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May 28, 2010 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival

SAN FRANCISCO — Considered the most prestigious gathering of its kind in the country, esteemed New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay wrote of the 2009 Festival: “What other city in the world has anything like the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival? … I heartily envy the Bay Area residents who can see the three programs I must miss … Amid such smorgasbord conditions, the range of dance sociology was remarkable … An extraordinarily happy program.”

From the powerful dance and music of Haiti to a special Mexican Bicentennial Tribute, the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival will once again impress Bay Area audiences with a cultural feast unparalleled in the world. Devoted to nurturing the work of Northern California dancers, this year marks two new highs: the commission of a record four new works — representing the cultures of the Congo, Afghanistan, China and Mexico — and the debut of 26 world premieres. Nearly 600 performers will take to the stage as 37 top Bay Area dance companies represent over 20 cultures in four weekends in June at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts. Performances are Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. on June 5 & 6; 12 & 13; 19 & 20; 26 & 27, 2010 with a special Benefit Gala June 11 at 6 p.m. Discounted family matinees are available every Saturday at 2 p.m.

San Francisco hosts the most dance organizations per capita of any U.S. city, and Northern California’s rich cultural and artistic diversity continues to inspire the Festival anew. Artistic Directors CK Ladzekpo and Carlos Carvajal, in consultation with a panel of dance experts, selected artists from the more than 130 Bay Area ensembles and soloists who auditioned in January. The resulting production in June— with many of the performances featuring exciting live musical accompaniment— is both deeply entertaining for everyone from dance aficionados to children, and a moving testimony to the endurance of the world’s cultures — including threatened ones. After the earthquake in Haiti, audiences this year might be particularly interested to see performances by two companies: Afoutayi Dance Company and Rara Tou Limen, as they present pieces from Haiti, incorporating singing, dancing, and drumming. Afoutayi Dance Company, in their Festival debut, features Haitian folk dancing where Simbi Dlo, the Goddess of water, is honored in the hope that she will bring water to the community. Rara Tou Limen performs a Kanzo ceremony in the Vodou tradition of Haiti, where dancing and drumming become a channel of communication with spirits and ancestors.

This year’s Festival commissions include Fua Dia Congo and Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir— presenting Nzobi ritual dances and traditional Congolese music; Ballet Afsaneh— celebrating the positive and rich heritage of Afghanistan; and China Dance Theater presenting a new piece accompanied by Chanticleer during the Benefit Gala. A fourth commission celebrates the Mexican Bicentennial and commemorates the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, as well. This inspiring suite of dances focuses on the soldaderas — the heroines of the Revolution— and brings together acclaimed choreographer Zenón Barrón and dancers from six local companies: Ballet Folklórico Alma de México of South San Francisco, Ballet Folklórico de Carlos Moreno, Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes, Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco, Los Lupeños de San Jose, and Grupo Folklórico Raíces de Mi Tierra. The commission makes its world premiere at the June 11th Benefit Gala and will also be seen throughout that weekend in the June 12 and 13 performances.

“Over the past three decades of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, the Mexican folkloric dance community has been one of the most inspiring to present on stage,” says Julie Mushet, Festival Executive Director. “To bring dancers together for this year’s Mexican Bicentennial Tribute from six outstanding companies is a very special opportunity and thrilling collaboration.”

This year, the Festival also achieves a new record of presenting 26 world premieres — almost twice as many as in any previous year. In addition to these exciting world premieres, return audiences will enjoy six soloists or groups that have never before appeared on the Festival stage: the Mona Sampath Dance Company performs a piece inspired by the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack that combines Indian and Western dance forms; Melissa Cruz performs a dramatic flamenco piece that also features intense percussion on an anvil; Chandra Ayu Davies performs an excerpt from Bali’s 19th century classic Legong, a sacred dance choreographed for young girls; Jun Daiko presents the intense drumming and synchronized movements of Japan’s amazing taiko; Xpressions weaves regional folk dances from western India into a lively medley; Las Bomberas de la Bahia, the Bay Area’s first and only all-women Puerto Rican bomba ensemble, showcases dynamic footwork and stunning vocals; and Afoutayi Dance Company, as mentioned above, brings evocative Haitian culture to the spotlight.

On Opening Night, Saturday, June 5 at 8 p.m., World Arts West will present its annual Malonga Casquelourd Lifetime Achievement Award to Mythili Kumar, Artistic Director of Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Modeled after the rigorous dance training programs operated in India, Abhinaya’s four-tiered instructional program annually provides training in classical South Indian dance to approximately 120 students ages six to adult. Kumar, who performed extensively in India before moving to the U.S in 1978, has trained and presented over eighty dancers in their solo debut performance (arangetram), and has toured with the company to India and other parts of the U.S. In addition, Kumar has taught Indian dance at Stanford University and San Jose State University. Abhinaya’s performance this year will honor Mythili Kumar with Prithvi Sooktam, a bharatanatyam piece from Southern India depicting verses from a 4,000 BCE Hindu hymn that pays reverent homage to Mother Earth and all her creatures.

And audiences are invited to attend the Festival Benefit Gala, this year taking place on its own night on Friday evening, June 11, from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. Hosted by World Arts West’s Board of Directors and Honorary Chair Stanlee Gatti, the Gala festivities include food from some of San Francisco’s best restaurants, wine from Napa and Sonoma vineyards, live and silent auctions, and a fabulous show, featuring several rare all-star collaborations with many master artists. The Benefit Gala marks the only opportunity to see the exciting collaborative piece with Chanticleer and China Dance Theater— featuring newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA, Crystal Lee. The Grammy-award winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer will be performing Spring Dreams, a piece by Chinese-American composer Chen Yi, as well as a breathtaking version of George and Ira Gershwin’s Summertime. The evening also includes the premiere of the Mexican Bicentennial Tribute; the world premiere of Ho’olei Na Moku, a collaboration featuring four Bay Area Polynesian dance organizations— Hālau o Keikiali’i, Hālau KaUaTuahine, Hui Tama Nui, and Te Mana O Te Ra— who join together for a unique island-style celebration of the connectivity of life; a collaborative Flamenco performance featuring Carola Zertuche of Theatre Flamenco, Yaelisa, and Melissa Cruz; and an all-star drumming collaboration led by master drummer CK Ladzekpo. Tickets are $125 each for the full Benefit Gala evening and $50 for the performance only. (For $125 tickets call 415-474-3914 and for $50 tickets call City Box Office at 415- 392-4400.)

Tickets to the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival are $22 – $44 and are available by calling City Box Office at (415) 392-4400 or online at www.cityboxoffice.com. A subscription package for all four weekends of performances is priced from $80 – $158. Saturday Family Matinees offer 50% discounts to children age 16 and under, and group discounts for 20 or more are also available by calling City Box Office.

The 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival is supported in part by Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, the State Bank of India, and the Walter & Elise Haas Fund. Media sponsors include: ABC7/KGO-TV, Asian Week, KDTV Univision, KFSF Telefutura, KLOK 1170 AM, KPFA, KQED Public Broadcasting, India West, Radio Recuerdo, SF Station, World Journal and Yelp.com.

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