dancers – Ramli Ibrahim, Guna, Weijun, Leena Mohanty, Shagun Butani, January Low, Shangita Namashivayam and Biljana Kiryova, a group with diverse backgrounds and nationalities, from pure Indian classical dance to ballet, from Malay to Macedonian, will interpret Ileana Citaristi’s world premiere.
Tatsumi Hijikata was a co-founder of Butoh. Since his death in 1986, his wife, Akiko Motofuji, has endeavoured to keep the spirit of Butoh alive by organising workshops, performances, exhibitions and film screenings in Japan and overseas.
Her troupe, the Tatsumi Hijikata Memorial Butoh Troupe, will be in Singapore to present a talk, conduct workshops and perform.
Tatsumi Hijikata – Talk by Akiko Motofuji
12 July @ 2pm
Theatre Studio @ Esplanade
Free
Explorations – Butoh Workshops
11-12 July @ 7.30pm-10.30pm
13 July @ 2.00pm-5.00pm
Rehearsal Studio @ Esplanade
S$10 (1 session) / S$18 (any 2 sessions) / S$24 (all 3 sessions)
Together with Tatsumi Hijikata – Performances
15-16 July @ 8.00pm
Theatre Studio @ Esplanade
S$25
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Additional Information
“Tatsumi Hijikata and I were born in the Showa period’s third year (1928). I could say we grew up with war and shared camaraderie because of this hardship. Japan was very national critical during this time. The children, students and even the general public were made to participate in this war. The war became severe and Tokyo suffered bombing every day. We spent our youth not understanding life or death, feeling like being in the darkness. For days and days, young people could not see the future. It was like Man’s identity crisis. Tatsumi Hijikata and I experienced this [life with no exit]. People believe the eternity of life when you start to understand that this life is a build up of waves in an eternal movement. Life is not one wave.
Butoh is an expression of tenderness that was discovered in the dark side of the human spirit after the violence of war.
Everything returns to an abundance of Mother Nature.” – Akiko Motofuji
Tatsumi Hijikata – Talk by Akiko Motofuji
Akiko Motofuji will share her times with Hijikata and elaborate on his works. There will be excerpts of rare videos and films featuring Hijikata as well as Ankoku Butoh performances choreographed and performed by Hijikata and dancers.
Explorations – Butoh Workshops
Motofuji and her dancers will give participants a chance to experience the shades, essence and spirit of Butoh. The main emphasis in Motofuji’s work is Butoh, which focuses on the body and spirit. She combines it with classical ballet, contemporary dance and Neuer Tanz techniques in a constant search for new ways of expression.
Each session is different and complete in itself.
Together with Tatsumi Hijikata – Performances
Based on her book of the same name, this is an endearing meditation by Motofuji on her life with Hijikata. Performed by Motofuji and her dancers, the performance is also an exploration of the philosophy of Butoh, and the enduring influence of Hijikata on the dance world.
Shirena Hamzah of Dancesteps Studio and Thomas Stanborough (Australian dancer/choreographer) will be staging a Broadway dance show in the first half of 2004.
They will be holding an audition for dancers aged between 18 and 30, who are able to do Ballet, Modern, Tap or Jazz.
Date: 2 July 2003
Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Venue: Dancesteps Studio
11-2 (2nd floor) Jalan 26/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Email: dances@maxis.net.my
Tel: 012-231 6369 / 03-2300 2505
The Celestar Studio of Performing Arts (CSOPA) has three upcoming events:
Break Dance Classes
CSOPA is now offering break dance classes at its premises at:
24 B Jalan Memanda 4
Ampang Point
68000 Kuala Lumpur
Call 013-371 0862 for details
CSOPA Jazz Dance Society Annual General Meeting
Date: 28 June 2003
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: CSOPA premises
Jazz Dance Competition
Date: 28 June 2003
Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
Categories: Solo/duo/group (three or more dancers)
Category A (kids 8-12yrs)
Category B (Adults 13yrs and above)
Duration of item: 2 and a half minutes
Prizes will be given for choreography, talent, originality, showmanship, costume
Please register by 20 June 2003
For more information call 019-360 8667 / 013-371 0862 / 012-377 1469
The 17th annual Congress on Dance Research, “Dance in Education” will take place 22-26 October 2003 on the Island of Naxos, Greece.
Jointly organized by the International Organization of Folk Art and the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO, this major international event in dance scholarship gathers approximately 250 specialists from 35 countries every year.
Deadline for submitting research papers, as well as proposals for lectures, exhibitions or performances: 1 September 2003
Topics for research papers:
– Research conducted according to scientific methodology (ethnographic, sociological, historical, pedagogical, psychological, medical etc)
– Presentation of unpublished information on dance as related to other topics such as music, costume, theatre etc
– Organizational, artistic, social, scientific, educational, economic and other approaches based on documented proposals
– The dilemma: Fidelity to historical truth or novelty?
Congress programme to include:
– Presentation and discussion of original research papers
– Lecture-demonstrations, video and film projections, discussions
– Performances by selected dance companies
– Groups of villagers executing their own dances
– Teaching of dances encountered during field research
– Visits to places of special interest, such as dance schools, museums, ensembles etc
– Evenings where congress participants dance to music by local musicians
– Exhibitions and sales of books, records, pictures, costumes, accessories etc
Those interested in participating are invited to send a message to:
Congress Secretariat
National Dance Theater
Scholiou 8, Plaka
GR-10558 Athens, Greece
Tel: (30) 210.324.6188
Fax: (30) 210.324.6921
Email: mail@grdance.org
Please visit the following websites: www.grdance.org or www.unesco.org/ngo/cid
The Indonesian Contemporary Dance Centre (ICDC) is looking for two Asian artists to collaborate in producing a maximum 10-minute dance on screen (in video format).
The collaborative work will be screened in Jakarta in late August where the two artists will share their experience in a talk after the screening. Depending of the quality of the final work, the work may be submitted to at least one international dance video festival.
Applicant Criteria
Young Choreographer
– Indonesian origin, no older than 35 years, residing in Java or Sumatra
– An experienced choreographer with a background in contemporary dance
– Able and willing to stay in Jakarta from 15 July to 31 August 2003
– Interested in exchanging ideas with other artists through collaboration
Young Filmmaker/Video Artist
– non-Indonesian, Asian origin residing in a Southeast Asia country (excluding Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines), no older than 35 years
– Has done some film/video art works (students eligible to apply)
– Interested in exchanging ideas with other artists through collaboration
– Interested in trying something new (i.e. dance video)
– Able and willing to stay in Jakarta from 15 July to 31 August 2003
Interested artists should write a one-page outline of their proposed idea for the project (in either Bahasa Indonesia or English) and email it to hel_ondance@yahoo.com
Deadline: 10 July 2003
If accepted ICDC will cover:
– Travel cost to Jakarta and back
– Decent accommodation in Jakarta for 6 weeks (during the project) and some small lumps of money for meals and life expenses
– Production costs of the dance video (equipment rental and editing), excluding the dancer/s and his/her/their costumes etc
For more information call:
Helly Minarti: +62 818 925 237
Leilie Huzaibah: + 62 817 728 221
For more info on ICDC click www.dance-indonesia.com
This project is organised by ICDC and sponsored by Arts Network Asia (www.theatreworks.org.sg)
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Dance On Screen
Dance on screen, dance on camera or dance video/film is not merely dance documentation on video. It is an art form or genre whereby dancers and choreographers collaborate with writers, producers and filmmakers to create fabulous narrative and experimental shorts, features, documentaries, stage adaptations or instructional programs (see Dance Film Association, New York, http://www.dancefilmsassn.org/index.html). This project focuses on the creation of fabulous narrative and experimental shorts.
A biennial event organised by the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Singapore, the Asian Arts Mart aims to bring the arts community together. It provides a platform for exchange, business cooperation and networking within the arts industry of Asia and the world.
Participants include artists and companies, agents and managers, venue presenters, producers, festival directors, cultural institutions, government bodies and many others.
The programme will comprise a series of discussions, networking sessions, showcase performances and exhibition.
Running 14-16 June 2003, it coincides with:
. 2003 International Society of Performing Arts Singapore Congress (18-21 June)
. Annual General Meeting and Programmers Group Meeting of the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centers (17 June)
. Singapore Arts Festival (29 May – 22 June)
Registration is open for delegates and exhibitors. Discounted rates are available until 15 April 2003.
Visit www.esplanade.com/asianartsmart for further information.
The German Video Dance Production Award 2003/2004 is a two-part competition sponsored by SK Stiftung Kultur, Kunsthochschule fur Medien, PACT Zollverein and Kunststiftung NRW. It endeavours to support young artists in their efforts to realise a professional video dance production. The intention is to support a production of artistic excellence that is able to compete internationally and to be broadcast over European television networks.
The first part is a competition for camera choreography concepts. An international jury of experts will select 6 concepts from the submitted entries, awarding them a grant of 3100 Euros each to produce a 3-minute pilot video.
In the second part of the competition, the jury will select from the six contending pilot videos, one production concept as the recipient of the German Video Dance Production Award 2003/2004.
The competition is open to professional artists and students of film and art schools, working in the areas of moving images and artistic dance. There are no limitations of age or nationality.
For more information on the competition and terms of application, visit http://www.sk-kultur.de/videotanz/english/vd_price/vtp_e.htm
The application deadline is 1 September 2003