Performing Diaspora

19 Feb, 2013

Chinese Classical Dance VS. Peking Opera

2013-02-19T16:07:38-08:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Jia Wu, Performing Diaspora|Tags: , |

Peking opera is a form of traditional Chinese theater which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed by the mid-19 century. At the beginning of establishment of Communist China in 1949, China is alike an old and tattered house in which all basic industries could not be operated. After undergoing eight-years of the World War Second and a four-year civil war, every institution needed to be rebuilt in

18 Apr, 2013

Creating. Good. Work.

2013-04-18T11:12:47-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: , , , , |

For me, creating work is often an outward presentation of a very personal journey. In reading Kalidasa’s Meghadhootha, I initially drew inspiration from many different translations, and literary commentaries. In reading the epic poem over and over again, there were certain verses that leapt out from the pages. These lines were coaxed by my own experiences to find comfortable and permanent places in my mind. When I came across these lines, I saw more than the words on the page.

21 May, 2013

a taxonomy of partisan songs

2013-05-21T17:27:35-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Jewlia Eisenberg, Performing Diaspora|

recently, preparing the ginzburg geography, i have been deep in italian partisan music. i learned a lot of these songs, probably too many... i am all set to do a program for very old men in bologna.  anyway, after thinking about this a lot, i concluded that you can divide the songs  in a variety of ways.  unsurprisingly, there's not songs about people who do the grunt work of starting political parties and then get tortured to death for putting out the

22 Jul, 2013

The Ginzburg Geographies – Song texts

2013-07-22T12:25:24-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Jewlia Eisenberg, Performing Diaspora|Tags: , , , |

THE GINZBURG GEOGRAPHY Alla Boara Old Ones Remain Revolution on Borgo San Constanzo Marciar, Marciar Guerra di Popolo Winter in Abruzzo La Filera Corso Re Umberto La Situazione Memoria Piazza Quadrata These 3 Friends La Lega Texts as cited. All music by Jewlia Eisenberg except when cited. ALLA BOARA Traditional O the grasshopper sings on the prongs of the rake There are reapers that count for nothing O the grasshopper sings on the blade of the sickle There are rakers

2 Aug, 2013

When I dance…

2013-08-02T01:31:20-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: , , |

When I dance... Nadhi: “I can feel a deep love for God and an emotional connection to human-kind. Particularly when I perform, that connection can be so strong, that I forget where I am and who is watching. I find that I keep dancing to chase those moments. Sophia: “Dancing excites me, challenges me, moves me, pushes me, humbles me. It is the single most thing that makes me feel completely and truly alive.” Arun: “I enter the zone. My mind

4 Aug, 2013

Digitizing the Past

2013-08-04T11:53:34-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Joti Singh, Performing Diaspora|

There is this fantastic organization called the South Asian American Digital Archive, or SAADA for short, founded by Samip Mallick. My uncle Surinder Paul Singh has submitted a great deal of original source material from my great grandfather, including letters and photos. All these materials are now available on SAADA's website. Having these materials on the website has been a great boon to my project, since my uncle and I don't live in the same city. Having access to these

8 Aug, 2013

The Cloud Messenger: Kickstarter Video Preview

2013-08-08T17:12:47-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exgutLHUDso&feature=youtu.be The Piece "The Cloud Messenger" is a Bharatanatyam piece is about a yaksha (or demi-god) who is exiled and separated from his beloved. When he feels like all hope is lost, he finds solace in a young raincloud and tries hard to convince her to embark on a difficult journey, to ultimately take a message of love to his beloved. This magical and unconventional romance shows why loves journey, though risky, is indeed something beautiful. Vision My goal for

15 Aug, 2013

Reflections on the journey…Kimpa Vita!

2013-08-15T18:03:43-07:00By |Categories: CounterPULSE, Muisi-kongo Malonga, Performing Diaspora|

Mama Kimpa Vita The greatest lesson I've learned through this creative process is to be still and listen, not be chained solely to my words, my thoughts, and my perspective but to get quiet enough for spirit to speak and be heard. When approaching Mama Kimpa Vita's story, I asked myself many questions... Why is she important? What about her story is relevant today? Why does her story need to be told? There are so many reasons to venerate this

10 Sep, 2013

En route

2013-09-10T00:46:38-07:00By |Categories: Byb Chanel Bibene, CounterPULSE, Performing Diaspora|Tags: , , , , |

En Route From lived story to stories lived on the stage.  Next it will be on screen.  From the many roads I had to take to escape the fires, now the roads are imprinted in my mind.  All I can do is share the hope that kept me alive, and hopefully this will inspire the world, inspire the young people in my country and the elders as well. Taboo and Heroes project has reached another stage of its process; the

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