blue13 Dance Company Presents 'Khel!'

blue13 dance company led by Artistic Director, Achinta S. McDaniel, will present the World Premiere of KHEL!  A Bollywood Bedtime Story (pronounced "Khail," meaning "play" or "game" in Hindi), a whirling, dance-fueled romp through an Eastern phantasmagoria of games, bedtime stories and fantastical characters that collide and come to life on the Ford stage.  The performance will be presented on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. in the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, CA  90068.
 
The production will feature Choreography by Achinta S. McDaniel and Assistant Choreographers, Arun Mathai, Kory Keith and Erin Dwyer.   Tej Gill composes an original soundtrack for "KHEL!," joined by award-winning Lighting Designer, Monique L'Heureux; Set Designer, Roger Ambrose; Wardrobe by India's Nimmi Singh of New Delhi; Costume Design and Supervision by Lisa Garr; and Make-Up Design by Eva Woodby.  blue13 plays nice in "KHEL!," meaning "play" or "game" in Hindi.  Close your eyes and shimmy your shoulders as blue13 dance company falls into an unforgettable slumber!
 
In keeping with the theme of the night, the courtyard of the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre will be transformed into a Bollywood Pajama Party, with all the requisite Indian trimmings, games, vendors, artisans, and musicians displaying and selling their wares.  Theatergoers are encouraged to don slumber attire to enter a Costume Contest for valuable prizes.  Following the show is the Official "KHEL!" After Party at The Roxy on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, CA, thrown by the Ambassador of Bhangra herself, New York's DJ Rehka, spinning Bollywood and Bhangra music throughout the night.  Patrons over 21-years-of-age attending the show will receive a heavily discounted admission to the After Party upon showing their tickets stubs at the door of the club.
 
This event is sponsored by The Target Dance Series at the Ford, along with Ecofo, Swerve, the Earl S. McDaniel, Jr. Foundation, MnR Dance Factory, The Blankenship Ballet Company of Venice, and LA 18 KSCI-TV.  The 2008 Ford Amphitheatre Season is made possible through the generous support of sponsors including:  Univision 34 Los Angeles, Telefutura 46 Los Angeles, Ciudad, KPFK 90.7 FM, LA Weekly, Flavorpill, Fusicology and www.dancechanneltv.com.
 
A feature length documentary on blue13 dance company and the making of "KHEL! A Bollywood Bedtime Story" is being produced by McSand Films.  This World Premiere production will also be taped for a future television broadcast on Los Angeles Channel 36.
 
Tickets are $35 and $28 each, with tickets for $5 each for Students and Children.  The $5 tickets are made possible thanks to a grant from Target, sponsor of Target Dance Series at the Ford.  Target strives to make the arts affordable and accessible to youth and families because the arts help foster an appreciation and understanding of various cultures and points of view.

To buy tickets and to learn more about blue13 dance company, visit the websites, www.blue13dance.org  or www.fordtheatres.org, or call the Ford Box Office at 323 GO 1-FORD (323-461-3673).  Groups of 8 – 15 save 10% on the regular ticket price; Groups of 16 or more save 20%. For Group Sales please call 323-769-2147.
 
The cast will include:  Achinta S. McDaniel (of Venice) as Sapna; Kory Keith (of Los Angeles) as Chulbulli; Arun Mathai (of Hollywood) as Rishi; along with principal Marisa Cleghorn (of Venice) as The Nightmare; and principal dancers Erin Dwyer (of Studio City), Rashi Birla (of Santa Monica), and blue13 ensemble dancers, apprentices, and background actors.

"KHEL!" will feature over 25 blue13 dancers, live musicians and singers.  blue13's signature style, Bollywood-Tech represents a new genre of dance theatre unique to blue13, inspired by a wide variety of forms, from Ballet to Bhangra, creating an incomparable and globally popular free-spirited, colorful and bright world of dance and music.

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