An international dance production celebrating the timeless spirit of both Eastern and Western dance traditions co-produced by Sutra Dance Theatre (Malaysia)and Battery Dance Company(New York).
The artistic directors of Sutra Dance Theatre and Battery Dance Company share a long and rich history dating back a quarter-century when they were introduced by the legendary Indian classical dancer Indrani Rehman. Since then, Ramli and Jonathan have kept up their artistic camaraderie from opposite corners of the world. Both are singular artists whose international reputations and artistic quests have resulted in Fulbright grants and multiple national and international awards. They both formed their own companies which, in the highly competitive and marginalized area of concert dance, stand out for their busy touring schedules as much as for their dedication to fostering the next generation and reaching out to disadvantaged communities.
The two companies shared a performance at Sutra in 2005 as part of Battery Dance Company’s first visit to Malaysia. Hollander returned in January, 2011 with two of his protégés, under the auspices of the Fulbright Specialist Program and with support from the U.S. Embassy, to engage with students from ASWARA and UNHCR refugees. Building on the trust that only time and shared values can cultivate, Jonathan and Ramli determined to take their cooperation to the next level by choreographing on each other’s dancers. The results of this experimentation will be revealed for the KL audience in September.
In the genuine spirit of mutual trust and bilateral international engagement, Sutra Dance Theatre and Battery Dance Company are dancing in the U.S. and Malaysia in several overlapping chapters during 2011. In January, Jonathan Hollander, Sean Scantlebury and Robin Cantrell of Battery Dance Company spent 18 days in Malaysia, running workshops, engendering dialogue with their students and peers, and rehearsing jointly with Ramli Ibrahim and the dancers of Sutra.
In August, the exchange will reverse directions as Sutra Dance Theatre performs in Manhattan under the banner of Battery Dance Company’s 30th Annual Downtown Dance Festival in August. Then both companies will return to Malaysia for the joint performances at Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Jonathan Hollander’s keynote speech as part of the Asia Pacific International Dance Conference and MYDance Festival. Beginning on September 26, Battery Dance Company Dancing to Connect outreach programs will take place in KL, Penang and Kota Kinabalu, with BDC teaching artists teamed up with dance majors from ASWARA. The U.S. Embassy, Fulbright Malaysia and DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur are the sponsors.
Venue: Auditorium DBKL Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur
22 September 2011 (Thursday) – Premiere and Gala Night
23 September 2011 (Friday) – presented by Malaysian American Alumni Partnership (MAAP) & Fulbright Alumni Association of Malaysia (FAAM)
24 September 2011 (Saturday) – Public Night
25 September 2011 (Sunday) – presented as Watsons Corporate Night
General Enquiries T : 603 4021 1092
(Please RSVP of individual night to presenter of performance)
E: [email protected]
W: www.sutrafoundation.org.my
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