PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Judy Mitoma, [email protected], 310 390 9398 ARATANI WORLD SERIES opens with CUP OF JAVA
Gamelan & Dance from Yogyakarta, Indonesia
An International Collaboration between ISI Yogyakarta & CalArts, and
the first major Indonesian concert at the Aratani Theater, Los Angeles
Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 7PM
ARATANI THEATRE
244 South San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
ARATANI WORLD SERIES HIGHLIGHT: CUP OF JAVA"This is an important event for the Los Angeles
Indonesian community. Many may be seeing these art forms for the first time, I am certain that they will feel
enormous pride as they see young American and Indonesian talent join together in a rich and diverse
program" said Judy Mitoma, Series Producer and Curator. "This collaboration is an example of bridging
cultures while fostering artistic excellence. With rehearsals taking place on two sides of the world, finally
they will come together at the Aratani performing gamelan and dance that inspires and unites".
Complex polyrhythms on elegant bronze gamelan accompany Javanese dancers of stunning grace
and visual beauty. Movement and music fill the stage where every gesture and cadence is crafted
and executed with emotion and energy. A Chinese and Javanese Princess resolve their conflicts to
the ethereal soundscapes for Tari Wayang Golek --a moving canvas of Javanese history;
transformative mask dance Tari Topeng Panji unveils the interior world of legendary hero Panji;
transcendent and strong, the male dance quartet Lawung echoes the ceremonial splendor of the
Sultan's court. The culmination of this diverse program is Karna's Choice - a story about the sorrows
of war, the love of mother Kunti, and the loyalty of brothers - as told in the beloved Indian epic
Mahabharata.
Lewis Segal L.A. Times Dance Critic said on his November 3rd Blog:
“The notion that ballet is the most aristocratic and refined of dance forms will take another hit on November 29 when classical dancers from Central Java perform at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. Imagine dancers gliding through clouds or drifting underwater all in perfect unison.That's what you'll find along with an array of gleaming costumes and sparkling gamelan musicianship. Like Cambodian court dance and Japanese Noh, this kind of performance was originally reserved for royals and nobles, so don't think of it as "folk." Rather it is the highest expression of an ancient culture and we can definitely learn important lessons from its serenity and perfect form.”
Music Direction: Anon Suneka (ISI Yogyakarta), Djoko Waluyo and Nyoman Wenten (CalArts).
Dance Direction: Bambang Pudjasworo, Heni Winahyuningsih (ISI Yogyakarta).
1 Cup of Java is made possible by a grant from ISI Yogyakarta, is co-commissioned by California
Institute of the Arts & the East West Center, University of Hawaii, and is supported by the Consulate
General of the Republic of Indonesia- Los Angeles.
CUP OF JAVA TICKETS
Reserved $25/35
Design your own Passport Series: (6 tickets) $120, $180
Exclusive JACCC Member Benefits: Reserved $20/$30
Box Office ph#: 213 680 3700
Email: [email protected]
www.festivalofsacredmusic.org; www.jaccc.org
PRE Event Activities: JACCC PLAZA. Free Admission: 6:00-7:00 pm
Come early to the JACCC Plaza and enjoy Indonesian food trucks, Indonesian snacks, authentic
Javanese batiks for sale by the community, DJ's spinning, and a -Pre-performance conversation
6:15-6:45 by Dr. I Wayan Dibia, Professor ISI Denpasar Bali. Bring the family, relax, gather, and join
the Indoneisan community under the Little Tokyo sky.
Aratani Theatre: This historic theater is a jewel of the Little Tokyo neighborhood and has hosted an
impressive range of artists from around the world. Cup of Java will be the first major Indonesian
concert at the Aratani Theater. This 840 seat, fully professionally- equipped theater, is framed by the
impressive plaza designed by Osamu Noguchi. www.jaccc.org
The World Festival of Sacred Music (Foundation for World Arts) is founded on the belief that the
arts have the ability to bring forth our shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for
all living things. The ARATANI WORLD SERIES is the result of an outpouring of interest and
enthusiasm from partners, artists and audiences from past Festivals in 1999, 2002, 2005,
2008 and 2011. www.festivalofsacredmusic.org
For Media Inquiries, Images, Video and Interviews:
Contact: Judy Mitoma, [email protected]
2 ARATANI WORLD SERIES
ARATANI THEATRE,
244 South San Pedro St., Los Angeles
A project of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
in partnership with World Festival of Sacred Music (Foundation for World Arts)
(Los Angeles, October 22, 2014) ARATANI WORLD SERIES announces its 1st season with a lineup
of eight powerfully expressive and exceptionally diverse music and dance performances at the
Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Starting Saturday, November 29, 2014 through
Saturday, May 30, 2015, this trailblazing new series will feature world class legends
as well as a new generation of artists at LA’s global crossroads of music and dance.
Aratani World Series artists include the Angolan-born. Portuguese musical legend Waldemar
Bastos, LA’s hottest, newest Cumbia bands Viento Callejero, La Chamba, Buyepongo & Eduardo
Martinez y Su Palo Cuero, India's most genre bending adventurous dance ensemble Navarasa
Dance Theater, Taiko rhythms and experimental Jazz with On Ensemble, Sumie Kaneko and Kaoru
Watanabe; world trance music by Persian songstress Mamak Khadem; Filipino and Hawaiian
aesthetics converge at the 25th anniversary celebration of Kayamanan Ng Lahi featuring
Grammy-winning, Hawaiian slack key guitarist Patrick Landeza with the brilliant Jazz
instrumentalist Abe Lagrimas, Jr.; a musical migration of gypsy soundscapes from Bulgaria to Los
Angeles with the Varimezov Family Band & Moira Smiley with VOCO; the foot-moving glory and
soul of Viver Brasil dance ensemble with the captivating vocalist Katia Moraes.
ARATANI WORLD SERIES ARTIST(S)/ PROGRAM CALENDAR
[November 29-May 30, 2015]
7pm. Aratani Theatre, 244 South San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
November 29
Cup of Java: Gamelan & Dance from Indonesia
January 31
Waldemar Bastos: Music from Angola & Brazil
February 7
On Ensemble with Kaoru Watanabe & Sumie Kaneko Japanese Taiko and Jazz
February 28
L.A. Cumbia Festival: Viento Callejero, La Chamba, Buyepongo & Eduardo Martinez y Su Palo Cuero
3 March 21
MANA: Kayamanan Ng Lahi, Music and Dance of the Philippines.
Featuring: Patrick Landeza, Abe Lagrimas, Jr.
April 18th
Varimezov Family Band with Moira Smiley and VOCO Music of Bulgaria
May 2
Mamak Khadem- Music of Persia. Navarasa Dance Theater, India
May 30
Viver Brasil & Katia Moraes: Music and Dance of Brazil
Aratani Theatre: This historic theater is a jewel of the Little Tokyo neighborhood and has hosted an
impressive range of artists from around the world. Cup of Java will be the first major Indonesian
concert at the Aratani Theater. This 840 seat, fully professionally- equipped theater, is framed by the
impressive plaza designed by Osamu Noguchi. www.jaccc.org
The World Festival of Sacred Music (Foundation for World Arts) is founded on the belief that the
arts have the ability to bring forth our shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for
all living things. The ARATANI WORLD SERIES is the result of an outpouring of interest and
enthusiasm from partners, artists and audiences from past Festivals in 1999, 2002, 2005,
2008 and 2011. www.festivalofsacredmusic.org
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