After playing to “standing room only” at The Actors Studio Box, Taman Budaya Negeri Perak, Ipoh and The Actors Studio Greenhall, Penang, Stories for Amah presented by The Actors Studio Malaysian Playwright Series, will see a fourth staging — this time at The Actors Studio Bangsar.

Although primarily a theatre piece, it features dancer-choreographer Mew Chang Tsing in the lead role. And she still gets a chance to demonstrate her dancing skills.

Written by Mark Beau De Silva and presented under The Actors Studio Malaysian Playwright Series, Stories for Amah revolves around Ruth, a Chinese-Eurasian girl, defining her identity. It is a tale of knowing what matters most and a journey that discovers the soul is without colour.

Dates:
17-18, 24-25 January @ 8.30pm
19, 25 & 26 January @ 3.00pm

Venue: The Actors Studio Bangsar (Bangsar Shopping Center)
Tickets: RM32 & RM42 (Adults); 50% off (Students)

Contact: 03-2094 0400 / 2094 1400

WEIJUN, 24, completed his Bachelor of Arts, Dance Degree in 2001 at Queensland University of Technology, School of Dance (Australia). Weijun is currently the artiste-in-residence at Sutra Dance Theatre. Check out http://www.kakiseni.com for Weijun’s new article “Dance My Foot? Ask Weijun Part 2”

Starting: 11 January 2002 (once a week)
Time: Saturday-6:00pm to 7:30pm
Venue: Sutra Dance Theatre
12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4022 9669

Class for Beginners & Intermediate
Fees: First trail lesson FREE!
RM30 (registration)
RM50 (monthly)

Class structure and emphasis
· Improvisation and movement discovery
· Stretching and body conditioning
· Basic ballet and modern dance techniques
· Dance sequence and repertoire

Entry requirement
· Age 15 and above
· Previous dance training an advantage
· Beginners are welcome

From Alarippu to Moksha is a Bharata-Natyam and Odissi programme featuring senior dancers from Sutra Dance Theatre. Under this programme Ramli Ibrahim will collaborate with young gurus from at least six other dance schools in various cities around Malaysia to showcase their emerging young dance talents. The Indian classical teachers include Guna, Nadarajan Muniandy, Ajit Bhaskaran Dass, Santiago Samathanam and Shangita Namasivayam. Programme details are given below.

Dates/Time: 24-26 January 2003 @ 8.30pm
Venue: Amphi-Sutra (12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur)
Entry: Minimum donation of RM20 per person

Call: 03-4022 9669 (weekdays 11am-5pm only)

Programme:
24 January
Khazana Stage Creations, KL (Guna)
Subraanjali Dance Theatre, KL (Nadarajan Muniandy)

25 January
Natya Kalamandir, Ipoh (Santiago Samathanam)
Suvarna Dance Creations, Johor Baru (Ajit Dass)

26 January
Shangita Namasivayam Academy, KL (Shangita Namasivayam)
Sutra Dance Theatre, KL (Ramli Ibrahim)

From Alarippu to Moksha is a platform for dancers to network, share and consolidate common objectives and future efforts to bring about a greater awareness of dance as a part of the total dance experience.

Audiences will also have a chance to compare the development of the dance around Malaysia as represented by the dance schools from different cities.

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) is a foundation supporting cultural exchange in the visual and performing arts between the United States and the countries of Asia.

The main focus of the ACC’s grants programme is to provide individual fellowship awards to artists, scholars, students and specialists from Asia undertaking research, study, travel and creative work in the United States.

The ACC also awards a small number of grants in support of regional exchange activities in Asia.

The council not only awards individual fellowship grants, but also devotes special attention to arranging programmes tailored specifically to the needs and professional objectives of each grantee.

Staff will advise on cultural resources and activities, prepare travel itineraries, arrange meetings with arts specialists, recommend appropriate academic programmes and research affiliations and encourage grantees to explore interdisciplinary relationships in the arts in both Asian and American contexts.

Those interested in applying should visit www.asianculturalcouncil.org for further information.

Application deadline is 1 February 2003.

RiverGrass Dance Academy is auditioning dancers for its Dancers Training Course (2003 intake).

Formerly known as the Intensive Dancers Training Course, the revised course is conducted by Mew Chang Tsing (MA in Dance Studies, UK), principal of RiverGrass Dance Academy and artistic director of RiverGrass Dance Theatre.

Covering Technique, Aesthetics, Production Skills and Repertoire, this one-year course prepares dancers intent on joining the competitive Malaysian dance scene as well as provides groundwork for further studies overseas.

Students of the course have become lead dancers of RiverGrass Dance Theatre as well as other major Kuala Lumpur companies. Others have received scholarships to study overseas.

Dates/Times:
11 January 2003 @ 6.00pm
12 January 2003 @ 11.00am

Venue: RiverGrass Dance Academy @ 12A Jalan 20/16A, 46300 PJ
(LRT – Taman Paramount)

Contact: 03-7877 8706

Note: Applicants should have at least two years of dance experience.

For those of you who would like to
. groove like Britney Spears
. moonwalk like Michael Jackson
. ripple like Janet Jackson
. slither and strut like the dancers in “Cats” and “Fame”
the people at the Celestar Studio of Performing Arts can help you!

They also offer:
· Ballet (open class and RAD syllabus)
· Creative Dance (kids 3-5 years of age)
· Jazz Dance (8 and above)
· Performers Courses (all ages)
· Jazz dance teachers courses
· Social dance (all ages)
· Stretching class for dancers (all ages)
· Aerobics

New Classes start 6 January 2003 (see below for details)

If you are up to it, they can be found at:
24B Jalan Memanda 4, Ampang Point, 68000 Ampang (main studio)

Jazz classes are also available at:
Ampang Jaya, Taman Tun, Bandar Sunway, Sri Petaling and Desa Sri Hartamas

Call 013-371 0862 for further information.

Pleasure by RiverGrass Dance Academy will kick off 2003’s Dance Box Series. It is an improvisation-based performance featuring students from the academy’s Contemporary Dance and Children’s Creative Dance classes, and also the Intensive Dancers Training Course.

In dance improvisation, the human body becomes the means for expressing a person’s sensitivity to their surroundings (the space, music and other performers) as mediated by their inner thoughts and feelings.

In Pleasure improvisation is used and presented in 3 ways. The pieces presented are either fully improvised, semi-improvised or derived from improvisation.

With choreographers like Mew Chang Tsing, Lee Swee Keong and Brian Chua, this performance shows the joy and power of expressing oneself through dance.

Date/Time: 5 January 2003 @ 8.30pm
Venue: The Actors Studio Box @ Dataran Merdeka
Tickets: RM22 (Adults) / RM12 (Students)
Contact: 03-2694 5400 / 03-2692 5927 or RiverGrass Dance Academy: 03-7877 8706

Arts Network Asia comprises a group of independent artists and arts activists primarily from Southeast Asia that encourages and supports regional artistic collaboration as well as the development of managerial and administrative skills in the creative Asian arts.

Motivated by a philosophy of meaningful and mutually respectful collaboration, initiated in Asia and carried out primarily by Asian artists, the network is interested in providing the means to promote process-oriented artistic exchanges in Asia.

Therefore, if you have a project that shares the philosophy of Arts Network Asia, you are invited to submit a one-page proposal outlining the content, philosophy and intentions of your project.

Although the emphasis is on contemporary performing arts (dance and theatre), projects in the areas of music, video, film, multi-media and visual arts will also be considered.

Click HERE for further information regarding Arts Network Asia and its grant scheme.

If you have problems downloading the document, email contact@mydancealliance.org and a copy will be sent to you.

Deadline for submitting proposals: 31 January 2003

Presented by Drama Family, this inaugural performance of the Dance Species series will try to find a dynamic vocabulary for the Penang contemporary dance scene through the incorporation of movement, voice, experimental theatre, music and multi-media sensations.

This performance will feature Eastern Dancer, Ahyoke Kyoka Dance Ensemble, joie de vivre, Henry & Dancers, and Eng Hee Ling & Dancers.

Dates: 27-28 December 2002
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: The Actors Studio Greenhall, Penang
(Ground Floor, Zhong Zheng School Memorial Centre, 32 Lebuh Light)
Admission by donation: RM 20

Contact: 04-263 5400

Visit http://welcome.to/e-signer/dancespecies for further information on the programme, the choreographers involved and a photo gallery.

To launch itself as the first professional Malaysian Chinese dance company, Dua Space Dance Theatre will present a 90 minute show that attempts to recreate the atmosphere of Old Shanghai.

Directed by choreographer, Anthony Meh, the show will feature the dancers of Dua Space Dance Theatre, Chong Ah Kow (Harmonica Champion), Mah Sewi Kim (Leaf Blowing Master), Tan Wee Thian (Violinist), Chow Wee Thiam and Lim Teik Chian (Prizewinning Singers), and Douglas Wong (Theatre Director).

This inaugural performance has been organised by the MINES Resort City and Shopping Fair.

Date/Time: 31 December 2002 @ 11.00pm
Venue: MINES Interactive Square (main entrance, level 2, MINES Shopping Fair)
Admission Free

For further information, contact Douglas Wong @ 03-8943 8696 / 012-304 2012