2011 July « All World Dance: Videos

Mohan Khokar Dance Archives of India Opens Exhibit

July 18, 2011 · allworlddancevideos

Ashish Khokar Speaks at a Dance Event [Source: DevaniyaDances]

Yesterday an exhibit of resources from the Mohan Khokar Dance Archives of India opened at the Habitat Centre's Visual Arts Gallery in New Delhi. The exhibit, titled A Century of Indian Dance – 1901-2000, features a wide range of items documenting the dances of India including books, photos, masks, posters and costumes. It will be on display for a week and then travel on to the USA, UK, multiple European countries and Singapore.

The Mohan Khokar Dance Archives are said to be the "most comprehensive compilation on the history and heritage of Indian dance" yet is still in need of a permanent home.

The collection was gathered by Mohan Khokar who found many ways to support Indian dance including building this huge collection and authoring literally thousands of articles and papers. Khokar died in 1999 and passed his collection on to his son, Ashish Khokar, an art historian who now advocates for a museum, ideally the Mohan Khokar Dance Museum.

Official Site: Mohan Khokar Dance Archives of India

Peru’s Qoyllur Rit’i Festival Changes As the Glaciers Disappear

July 18, 2011 · allworlddancevideos

Glacier Gods [Source: Carolyn Kormann]

The annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival is an annual event that takes place in the Sinakara Valley in the Peruvian Andes mountains to honor the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i. Like many such events, it is an ancient indigenous festival that was morphed into a Catholic festival in the process of colonization.

The tradition is for participants to hike up the mountain and dance and sing for three days. Ritual battle was banned by the Catholic Church but the tradition of ukukus, trickster figures, climbing up the mountain and retrieving large blocks of ice has been banned due to concerns about the disappearing glaciers. The disappearance of the glaciers will destroy the way of life of many Peruvian people and so the festival has taken on a new sense of urgency.

Taytacha Qoyllur Rit’i [Source: Angel Romero]

Barbara Fraser describes the festival and discusses the issue of the disappearing glaciers. It’s well worth reading to better understand a truly unique event in which dance is considered an integral part of one’s religious life.

Online Photo Exhibit: Qoyllur Rit’i: In Search of the Lord of the Snow Star

Saigon Electric: Street Dance Movie Set in Saigon

July 17, 2011 · allworlddancevideos

Saigon Electric US Poster

Saigon Electric U.S. Poster [Source: Saigon Electric]

Saigon Electric, originally titled Saigon Yo!, was released in Vietnam is April and is set for release in the U.S. on October 7 after a series of special showings on the film festival circuit. Many of the roles in Saigon Electric were cast with dancers rather than established actors or actresses introducing new faces to the screen.

Saigon Electric aka Saigon Yo! Trailer [Source: Saigon Electric]

From the Seattle International Film Festival site:

“Boldly fusing hip-hop dance battles, romance, and a cross-section of youth culture in contemporary Vietnam, Saigon Electric is a film bursting with energy, showcasing a strong, youthful artistic presence in the global metropolis of Saigon.”

“Mai, a traditional ribbon dancer from the countryside, has arrived in Saigon for dance school. After nerves destroy her big audition, she meets street-smart Kim who hip-hop dances with Saigon Fresh, a local crew vying for the top spot in international competitions. After Kim disgraces herself in a battle and quits the crew, she finds herself falling for Hai, a rich kid with a powerful family who has considerable charm and the promise of a better future. Meanwhile, Mai develops a relationship with the captain of Saigon Fresh, and the film blossoms into an intoxicating double romance.”

Suboi – Walk [Source: 84 Production]

The above song is from the Saigon Electric soundtrack with street scenes that could easily pass for Los Angeles. Videos for Suboi’s Friends and Away are also available.

A series of posters have been released including this cool teaser poster featuring a boombox by Saigon-based 84 Production

Official Site: Saigon Electric

Pitbull & Wyclef Jean Headline Zumba Fitness Concert

July 17, 2011 · allworlddancevideos

Highlights from 2011 Zumba Fitness Concert [Source: Zumba Fitness]

The Latin music industry saw a big collapse after 9/11 in what had been a major Latin music boom in the U.S. What I find interesting is that I'm not seeing the recognition in the music industry of the current Latin music boom brought on by the fanatic love of Zumba Fitness. Not that the attendees at the 2011 Zumba Instructor Convention shown above are too worried about what music industry analysts have to say!

As you may recall, Zumba has also been promoting Pitbull's single Pause with a fitness/music video.

Zumba Fitness at Nightclubs [Source: Zumba Fitness]

The convention was for Zumba instructors, so not everybody could go. And some people don't like heading to the gym for a dance/fitness class, so the folks at Zumba had the bright idea to create Zumba Fitness at Nightclubs! I don't know when this got started but it makes a whole lot of sense and looks like fun.

Wyclef @ SOB's Zumba Class with Tanya Beardsley [Source: dew710]

Wyclef even made a surprise appearance at a weekly Zumba class at SOB's (Sounds of Brazil) in New York City last year.

Whatever the state of the Latin music industry, Latin music and dance are definitely a big part of our current dance boom.

Rene Blum & The Ballets Russes: In Search of a Lost Life

July 17, 2011 · allworlddancevideos

Rene Blum and The Ballets Russes

Rene Blum & The Ballets Russes [Source: Barnes & Noble]

Rene Blum & The Ballets Russes is a new book by Judith Chazin-Bennahum that tells the story of the man who, among other accomplishments, revived the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo after the death of Diaghilev:

"Based on a treasure trove of previously undiscovered letters and documents, this thoroughly researched narrative not only tells the poignant story of Blum's life but also illustrates Blum's central role in the development of dance in the United States. Indeed, Blum's efforts to save his ballet company eventually helped to bring many of the world's greatest dancers and choreographers–among them Fokine, Balanchine, and Nijinska–to American ballet stages, shaping the path of dance in the United States for years to come."

This is the first biography of Frenchman Rene Blum who was also active in the literary world, a World War I hero and a victim of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

Biographer Judith Chazin-Bennahum is a former ballet dancer and a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Theatre and Dance at the University of New Mexico.

Jennifer Homans discusses the book and the story of Rene Blum.

Archive For July, 2011

Mohan Khokar Dance Archives of India Opens Exhibit

Peru’s Qoyllur Rit’i Festival Changes As the Glaciers Disappear

Saigon Electric: Street Dance Movie Set in Saigon

Pitbull & Wyclef Jean Headline Zumba Fitness Concert

Rene Blum & The Ballets Russes: In Search of a Lost Life

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