For media inquiries only, contact:
Mark Lacy
713/521-3686
hifc@yahoo.com
or Shannon Rasp
713/743-8151 (office)
smrasp@central.uh.edu
May 25, 2000International Cultural Event to Take Place at UH
What: International dance performances, representing Indian, Middle Eastern, African, Mexican and Native American cultures When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 Where: Houston Room, University Center, entrance one off Calhoun Road on the University of Houston campus Parking: In student lots 1A and 19A Cost: Free and open to the public Sponsors: The Houston Institute for Culture http://www.cultural-crossroads.com, the UH Asian American Studies Center, the UH Student Program Board and the UH International Student Organization
The University of Houston will serve as the site of a multiethnic arts event Tuesday, June 6, 2000. Participants include an internationally recognized classical Indian dancer, traditional West African dancers, Middle Eastern and North African contemporary and folkloric dancers, traditional Native American dancers, and Mexican folk dancers.
"The Houston Institute for Culture, along with the other sponsors of this event, wanted to have a showcase for dances that are part of the heritage of Houston," said Mark Lacy, founder of the Houston Institute for Culture. "Houston is an international city, where people have the opportunity to experience many diverse cultures. We are going to offer this experience free to anyone who wants to visit the UH campus. Summer session will have just begun, so we hope to attract some of the students interested in other cultures to the event."
The headliner of the event, Namita Bodaji, is a classically trained traditional dancer from Bombay who specializes in the Bharata Natyam style of dance. She is an internationally acclaimed performer in this demanding art form. Bharata Natyam is one of the four main classical Indian dance styles. It developed from ancient ritualistic dances, which were performed as an offering to the deities of Hindu temples and, in a more sophisticated form, in the courts by solo female dancers. Indian dance can be both an act of religious devotion and a superb entertainment at the same time. In a successful performance, philosophy and human emotion blend, making every sound and movement important.
Sisters in Color, a Houston-based troupe specializing in West African traditional dance, will also perform. Its leader, Sister Jendyi, has been choreographing, performing and teaching African dance for more than 15 years. She has performed across the United States in theaters, festivals and dance conferences. The troupe performs dances originating in Mali, Senegal, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea and French Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Zaire and the Ivory Coast.
As’rar, a group dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the Middle East and North Africa though dance, will also participate. Its director, Kristina Koutsoudas, was recently awarded an Individual Artist Grant from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County. As’rar specializes in combining elements from both classical and folkloric dance to create a style uniquely its own.
The Eagle Wind Dancers will entertain the crowd with traditional dances of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian tribe. The troupe will perform ritual dances such as the Ladies Traditional dance, the Jingle Dress dance (a medicine or healing dance), and the Men’s Fancy Dress dance.
Finally, the Ballet Folklorico Azteca will perform traditional Mexican folk dances. With roots in both pre-Columbian dance and traditional European dance forms, the group’s performances have been described as "festivals of sight and sound."
For more information, visit the Houston Institute for Culture Web site at
http://www.cultural-crossroads.com.
