| Gilded
Serpent presents...
The San Francisco Ethnic
Dance Festival 2007
Weekend One
Palace of Fine Arts
June 8, 2007
Photos by Lynette Harris
Performance descriptions are taken by permission
from the
World Arts West Website
2 more weekends yet to come!
Leung’s
White Crane Lion and Dragon Dance Association
Originating as a Daoist ceremony to invoke the deities,
this Cantonese style Chinese lion dance which features
skillfully navigated and
daring jumps atop eight-foot poles, presents an inquisitive
and playful lion bringing joy and auspiciousness.
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Nritta
Katha School of Kathak Dance
Festival favorite Parna Basu brings her
lightning-speed rhythmic footwork and seemingly effortless
graceful gestures to the stage
for this Muslim style North Indian kathak dance traditionally
performed to evoke devotion or Bhakti in the viewer.
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Theatre
Flamenco
Gorgeous flourishes of ruffled, trailing skirts, called
bata de colas, and expressive upper body and hand movements
are featured
in this new and beautifully choreographed ensemble flamenco
piece.
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Shabnam
Reaching beyond ancient traditions for her Festival debut
of Middle Eastern belly dance with an athletic style, this
performance
mesmerizes with fiery fusion technique and Sufi inspired
spinning within a whirlwind of alluring silk veils.
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LIKHA
Pilipino Folk Ensemble
A tribute to the indigenous people of Mindanao island
in the Philippines, this richly textured dance is a call
to the Bagobo,
Mandaya, Manobo, B’laan, and Mansaka tribes to celebrate
their unity with thanksgiving festivities.
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Gadung
Kasturi
Evil king Newata Kawaka is defeated and heaven is saved
in this Legong style Balinese classical dance depicting
a Hindu epic story from the Mahabarata, with enchanting
live Gamelan musical accompaniment.
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De
Rompe y Raja
Good and evil engage in a battle of intricate zapateo, a
complicated competition dance of percussive footwork, performed
by a true master of Afro-Peruvian and African rhythms.
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Instituto
Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento
Spanish Gypsy, African, and South American influences
course through this flirty, dynamic Chilena style dance
performed
to distinctive coastal music from the Mexican region of
Guerrero.
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Hui
Tama Nui
Drums pounding and skirts flying, an impressive group
of performers fifty strong offer high energy Tahitian
dances in
costumes handmade entirely of coconuts to honor their
source as the “tree of life.”
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All
dancers return to the stage for a final bow.
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Shabnam lingers
on stage for some extra fun |
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Have
a comment? Send us a
letter!
Check the "Letters to the Editor"
for other possible viewpoints!
Ready
for more?
11-9-06 The
Ethnic Dance Festival 2006 Photos
by Susie Poulelis Weekend
One
– "Time" June 10, 2006
Palace
of Fine Arts, San Fransico, CA
6-19-04
San
Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Photo
Teaser June
12-27 2004 Palace of Fine Arts photos
by Susie Poulelis
Taken
last night, you can still see this show tonight and tomorrow and
see more next weekend!
8-14-03
"What is Belly
Dance?" The First Presentation in the New Symposium Series,
by World Arts West A report and review by Sadira There
has been much controversy surrounding
the particular groups and soloists who have been chosen to represent
the Middle Eastern Dance category in the Ethnic Dance series throughout
its entire 25 years of production.
7-9-03 Photos
of the 25th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
photos by Susie Poulelis
Weekend
3, held June 21 & 22, 2003 presented by World Arts West at
the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California
12-5-06
The Ethics of Fusion
by Naajidah
If the culture that you’re borrowing your moves
from objects to your fusion, does it matter? Are you being respectful
or exploitative if you borrow steps from a culture that doesn’t
want their music and dance used that way?
1-17-07
Western Dancer's Guilt,
a Respnse to Naajidah, by Miles Copeland
People have occasionally suggested Arabs would be “horrified”
by the inclusion of the Tribal style in our show but I can tell
you that this style is extremely popular with Middle Easterners
who come to our show.
6-13-07
Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant
2007 Saturday Photos, Photos by Michael Baxter, Photo Prep
by Michelle Joyce, May 26, 2007 Danville, California, Produced
by Leea
Saturday's
contest includes Troupes, Duo/Trios, Grand Dancer, and Preliminaries
for Solo's, Sunday Finals Coming Soon
6-10-07
MECDA’s First 30 Years , The Middle
Eastern Culture and Dance Association's Changing Role in our Community
by Marta Schill Kouzouyan
Diversity,
however, often leads to dissention, and controversy flew regarding
the perception of the rather strict parameters of the Egyptian
style.
6-7-07
More of Carl Sermon's Photos : Rakkasah
West '07
Prep
and layout by Michelle Joyce
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