Festival of Asian Music & Dance
The Studio, Sydney Opera House in collaboration with The Australian Institute of Eastern Music presents The Festival of Asian Music and Dance August 14 – 18. Free gamelan & Tibetan sand painting workshops, belly dancing demonstration, classical Indian dance and gamelan premieres, Malaysian cooking/dance demos… free late night Kasbah club… food and Asian handicraft stalls
In addition to the ticketed dance and theatre events, there will be a host of free events on offer from food and handicraft stalls to Tibetan sand mandala and gamelan workshops. Make sure you hang around after the evening concerts to catch late night free Eastern grooves in the Kasbah, the festival café.
Indian Classical Dance & Gamelan Productions
One of the highlights of the festival promises to be the world premiere season of a superb Indian classical dance work Power of the Feminine, August 14,15 17 and 18, performed by the acclaimed Sydney based Odissi Dance Company featuring exceptional male dancer Nirmal Jena.
Another stand out event promises to be a major new production of Indonesian Gamelan and dance by Sydney’s Langen Suka, Australia’s premier gamelan ensemble. The Banishment of Sekar Taji will have two performances on Friday August 16 at 8.15pm and Saturday August 17 at 2.15pm.
Sacred Music & Dance – Sunday August 18
Sunday August 18 will be A Day of Sacred Music and Dance. It will kick off at 2.30pm with Sufi Music (the mystical branch of Islam) when the master tablas player, Bobby Singh, will join Kim Sanders, a veteran of the world music scene, on stage. Then at 3.25pm Studio audiences will be treated to a dose of Tibetan chanting and music with Losang Samten (from the USA, sand mandala artist and actor on the Tibetan movie, Kundun) and by popular Sydney based Tibetan artist Tenzing Tsewang.
Later that evening at 6pm traditional music from the Tatarstan region in the Russian Federation will fill the Studio, performed by Zulya Kamalava. A selection of traditional and original Tatar songs will by played by musicians Andrew Tanner and Paul Jarman. Then at 7pm – Riley Lee (on shakuhachi) & Mathew Doyle (on didjeridu) will perform Tyalgum Mantras by Ross Edwards.
Free Foyer Events
Enter the Mandala Room in the foyer of The Studio, and enter a different world and explore the exotic stalls, the Indian artwork and musical instruments.
On Saturday August 17 at 1pm, Songket will lead a Gamelan Workshop, exploring inspirations from the music and culture of Indonesia. At 4pm Malaysian chef Wanitha Tanasingam will present A Rhythm in Cooking demonstration, accompanied by two male dancers and drummers as she demonstrates analogies between history, music and food. AT 7pm Vera Myronenko’s Amaranth’s Belly Dance Group will present The Seven Year Shimmy revealing the variety of influences that have combined to create what we call Belly Dancing today.
On Sunday August 18 from 12noon there will be a Tibetan Sand Mandala Workshop in the foyer, an interactive workshop on the ancient and meditative art of the Tibetan sand mandala. At 4.15pm Thaung Tin Burmese Music Group will recreate the atmosphere of royal court chamber music as they introduce authentic classical song and dance.
Rock at The Kazbah — the late night Festival Club
On Thursday Aug 15 at 10pm Joseph Tawadros will delight on the Egyptian fretless lute (the oud), and the Egyptian taqasim. Don’t miss sarod legend Ashok Roy on Friday August 16 at 10pm. Then at 11pm you can catch Guy Strazzullo & Adrian McNeil, of Alap Frangipani, an Inter-cultural Indian fusion.
On Saturday August 18 at 10pm Waratah will unite jazz, world music and contemporary Australian music into a remarkable fusion. Then at 11pm Hevahl will bring together the Kurdish Saz and Dahul, the Indian Sitar and Tabla, backed by Bass and Guitar in a unique and exciting blend of music that combines traditional Kurdish melodies and improvisation with Hindustani performance styles and structure.
Schools Program — Tibetan Mandalas & Chanting
Losang Samten and Tenzing Tsewang will present a special schools program looking at the mandalas and the music and chanting of Tibet, ideal for Years 6 to 10. More information on the schools program can be found at aiem.org.au.
Tickets & Bookings
Single concert Full: $24 Concession $18 — 2 or more shows $42 or 3 shows $60 or 4 shows $75.
Bookings 02 9250 77777, sydneyoperahouse.com.