Blue13 Dance Company Set for John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 7/22-23

 

Jai Ho! Jai Ho! It's off to work we go! blue13 dance company (blue13), the Southland's leading Bollywood dance ensemble, under the direction of Achinta S. McDaniel, returns this summer to the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, CA 90068, for the company's fourth appearance. blue13's new World Premiere production entitled INTO THE BOLLYWOODS, will to be presented on Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. The production is sponsored by India West, India Currents, LA 18 KSCI-TV, Jennifer Cheng and Masood Salehi, Bhupinder and Nilli Sawhny, Earl S. McDaniel, Jr. Foundation and the Dance Conservatory of Pasadena (the artistic home of blue13 dance company).

Achinta S. McDaniel, Artistic Director of blue13 dance company and a pioneer of Bollywood dance in the U.S., describes INTO THE BOLLYWOODS as a spectacular Indian dance and music fairytale filled with magical beans, princes charming, wicked witches and a Bollywood-dancing world of intertwined tales inspired by classics like Jai (Jack) and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack & Jill, Hansel & Gretel and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The show will feature original music by composer Tej Gill, who brought Punjabi folk music to Los Angeles dance floors, as well as Bollywood crowd-pleasing songs. Follow the hero, Jai (Jack) up the beanstalk on a journey to conquer his villains, win the girl of his dreams, and live happily ever after!

As an Early Buyer Incentive, tickets purchased prior to July 15, 2011 are only $25 each. Full price tickets after July 15th are $30 each. VIP Premium Seating is $45 each and includes a blue13 Goody Bag and free entry into a drawing for a private Bollywood Dance lesson for the winner and their friends. Tickets for Full-Time Students with identification are $15 each. Tickets for Children 12 and under are $12 each. Groups of 8 - 15 people receive a 10% discount. Groups of 16 or more people receive a 20% discount. If three or more Ford Amphitheatre evening events are purchased simultaneously, patrons receive a 20% discount. Tickets for this event are General Admission. Tickets may be purchased from the Ford Amphitheatre Box Office by calling 323-461-3673 (323-GO-1-FORD for non-visual media), or online at www.FordTheatres.org.  To enter the drawing for a free dance lesson ($5 per entry - open to the public), please visit blue13 dance company's website at www.blue13dance.com for further information.

The cast for INTO THE BOLLYWOODS will include dancers playing multiple roles: Achinta S. McDaniel, Artistic Director and Choreographer (of Los Angeles) as Cinderella, a Wicked Witch and as a Gypsy; Arun Mathai, Associate Artistic Director, Principal (of West Hollywood) in the leading role of Jai; Kory Keith, Principal (of Hollywood) as Jai's sister and as The Wicked Stepmother; Kelly Markos, Principal (of West Los Angeles) as Rapunzel; Rieka Toya, Principal (of Culver City) as Snow White; D. Valentine, Principal (of Hollywood) as Raja Charming; Derrick Garcia, Principal (of Hollywood) as The Big Bad Wolf, Rapunzel's Fiancé and as a Dwarf; Amanda Simolari (of Studio City) as Jai's sister and Gretel; Taryn Francis (of Burbank) as Little Red Riding Hood; Fernando Casas (of Hesperia) as Druhi, The Wicked Stepsister; Jaime Salgado (of Hollywood) as Andica, The Wicked Stepsister; Gina Daley (of Santa Monica) as a Gypsy and a Dwarf; Paulina Vallin (of Altadena) as a Wicked Witch and as a Gypsy; Jon Paul (of Los Angeles) as the Duke and as a Dwarf; and Chris Rutledge (of Hollywood/Las Vegas) as the head Dwarf. Additional dancers in the Ensemble will include: Kasi Aysola (of Reseda); Harmony Costa (of Los Angeles); Emily Goulding (of Los Angeles); Faith Jeffries (of Santa Clarita); Yumi Kaguya (of Irvine); Alexis McCarthy (of Los Angeles); Jake Sarkissian (of Pasadena), Mindy Von Elling (of Fountain Valley), and more. Production personnel include: Achinta S. McDaniel, Artistic Director; Tej Gill, Music Director and Composer; Peter Freeman, Production Manager and Malinder Tooray, Drummer.

Theatergoers are encouraged to arrive early at the Ford Amphitheatre prior the performances to enjoy pre-show Indian food and entertainment. The courtyard of the Ford Amphitheatre will be transformed into an enchanted and mystical Bollywood Forest with all the requisite Indian trimmings, including exotic creatures of the night, performers, music, food, drinks, games, and vendors displaying and selling their wares. Guests will have a chance to enter a drawing for a free dance lesson for themselves and family and friends at $5 per entry prior to the show. The winner will be announced at intermission. The courtyard will open at 6:30 p.m.

Ford Amphitheatre Box Office Hours are from 12 Noon - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. The Box Office is closed on Monday. On show days, the Box Office is open two hours before the start of the show. The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before show time for picnicking. The Ford Amphitheatre offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages are available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drinks as well.

The Ford Amphitheatre is accessible for the disabled. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. For evening amphitheatre shows only, FREE non-stacked parking, which is serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford Amphitheatre, is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot located at Lankershim Boulevard and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the "Kiss and Ride" area.

This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2011 season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. Ford Amphitheatre Season Media Sponsors include: ABC7 Television, Discover Hollywood Magazine, KPFK Radio 90.7 FM, L.A. Weekly, LA 18 KSCI-TV, Univision 34 and Telefutura 46. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theatre and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.

More About blue13 dance company, the Artistic Director and the Music Director:
blue13 dance company (blue13) is dedic ated of the advancement of experimental and non-traditional contemporary dance while preserving and cultivating the cultural and classical forms of India. Passionately translating dance into enduring societal contributions, blue13 dispels cultural stereotypes and connects diverse communities through cross-genre and multicultural classes, workshops and live performances that inspire global unity and togetherness. Prior World Premiere productions which blue13 dance company has presented at the Ford Amphitheatre include: Karishma, PAHELYIAN: The Story of Alice and KHEL! A Bollywood Bedtime Story. blue13 has also performed at the Los Angeles Music Center, Royce Hall, The Levitt Pavilion of Pasadena, The Broad Stage, and Symphony Space in New York City, as well as in Morocco, Paris and Geneva. The dance company has been featured in film and on television extensively as well.

Achinta S. McDaniel (Artistic Director, Choreographer and Dancer) is a pioneer of modern Bollywood dance in the United States, and the founder and Artistic Director of the world-renowned blue13 dance company. She is known for her experimentation with international styles and her theatrical, inventive staging of many genres. McDaniel's choreography appears in feature films, television, commercials, music videos and live theatrical dance productions from Los Angeles to Mumbai. She has worked with Todd Haynes, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Manasi Scott and many more. In 1999, McDaniel founded blue13 dance company, the country's first contemporary Bollywood dance ensemble, since enjoying great success in creating live touring dance productions in her signature Bollywood-Tech^TM style. EyeSpyLA.com wrote: "Truly beyond all spectacle (is) the dancing seductress artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel, who brightens up the stage with her presence and brings to the crowd a wave of enthusiasm that leaves them yelling from their seats." McDaniel is Los Angeles' top Indian Dance Instructor. For the last decade, she has taught and continues to teach her famous Bollywood Bhangra Beats^TM and many other dance classes with The Blue School.

Tej Gill (Composer and Musical Director) is regarded as a pioneer DJ for bringing the sound of UK Bhangra (Folk Music of Punjab) to Los Angeles dance floors. Gill continues pushing the limits by combining elements of Electronic Dance Music with South Asian grooves in his productions. Under the Gillometer Music label, his path in music has lead him to composing and producing original music, including collaborations with other artists, remixes, and music for Film and Television. For the future, he looks to continue creating music that moves people. Refusing to go along with what is considered the "norm." his objective remains to push the envelope in his productions to give the listener a captivating experience.

For further information about blue13 dance company please visit the website, www.blue13dance.com. Network with blue13 dance company at www.facebook.com/blue13dance, www.twitter.com/blue13dance, www.flickr.com/photos/blue13dance and www.youtube.com/blue13dancecompany

Photo Credit: Paul Antico

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