Asia Society Presents
Transcending Turmoil: Power of the Arts in Communities

An Evening of Discussion, Dance and Live Jazz in Memory of the
Thousands Affected by Hurricane Katrina and the Asian Tsunami

Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 7:00 P.M.

Asia Society 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street)
Tickets are free and available to the public
on a first-come first served basis the day of the event beginning at 5:30 P.M.
Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

In memory of the thousands of lives that were affected by Hurricane Katrina and the Asian Tsunami, the Asia Society presents an evening of discussion, dance and live jazz with artists from India and New Orleans that conceived, performed and collaborated in Ocean of Light, a performance that pays homage to victims of these disasters.

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS:

Introduction

Dance excerpts from Ocean of Light (25 mins)
Contemporary dancers from New Orleans together with Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathak dancers from South Asia perform:

1. The Birth of Water; Reflecting Pool and H2O (11 mins)
2. Churning of the Ocean (4   mins)   
3. Thillana (8mins)

Live Jazz by the Dave Liebman Group (20 mins)
Featuring David Liebman on saxophone accompanied by Vic Juris on bass guitar and Hindustani musician Steve Gorn on flute.

Panel Discussion (30 mins)
Transcending Turmoil: Power of the Arts in Communities
Exploring the role of arts during times of turmoil with panelists:

Jonathan Hollander Artistic Director at the Battery Dance Company who co-conceived the idea of Ocean of Lightand Fulbright Lecturer on dance in India

Jeanne Jaubert, Founder and Artistic Director of the New Orleans-based dance company, Happensdance

Rekha Tandon, Odissi dancer

Dave Liebman, Jazz musician and founder of the Dave Liebman Group who collaborated with musicians from India to create the music influenced by Eastern ragas and chants and Western jazz for Ocean of Light.

Moderated by:
Rachel Cooper Director of Performing Arts and Cultural Programs, Asia Society.

Ocean of Light , conceived by Dr. Sanjay Doddamani and Jonathan Hollander, Artistic Director at the Battery Dance Company, debuts on August 24, 2006 , at the 25 th Annual Downtown Dance Festival in New York with programs at Chase Plaza (12PM) and at Battery Park on August 26 th (1pm). Performances of Ocean of Light are scheduled in New Orleans: at the Contemporary Arts Center on August 29 th (6PM), where CNN’s Anderson Cooper will be present, and at Tulane University on August 30 th (7PM). There are plans to tour in South Asia later this year. Ocean of Light is produced by the Battery Dance Company. It is funded in part by the Christensen Fund, Skadden , Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, the Government of India ’s tourism board and Air India.http://www.katrinaocean.com.

Asia Society is the leading global organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States. We seek to enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of policy, business, education, arts, and culture. Founded in 1956, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.  http://www.asiasociety.org.

Battery Dance Company, in its 30 th season, supports the creative process; educates children in the New York City schools; enriches the general public through local programs and performances, national and international tours, and international arts exchange programs. The Battery Dance Company maintains a cultural bridge between the U.S. and India. Since 1992, the Battery Dance Company has traveled to 17 cities while on tour in India. The Battery Dance Company has also facilitated tours in the U.S. by several Indian performers and ensembles. http://www.batterydance.org.

Happensdance is devoted to the creation and presentation of distinctive works of contemporary dance. Since its founding in 1999 the group's New Orleans performance seasons have included many appearances at the Zeitgeist Center for Multidisciplinary Arts, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Art. The have also appeared in such diverse settings as Rockin' Bowl in collaboration with Recycle for the Arts, the streets of the Warehouse District, Cafe Brazil in collaborations with both the Louisiana Philharmonic and the poetry organization Lit City, and the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for Performing Arts in collaboration with the New Orleans Opera Association. The company has received seven "Big Easy" nominations and/or awards for their evening-length productions "Broken Compass", "Moving in View", "Ready, Set, Flow" and "Dreams and Slipstreams". The " Ocean of Light" collaboration marks the groups return to the stage after a year-long creative rejuvenation hiatus.

Ocean of Light
Artists Bios

Happensdance, New Orleans

Jeanne Jaubert(Co-Director and Choreographer of Ocean of Light) is the Founder and Artistic Director of Happensdance. Her work has received support from the Arts Council of New Orleans and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, by whom she was awarded the 2002 Artist Fellowship in Choreography.  Happensdance has garnered numerous "Big Easy" awards and nominations in the categories of best new work and best modern dance production.  Also an accomplished musician, she holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University.  She plays the cello in the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Jeanne Jaubert

John Allen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Tulane University. He holds a B.A. in Human Development from Brigham Young University and an M.F.A. in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. While in school he was awarded the Dee Winterton Spirit of Dance Award, the Excellence in Folk Arts Scholarship and the Susan Newton Parsons Scholarship. His professional experience includes dancing as a member of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Stephen Koester and Dancers, and SB Dance. He has also collaborated and performed in original works by choreographers such as Doug Varone, Sean Curan, and Daniel Ezralow. Recently, he has been invited to work with such companies as First Physical Theater in Grahamstown, South Africa and Kannon Dance Company in St. Petersburg, Russia. John Allen

Nicole Boyd is native to New Orleans and has been dancing for over twenty years. She studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, U.C. Los Angeles, and Alvin Ailey School of Dance. She has performed with various companies in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. Nicole is the recipient of two Big Easy Awards for Best Choreography (new work) for her pieces Waiting on that 5 O'Clock Breeze in 1997, and High Heels and Grits in 2003, and was nominated for the same award for her piece That Damn Dress, performed in A Confederacy of Dances 1 at the Contemporary Arts Center. Nicole Boyd

Jina Curtis has been dancing for over 25 years on stages throughout the US, Japan, and Europe. She has been with Happensdance since 2003. In addition to dancing, Jina has made it her life long pursuit to earn every academic degree imaginable. She is currently working on her nursing degree at Louisiana State University. She is excited to be a part of this unique and collaborative event.

J Hammons is a co-founder of Moving Humans Performance Group in New Orleans, having co-created Chekhov's Wild Ride and Maid of Orleans: A Joan of Arc Story among other works. He was a company member of MOMIX, has worked with Bill T Jones and David Dorfman, and trained with Anne Bogart's SITI theatre company. J teaches theater and dance at Tulane and holds MFAs in Dance (UNCG) and Theatre (UNO). In New Orleans he has directed To Flee, Flee This Sad Hotel, J.B., Going Under, and Fertilizer. He has choreographed EVOL, Love Songs, and LMN and danced with Tsunami Dance Company, Happensdance, and A Confederacy of Dances. J Hammons

Maritza Mercado-Narcisse was born in Newark, New Jersey and spent her formative years in Los Angeles and New Orleans. A graduate of New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), she continued her dance studies with Milton Myers and attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. In the summer of 2000, Maritza returned to New Orleans and began to foster a relationship with the growing theatre and dance community. She performed with Tsunami Dance Company as well as in Confederacy of Dances 5 and 6. In 2004, Maritza began creating and performing with ArtSpot Productions/Moving Humans, collaborating on such projects as Chekhov’s Wild Ride and the New Orleans Suite. She is a teaching artist for both KIDsmART and the New Orleans Ballet Association. In the fall of 2005, Maritza was awarded a Creative Development residency from The Jacob’s Pillow foundation, which commenced in 2006. Maritza Mercado-Narcisse

Elizabeth Studwell is a 2006 Tulane University graduate with degrees in Dance and Philosophy. Originally from New York State, she spent the post-Katrina semester at SUNY-Purchase's dance conservatory.  She has participated in intensives with the Paul Taylor Company, Doug Varonne, Alvin Ailey, and the David Parsons Company.  She danced in Sara Pearson's and Patrick Woodrig's "Katrina: Love Letters to New Orleans" project that toured New Orleans, Austin, and Washington D.C.

South Asian Dancers

Sanjay Doddamani (Concept and Co-Director) has studied Bharata Natyam for over twenty years. He learned from Guru and Professor U.S. Krishna Rao, Guru Kittappa Pillai, descendent of the Tanjore Quartette, and Guru Narmada. He studied mime from Guru Venkatalakshamma, last court dancer of the former Mysore Kingdom. His dance is marked by a deep vein of social consciousness, dancing on Gandhi and his connection with the US pacifist movement (Philadelphia Museum of Art 2003), on Shiva - dancer of the grave yard (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington D.C. 2002, the Million Minutes of Peace, Hong Kong and India International Centre, New Delhi). He is empanelled by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He is Assistant Professor in Cardiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine ( Montefiore Medical Center).

Nirupama & Rajendra are the Founders and Directors of the Abhinava Arts Centre, a leading center for training, performing & choreography in Bangalore, India who specialize in two major classical dance styles Bharathanatyam and Kathak, from South and North India, and also in dance choreography. They trained under  world-class dance Gurus including Mrs. Maya Rao, Mrs.Kumudini Lakhia, Mrs.Chitra Venugopal, Late U.S.K. couple, Mrs. Kalamandalam Radhika, Mrs.Kalanidhi Narayan, Mrs.Narmada, Pundit Arjun Misra & Mrs.Sundari Santhanam. Niru & Raju have created works that fuse various styles from Ethnic to Modern featuring an extraordinary range of creative expressions from the deep Indian classics to contemporary. The Duo’s artistry, spirit, and creativity in presenting Indian Dance has taken them on extensive tours across the USA, Canada, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, UK, UAE & African countries. They have the highest artists rating A TOP on Doordarshan and have won several “Young Achievers” awards, the empowerment for excellence award, the Paul Harris fellowship for their outstanding skills. Nirupama and Rajendra

Krithika Rajagopalan (Principal Dancer and Assistant Artistic Director, Natya Dance Theater, Chicago) trained in Bharata Natyam under her mother, Hema Rajagopalan and from Kalanidhi Narayanan. She has also studied the art of histrionic expression and dramaturgy, Kalari Payatu (Indian Martial Arts), and yoga. She has performed widely including at the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC; Ravinia Festival, the Music and Dance Festival of Madras, India; and the National Centre for Performing Arts, Bombay, India with over 200 solo performances. Her numerous accolades include: the Chicago Dance Award, the Jerome Foundation Grant, the Master Teacher Award from the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship, the Woman Warrior Award from Columbia College in Chicago, and the Commitment to the Arts Award from Mayor Daley, City of Chicago. She choreographed Ahimsa: Toward Non-Violence, which received the Critic’s Choice Award from the Chicago Reader. She has also collaborated with Hedwig Dances, Looking glass Theatre Company, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and World Stage Chicago, an Emmy-award-winning PBS choreography. She recently performed for the Silk Road Ensemble with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Krithika Rajagopalan

RamaaReddy-Raghavan has studied Bharata Natyam from a very young age. Her training began in the idyllic Rishi Valley School. She has learnt from Indrani Rehman, Malavika Sarukkai and recently from Uma Sundaram from the Kalakshetra School. Her performances have included the Festival of India in 1986, Cooper Hewitt Museum, UNICEF, YMCA, Queens Museum of Art, and the Indian Consulate, New York.

Dr. A.R. Sreedhara straddles the two professions of art and science (medicine). He studied Bharathanatyam under Gurus Narmada and Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan and has performed for more than 22 years. He has been featured in leading dance festivals in India and abroad. He is a top-grade performer for the National Television network of India. He is an empanelled artist of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, and is the recipient of a senior fellowship in dance from the ministry of culture. Dr, Sreedhara is in San Antonio where he is performing and teaching dance, and conducting yoga classes and yoga therapy sessions.

Rekha Tandon, co-director of Dance Routes, India, obtained her Ph.D in Dance Studies from the Laban Centre, London (2005). She has a Master’s Degree in Art History from the National Museum Institute, New Delhi (1995) and studied Architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (1985). She learnt Odissi dance with Madhavi Mudgal and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and performed in Mudgal’s ensemble as well as taught at Gandharva Mahavidyala between 1987 and 1992. She has lectured all over the world including on many topics like ‘Postcolonial Identity Construction in South Asian Music and Dance’ at The School of Oriental & African Studies, London. She has participated in many workshops related to dance including at the Sangeet Natak Academy’s on Performing Art Traditions of Orissa, as well as Ecology and Aesthetics, Schumacher College, Devon, UK, 1993. She performed in a Doordarshan – INTACH film, “Prerna” on conservation of temple architecture. She has also directed, scripted and danced in her own documentary video film "Odissi - A Dance of Sculpture," produced by Dance Routes. Rekha Tandon 

The Musicians

Dave Liebman Group

Dave Liebman’s present group formed in 1991 includes guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Tony Marino and drummer Marko Marcinko. With these musicians he has pursued an eclectic direction in recording projects that has ranged from jazz standards to Puccini arias, original adaptations from the John Coltrane and Miles Davis repertoires, original compositions in styles ranging from world music to fusion, always maintaining a repertoire that balances the past, present and future. He has consistently placed among the top finalists in the Downbeat Critics' Poll since 1973 in the Soprano Saxophone category. As of the present, David Liebman has been featured on nearly 300 recordings, of which he has been the leader and/or co-leader on nearly 100. Well over 200 original compositions have been recorded. His artistic output has ranged from straight ahead classic jazz to chamber music; from fusion to avant garde. http://www.upbeat.com/lieb/

Vic Juris

Inspired by the rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, Vic Juris first picked up a guitar at the age of ten. With no musicians in the family, he taught himself to play and was soon appearing with rock and R&B bands throughout the tri-state area. In his late teens Vic discovered jazz and classical music. He was hooked. From there it was on to a career with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Hamilton, Dave Liebman, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson and Nancy Wilson. Vic has been a member of the David Liebman group since 1991. Vic's 2004 release of "Blue Horizon" listed him as top picks for the year 2004. Vic Juris is also one of the leading jazz educators throughout the world. He has written two books published by Mel Bay, "Vic Juris Inside/Outside: Original Play-Along Modern Jazz Guitar Solos" and "Modern Chords:Advanced Harmony for Guitar". He currently teaches at The New School for Social Research, Rutgers University, and Lehigh University. http://www.vicjuris.com

Steve Gorn

Steve Gorn’s first steps on this path were taken as a young jazz musician studying composition at Penn State. He noticed how John Coltrane and Charles Lloyd had begun to incorporate aspects of Indian music into their playing. He traveled to India, and upon returning to the U.S., he brought his elegant bansuri sound to American pop music, influencing a wide range of musicians, recording with Paul Simon, Richie Havens, Paul Winter, and many others. Deepak Chopra, Coleman Barks, and Jai Uttal are among those who have sought out his virtuoso bamboo flute. He has composed for film, television, dance and theatre, and performed in concerts and festivals throughout the world, drawing from classical Indian, jazz and world music to create a distinctive signature sound. His acclaimed cd, “ Luminous Ragas,” was named one of the top ten recordings of the year by Los Angeles Reader. http://www.stevegorn.com/.

Press Contact: Elaine Merguerian or Jennifer Suh, 212-327-9271  

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