January Low of Sutra Dance Theatre will present her solo debut Bharata Natyam performance entitled Profound Grace.

January took up ballet at an early age but fell in love with Indian dance when she saw Ramli Ibrahim and his Sutra dancers. Since the age of eight she has studied Bharata Natyam, Odissi and contemporary dance under Ramli.

Profound Grace is not only an important rite of passage but also January’s homage to an ancient dance form to which she has dedicated herself.

23-24 August 2003 @ 8.30pm
Amphi-Sutra (12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur)

Entry by donation: RM30 / RM20 (student)
Contact: 03-4022 9669

Email: sutradancetheatre@yahoo.com
Website: www.sutradancetheatre.com

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January’s dance career has sparked interest in Malaysian dance circles. She represents the quintessential Malaysian youth who is open-minded, totally unselfconscious of having one foot steeped in tradition and the other embracing all that is modern, and whose natural stance with regard to her environment and community transcends race and religion.

RiverGrass Dance Academy (Company & School) is urgently looking for an Office Administrator / Program Manager.

Requisites:
Generally
· Form 6 or College Graduate
· Computer literate with administration and basic accounting skills
· Able to speak, write and type in English and Chinese
· Interested in the Performing Arts
· Pleasant personality and good communication skills

For Program Manager
. All of the above, plus
· Working experience with planning and marketing skills

Remuneration:
· RM 1,300.00 – RM 2,000.00 with EPF etc.

Contact: Mew Chang Tsing at 016-2210 562

RiverGrass Dance Academy & RiverGrass Dance Theatre
12A, Jalan 20/16A, 46300 PJ, Malaysia
Tel/Fax: 03 – 787 787 06
Website: www.rivergrass.com.my

For Term 1 (July – September 2003) Sharki Dance Studio conducts two 8-lesson courses that offer ladies a fun yet systematic way of learning Middle Eastern dance. Lessons are held every 1st, 2nd and 3rd weekend of the month.

Introduction to Bellydance (Beginners 1)

This basic class will see you doing Middle Eastern dance the safe way while still having fun. Students will learn to appreciate both classical and modern Middle Eastern dance music. These 8 lessons will build a foundation for further Middle Eastern dance movements. These 8 session classes are suitable for complete beginners or those who have attended 1 – 2 sessions.

Either:
Saturdays @ 12.00nn – 1:30pm
(12 & 19 July; 2, 9 & 16 Aug; 6, 13 & 20 Sept)
Or:
Sundays @ 1.00pm – 2:30pm
(13 & 20 July; 3, 10 & 17 Aug; 7, 14 & 21 Sept)

Classes limited to 15 pax
Cost: RM 135 per month (3 classes)

Foundations of Bellydance (Beginners 2a)

This course builds on what was learnt in “Introduction to Bellydance”

Either:
Saturdays @ 2:00pm – 3:30pm
(12 & 19 July; 2, 9 & 16 Aug; 6, 13 & 20 Sept)
Or:
Sundays @ 11:00am – 12:30pm
(13 & 20 July; 3, 10 & 17 Aug; 7, 14 & 21 Sept)

Classes limited to 15 pax
Cost: RM 135 per month (3 classes)

Registration
Pre-registration is necessary as walk-ins will not be entertained
There is a one-off registration fee of RM10 for new students in addition to the course fee
Please submit/send registration form and payment
Cheques to be made payable to Koh Seok Leng

For inquiries and reservations, contact:
Datin Kim (012-210 5998) or Sherlyn (012-311 2277)
Email: sharkidance@fastmail.fm
Website: www.sharkidance.com

Venue: New Concept Beauty & Fitness (Above USPD) 59-3A Jalan SS23/15, Taman Sea 47 400 Petaling Jaya

For those interested, Jrisi from Australia will conduct four ‘fusion’ belly dance workshops in Singapore.

30 August 2003:
2:00pm-4:30pm – Belly Dance/Bollywood Fusion
5:00pm-7:30pm – Belly Dance/Latin Fusion

31 August 2003:
10:30am-1:00pm – Belly Dance/Flamenco Fusion
2:30pm – 5:00pm – Drum Solo

Venue:
Claribel’s Raks Sharki Studio
153 King’s Road, Farrer Court Clubhouse, Singapore

Fee: S$60 for each workshop (2½ hrs)

Places limited to 15 participants

To register, contact Claribel at 02-6474 3459 or email claribel_ng@hotmail.com

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Jrisi has been studying various forms of dance, including Oriental, Flamenco, Classical Indian, Jazz, Ballet, etc since 1992. She has also undergone professional training in Oriental and Western styles of dance in Germany, Lebanon, Egypt and New York as a recipient of the Australia Council Skills and Arts Development Fund 2000.

She has been teaching her own dance classes in Sydney and performing both in Australia and abroad – including Germany, Tunisia and Egypt. She was invited to perform in the Closing Gala of the International Oriental Dance Festival 2002 in Cairo.

Specialists in the training of jazz dance, the Celestar Studio of Performing Arts (CSOPA) will be conducting new performers’ courses.

Running from September through to November 2003, both full-time and part-time courses for Introductory, Higher and Preparatory Levels are available.

For further details contact 013-3710862

Venue: CSOPA
No. 24B Jalan Mamanda 4, Ampang Point
68000 Ampang, Selangor

The renowned Bharata Natyam dancer, Sri Ganesan, will give a solo performance entitled Sarasa Sarasa Natyaa.

16 August 2003 @ 8.00pm

Auditorium Tan Sri KR Soma (Wisma Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur)

Admission: by invitation only

Contact: 03-6251 2270 / 012-678 0135

Summer Tales will comprise three works. The first two, Scheherazade and Undine, are based on the writings and compositions of French and German artists. A celebration of French-German friendship, the performance is jointly presented by Sutra Dance Theatre, the Alliance Française and the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes Kuala Lumpur. The last piece, The Rite of Spring, provides a Russian finale.

As part of Sutra’s Under the Stars Series 2003, Summer Tales is a specially commissioned contemporary dance choreographed by Ramli Ibrahim and Ileana Citaristi. It will be performed by Biljana Kiryazova, Guna, January Low, Judimar Monfils, Keith Chin, Ramli Ibrahim, Sangitha Namashivayam, Sri Mas Dewi, Syed Mustapha Syed Yasin, Tan Mei Mei and Weijun.

1 August 2003 @ 8.30pm (by invitation only)
2-3 August 2003 @ 8.30pm (donations welcome)

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

Contact: 03-4022 9669

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Contes d’été, Sommer Märchen (Summer Tales)

Scheherazade – composed by Maurice Ravel based on text of French poet, Tristan Klingsor.
Ravel’s music has often been characterized as colorful, picturesque and composed with dance in mind. Sutra will use contemporary dance to uncover its secret sensuality.

Undine – written by Friedrich Heinrich Karl and rendered in music by Hans Werner Henze, a widely known modern composer.
Sutra’s dance version of this fairy tale’s modern ballet music will unite the themes and topics of the night.

The Rite of Spring – a seminal work composed by Stavinsky, commissioned by Diaghilev and choreographed by Nijinsky for the Russian Ballet in 1913.
It continues to fascinate and challenge choreographers to this day; this choreographic challenge will be attempted in Malaysia for the first time.

Batu Dance Theatre has organised three Workshops (Beginners, Intermediate and Contact Improvisation) by Tan Lian Ho and Kuik Swee Boon.

There will also be a performance, Crossing Three Generations, featuring Tan Lian Ho, Kuik Swee Boon and Wong Jyh Shyong.

Workshop A – Beginner
Open to students and dance enthusiasts
16/8/2003 @ 3:30pm – 5:00pm & 5:00pm – 6:30pm
17/8/2003 @ 9:30am – 11:00am & 11:00am – 12:30pm
Adults: RM 35 (Single Lesson), RM 120 (4 Lessons)
Students: RM 25 (Single Lesson), RM 80 (4 Lessons)

Workshop B – Intermediate
Open to those with basic physical training, professional dancers and dance teachers
13-15/8/2003 @ 7:30pm – 9:00pm & 9:00pm – 10:30pm each night
Adults: RM 35 (Single Lesson), RM 180 (6 Lessons)
Students: RM 25 (Single Lesson), RM 120 (6 Lessons)

Workshop C – Contact Improvisation
Open to those wishing to know more about their body
16/8/2003 @ 7:30pm – 9:00pm (Body releasing)
16/8/2003 @ 9:00pm – 10:30pm (Contact Improvisation)
Adults: RM 35 (Single Lesson), RM 50 (2 Lessons)
Students: RM 25 (Single Lesson), RM 35 (2 Lessons)

Performance – Crossing Three Generations
17/8/2003 @ 8:00pm
Tickets: RM 25 (Adults), RM 15 (Students)

Discounts on performance tickets:
Workshops A + B + C – performance ticket is free!
Workshops A or B + C – 50% off performance ticket
Workshop A or B or C – RM 20 (Adult), RM 10 (Student)

Venue:
The Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (MCPA Theatre)
No: 1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur

Registration deadline: 10 August 2003

To register: Batu Dance Theatre
No.1, (3rd Fl), Persiaran Pegaga
Taman Bayu Perdana, 41200 Klang, Selangor
Tel: 03-3324 7568
Fax: 03-3324 7569
E-mail: batudt@hotmail.com
Website: www.batudt.com.my

The recent floods that destroyed the underground commercial centre of Dataran Merdeka, and more specifically our friends in the arts – The Actors Studio, Dama House and Kelab Shashin Fotografi have touched the hearts of many in the arts community.

Performance groups and friends have come together to raise funds for the affected companies, under the patronage of Datin Seri Paduka Endon Hj. Mahmood. Banjir is the collective effort of some of the best and well-known personalities in the performing arts including theatre designers, engineers and technicians.

Chacko Vadaketh and Bernie Chan will host the show, which has been divided into dance, drama and music.

9 – 10 August 2003 @ 8.30pm @ Panggung Bandaraya, Jalan Raja

Admission:
9 August 2003: tickets @ RM30 and RM50
10 August 2003: Gala Performance; invitations @ RM100 (minimum)
Companies and Corporations may buy invites in sets of 10 for RM3000

Tickets available at:
Sutra House (12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3), tel: 03-4021 1092
Topaz Cakehouse & Bakery (Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku), tel: 03-6201 0397

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The show will be divided into dance, drama and music.

Participants:
Dance: Ramli Ibrahim, Marion D’Cruz, Guna, Lee Swee Keong, Mew Chang Tsing, January Low, Judimar Monfils, Syed Mustapha Syed Yasin, Wei Jun, Choo Tee Kuang, Loh Soh Kim, Sri Mas Dewi, Andrian Juselly, Anuar Abdul Kadir, Syarul Ab. Ghani (coordinated by Ramli Ibrahim)

Drama: Zahim Albakri, Jit Murad, Mano Maniam, Harith Iskandar, Akshen Theatre, Alternative Theatre Co., Ida Nerina, Gavin Yap, Rashid Salleh and Afdlin Shauki (coordinated by Zahim Albakri)

Music: Saidah Rastam, Lewis Pragasam, Michael Veerapan, Gamelan Club and Dama Orchestra

There will be a pre-performance showing of works by Ramli Ibrahim (with Judimar Monfils) and Ng Teck Voon this coming Monday at Sutra House.

Date/Time: 28 July 2003 @ 9.00 pm

Venue: Sutra House (12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur)

Admission: FREE!! (but donations very welcome)

Different Flow on Mutual Ground is a very fresh piece by Ng Teck Voon having only been developed over the last few weeks with local performers Siew Mee, Eden, Mun, Weijun and Tou Chun.

Being so fresh, Teck Voon is using this pre-performance showing as an opportunity to expose the work to outside viewers, receive feedback, speak a little about how it was created and touch on his general philosophy towards choreography.

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Ng Teck Voon
While Ramli and Judimar may be familiar names, Ng Teck Voon could be less so as he is based mainly in the Netherlands.

Originally from Malaysia, Teck Voon first studied dance under Ng Siew Fong of the Harmony School of Ballet. He later traveled to England where he studied classical ballet, contemporary, character, jazz, drama and music at the Central School of Ballet, London.

Upon graduating he remained in England and performed with several companies and artists ranging from Ballet Central to Christopher Bannerman, the English National Opera and the Northern Ballet Theatre.

In 1992 he started to work in Europe and later established a base in the Netherlands. Since 1994 he has worked on a large number of projects with a diversity of companies and individual artists. As befits his training, Teck Voon is a versatile performer and has worked with Djazzex Dance Company, The Netherlands Opera and Holland Show Ballet among others.

More recently, he was seen performing his own work Opus 2 Firefly with Teo Ee Sim in ‘Danceworks & Friends’ (June 2002, Kuala Lumpur) and in Dutch choreographer, Gerard Mosterd’s The Luminescent Twilight which toured Indonesia for a month (October 2002).