Who: sjDANCEco
What: “Goddesses and…”
When: Friday, October 14 at 8:00pm
Saturday, October 15 at 8:00pm
(Pre-performance discussion at 7:30 both nights)
Where: The California Theater, 345 South First Street in downtown San Jose, 95113
Why: The 2016-2017 season-opening program of sjDANCEco will feature four premieres including the World Premiere of “Goddesses and…” a choreographic collaboration between sjDANCEco Artistic Director Maria Basile, long-time Ballet San Jose Principal Dancer Karen Gabay, and Artistic Associate Rasika Kumar of Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose. Each choreographer will create movement motifs and thematic material that is shared with the other choreographers to create a fusion of three techniques while maintaining the integrity of each dance form. (Modern/Ballet/Bharatanatyam)

Tickets:
Single Tickets: $29 to $75
Student Prices: $22 to $29
Senior Prices: $30 to $38
VIP Tickets for Saturday Night: $75 (Includes post performance reception with sjDANCEco dancers and Board)

Box Office:
408.520.9854
www.sjDANCEco.org

The Program:

Goddesses and…
Music: Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass from the “Passages" album
Choreography: Maria Basile, Karen Gabay, and Raska Kumar.
World Premiere: In this choreographic collaboration between sjDANCEco Artistic Director Maria Basile, long-time Ballet San Jose Principal Dancer Karen Gabay, and Abhinaya Dance Company Artistic Associate Rasika Kumar, each choreographer creates movement motifs and themes that are shared with the other two choreographers. The material is transformed into three styles and then woven together to create a fusion of the three techniques (Modern, Ballet and Bharatanatyam) while maintaining the integrity of each dance form. It is danced by the three choreographers.

Like Angels Passing Through My Room
Music: Anica Galindo
Choreography: Gary Masters
World Premiere: sjDANCEco Artistic Director Gary Masters has created a quintet for 2 women and 3 men to a score by Bay Area Composer Anica Galindo. It is inspired by the passing of loved ones, the feeling of a void while at the same time a feeling of a warm and continuous embrace.

Written in Calligraphy: From Heaven to Earth
Music: Eddie & Kiyoshi Yoshida
Choreography: Dominic Duong
Company Premiere: It is written in Calligraphy scrolls that the Heavens gave Earth five elements which make up Life: Fire, Water, Metal, Wood and Air. There’s also another element known as the Nether; that of the void, the unknown, and even Death. This work for three men and three women by sjDANCEco Company Dancer Dominic Duong was honored in December 2015 by being chosen for the American Dance Guild’s Festival and performed at the Ailey Center in New York City.

At This Moment
Music: John Dowland (String Quartet)
Choreography: Hsiang Hsiu Lin
World Premiere: A look at important moments in our lives

The River
Music: Sergio & Odair Assad
Choreography: Maria Basile
Revival: Company dancer Maria Basile revives her 2009 full company choreography for The River. The River moves predicably and unassumingly. When entered you either move with it willingly or it moves you. The river is a metaphor for life and the choice that we have to yield or resist. Images of struggle, letting go, swimming upstream and frolicking are forthright in Ms. Basile’s choreography complimented by the music of Sergio & Odair Assad.

(Clockwise from top/left) Rasika Kumar, Karen Gabay and Maria Basile, choreographers of “Goddesses and…”. Photo © & courtesy of Thomas Hassing