UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre presents

Songs of the Wanderers
10 Feb in Penang, 16-17 Feb in Kuala Lumpur

“Asia's leading contemporary dance theatre” (The Times, London)

“Visually stunning and exquisitely performed” (The New York Times)

“One of the finest dance companies in the world” (The Globe and Mail, Toronto)

“Dancers of the Cloud Gate company possess a control and articulation that verges on the superhuman. These are dancers who can make stillness every bit as eloquent as animation.” (Chicago Sunday Times)

Featuring 3.5 tons of rice on stage!

Penang

8.30pm, 10 Feb 2012, at Dewan Sri Pinang
Tickets RM 68 - RM 368
Box Office Tel: 03-4147 8600 / http://www.ticket2u.biz/

Kuala Lumpur

8.30pm, 16-17 February 2012, at Istana Budaya
Tickets RM 68 - RM 468
Box Office Tel: 03-4147 8600 / http://www.ticket2u.biz/

Since its 1995 premiere, Songs of the Wanderers has gripped the imaginations of audiences worldwide. It is the signature work of Lin Hwai-min's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Asia's leading contemporary dance company. The choreography blends Eastern and Western dance styles and demands absolute focus and control from the performers who, at times, appear to have been transformed from human beings into body sculptures, with startling imagery evoking a quest for spiritual enlightenment through experience and suffering.

Now it is coming to Penang and Kuala Lumpur!

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre owes its name to a Chinese ritual dance and the company's 24 dancers are skilled in tai chi tao yin, meditation, the martial arts, Chinese opera, modern and classical dance, and calligraphy. Its founder and Artistic Director, Lin Hwai-min, is an acclaimed award-winning artist heralded as "the most important choreographer in Asia", putting Asian myths and aesthetics into modern and universal perspectives. Since the late 70s, Lin and his company have toured the world dozens of times and have received several national and international prizes.

In his press conference in Kuala Lumpur, world master choreographer Lin Hwai-Min gave thanks to the 103 groups and cultural groups who have made the Cloud Gate visit to Malaysia a possibility. Wearing black and a friendly smile, Master Lin remained standing throughout the conference, projecting his strong energy into the room.

Master Lin selected Songs of the Wanderers for Malaysia because it illustrates a myriad of cultural elements. When asked if the works is contemporary dance or traditional dance, and whether it portrays Buddhism or Hinduism, Master Lin replied, “It is not important. What is important is that it brings a strong sense of peace to the audience, no matter your background.”

Songs of the Wanderers, evokes the cheerful memories of Buddha's trip to Bodh Gaya, leading the audience into a fantastic purification rite. 90 minutes long, it is a work about the practice of asceticism, a river’s peaceful flow, and the seeking of quietness. During the performance, the stage is modeled into a landscape by 3.5 tons of rice. The rice falls on the head of a monk standing still, and later it is formed into scenes of rivers, mountains, storms and deserts. The music for the work is Georgian folk songs sung by the Rustavi Choir.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg6PrDRuVqc&feature=related

For more info: www.hands.com.my / 03 6141 4480 / 016 3819112 (Zoe Lee) / 012 943 5616 (Mon Lim)

Master Class conducted by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in Kuala Lumpur

Participants must possess at least 3 years dance experience and aged 16 years and above.

10.30am-12.30pm
14 Feb 2012, Tuesday
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Studio 5
RM 150
More info: http://www.tiny.cc/cgmasterclass

Longing, 18 Feb at KLPac

Date & time: Feb 18 Saturday @ 8.30pm
Venue: Pentas 1, klpac
Tickets: adult: RM60/ RM45/RM35 (Inclusive of RM3 ticketing charges); Student: RM25 (Inclusive of RM3 ticketing charges/ Limited concessions for walk ins only)

Longing is a performance that features an amazing fusion of the art forms – combining new music written for classical string quartet set in a digital environment. It explicitly creates a platform where the North and South (East) meet; displaying digital set design, music composition, contemporary dance and musicians from different backgrounds.

Longing is a performance that portrays aspiration in a universal sense, where cultures and backgrounds know no boundaries. It expresses a feeling of longing, and forms the soundboard between two continents. Nordlandia has successfully achieved such aspirations in the creative works of the Norwegian and Malaysian artistes. The collaboration presents music composer Adeline Wong (Malaysia), musicians T’ang Quartet (Singapore), solo cellist Ørnulf Lillebjerka (Norway) and dancer Kristin Holand (Norway), with digital projections (visual collages) created by Are Andreassen and backed by electronica music / sound design by Are Simonsen. Longing also exhibits some theatrical elements directed by Stein Elvestad.

3 Faces, 1-4 March @ ASWARA

Presented by ASWARA and Sime Darby Yayasan.

A triple-bill of bharatanatyam, makyung and contemporary dance. An evening of dance that will possibly leave you gasping in awe at the richness of dance in Malaysia!

The evening in 3 acts will feature:

Bharatanatyam - Netranthi Nerathile

Principal: Norbaizura Abdul Ghani
Choreography: Vasuki Sivanesan & Shankar Kandasamy
Live music: Temple of Fine Arts

Makyung - excerpts from Dewa Indera Indera Dewa

Contemporary - Plan B

Principals: Murni Omar, Marrul Mawardi & Faillul Adam
Choreography: Boojae (Floor Fever), Suhaili Michelline et al

3 Faces:

Artistic Director: Joseph Gonzales
Date: 1-4 March 2012
Time: 8.30 p.m.
Venue: Experimental Theatre, ASWARA
Tickets: RM 20.00 & RM 5.00 (students)

Tel: +03-26975313/019-2319179
Fax: +03-26975513

Affordable tickets also made possible with generous support from:

Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, SEYTA / Gen Y - Selangor Young Talent Award, ASWARA & Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture, Malaysia.

For more information: www.aswara.edu.my; http://aswaradancecompany.blogspot.com/

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Artist in Residence Grants in Chiang Mai, Thailand at ComPeung

Due to our continuous support by our generous private donor, we are able to continue the ComPeung Grant program and are very pleased to advertise the ComPeung Grant 2012! We are calling for applications for 2 one month ComPeung artist in residence grants for 2012.

Eligibility & Conditions:

• Individual artists as well as artist duos are eligible to apply. Artist groups (max. 3 people) can also apply but we won't be able to fully fund the travel expenses for the whole group.
• At the end of the grant residency we expect the grant beneficiaries to present their outcomes in form of a public presentation/lecture.
• The period for the 2 residencies is fixed and scheduled for October 2012, which is not negotiable.

Each of the 2 grants covers:

• Air ticket to/from artist's home country
• Transportation to/from Chiang Mai International Airport
• Small artist fee
• Accommodation/studio
• 3 home-cooked meals per day

Interested artists are to apply online only by providing:

• ComPeung Grant Application Form (.pdf / .doc)
• Proposal of work or project to be undertaken during the grant residency, which can be part of a current work-in-progress or a new body of work.
• Artist statement clearly stating the objectives for applying for this particular residency.
• Curriculum Vitae (2 pages A4).
• Max 10 images of the work.
• Links to sound, video/animation work and/or artist websites.

*All documents are to be merged into a single pdf/doc file (not exceeding 5 MB).

Disciplines & Media: Visual Arts, Media, Architecture, Performing Arts, Literature, Music<.

Grant application deadline: 31 May 2012. Late applications will not be considered.

Applications are be sent to: compeung@yahoo.com Grant notifications will be emailed by end of June 2012. More information, please visit www.compeung.org .

Position Available: Professor in Dance at QUT, Australia

Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, seeks a strong academic leader and manager to head our renowned Dance discipline. The successful applicant will hold a doctoral qualification or equivalent with a demonstrated record of excellence in leading a studio program, and a passion for situating curricula within a broader framework of research and scholarship.

Open to Australian and international applicants. Fixed-term for 5 years in the School of Media Entertainment and Creative Arts. Salary range $AUD111 393 to $AUD122 730 pa (Level D); $AUD143 500 pa (Level E).

For more information, position description and application process, go to https://qut.nga.net.au/cp/ and search for "dance".

Auditions in New York and Hong Kong for The Hong Kong Ballet

In Hong Kong: Saturday 11 February 2012, 10.00 a.m. – 1.30 p.m at Kwai Tsing Theatre, 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung, N.T., Hong Kong
In New York: Sunday 25 March 2012, 3:00pm – 6:00pm, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 405 W. 55th Street (9th Avenue)

We seek dancers with strong classical and modern technique. Available positions: the corps de ballet, Soloists and Principals. A 12 month contract for the 2012/13 season would start from July 2012. Bring CV, and if possible photograph. Dress requirement: tights, leotard or body tights. Ladies should be on pointe.

Auditions are by invitation only. For the New York audition, please send us your CV before 1st March 2012, along with photos, a DVD or web link to stage and studio work, as well as your contact details.

For more details, see  http://hkballet.com/2010/recruit/

32nd World Congress on Dance Research, San Marino, 27 June - 1 July 2012

A gathering of worldwide dance specialists and an opportunity to showcase one's work to a wide audience of practitioners, dance teachers, choreographers, researchers, journalists and organizers. Average attendance is 400 professionals from 40 countries of the 5 continents. All forms of dance are represented. Strictly non-profit. Not to be confused with festivals, workshops, competitions or open conferences.

Under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of San Marino and the National UNESCO Commission. This World Congress is organized by the San Marino Section of CID (International Dance Council), in collaboration with the Italian Folklore Union (UFI). San Marino is a small independent country on the Eastern coast of Italy, very near Rimini.

The program includes:

• Presentation and discussion of original research reports (papers)
• Classes, lecture-demonstrations, video projections
• Performances by dance companies, duos or solos
• Exhibitions and sale of books, records, pictures, costumes, accessories etc.
• Visits to places of special interest, such as dance schools, museums, sites etc.
• Evenings where members can discuss in a relaxed setting.

While intended primarily for professionals, it is at the same time a trade fair and a participatory event, facilitating contacts among colleagues in view of international cooperation projects. Working language is English. Submitting a presentation (research report, lecture-demonstration, class, performance, exhibition) is optional. For each presentation a text must be sent before 1 June 2012. For more information, see http://www.cid-portal.org

MyDance Alliance thanks MAP @ Publika for supporting the weekly professional drop-in dance class series.

To request pro bono publicity assistance for dance productions, courtesy of Pixarus Communications Sdn Bhd, please email contact@mydancealliance.org with the subject title "Pixarus Application".