Power of Imagination

The Power of Imagination:

"CROSSINGS"

"The power of imagination makes us infinite."

John Muir

Nikii Henry in Enchanted Dune from CROSSINGS.

GULISTAN Artistic Director Carolyn Krueger moves beyond tradition by creating original dance theater works inspired by the arts and cultures of the Silk Road and beyond. In CROSSINGS, her newest and boldest production, Gulistan navigates imaginary landscapes where mythical beings journey through the seasons and across dimensions in a spectacular collage of alchemy and ornament.

Five years in the making, the eleven-part dance suite CROSSINGS received Lester Horton Award nominations in two categories: Outstanding Achievement in World Dance for the entire work; and Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design (Nikii Henry and Carolyn Krueger) for Enchanted Dune--the opening piece in the suite.

Donna Speckman and Nikii Henry as Desert Dwellers

in Enchanted Dune.

Desert Dwellers, Enchanted Dune.

". . .'Enchanted Dune,' was an encounter between a

wandering merchant . . . and the 'desert dwellers' . . . not so

much three dwellers as one, triple-faced figure . . . clapping

and gesticulating an ominous, coded message just on the other

side of comprehension . . . It was creepy and entrancing

and awe-inspiring all at once."

Leslie Jones, Examiner.com (8/09)

Sayaka Pereira as the Wandering Merchant in Enchanted Dune.

Donna Speckman, Monica Ramos, Nikii Henry and

Alexandra Rozo in Bamboo II.

All [costumes in 'Crossings'] were special but several were mind-blowing . . . fabulous golden feathered wings . . .

elegant vaguely Chinese dresses . . . gypsy girl chic."

Eileen Cooley, Lighting Designer

Cynthia Beckert as The Goddess Deciduous in Bamboo III.

Sayaka Pereira as the Groundskeeper with

The Goddess Deciduous

in Bamboo III.

Monica Ramos as Mother White Wing and Michael Lee as

Father Blue Sky in Blue Sky, White Wing.

Jane Glaser as the Seeker and Carolyn Krueger as the

Crystal Shaman in Mountain Ancestors.

"['Crossings' was] . . . truly mythic, touching indeed on secrets,

even Mysteries in the religious sense of the term.

Carolyn Krueger's choreographies drew on the traditional

movements of Central Asian and Persian dance . . .

to present a very modern theatrical dance performance."

Leslie Jones, Examiner.com (8/09)

Nikii Henry and Donna Speckman in Migration.

Donna Speckman as a Rainbearer in Blue Sky, White Wing.

Carolyn Krueger, Donna Speckman, Nikii Henry and

Alexandra Rozo in Mountain Ancestors.

"['Crossings'] is a gem of myth married to theater . . . Don't miss it!

If you do miss it, don't ask, because you will kick yourself from

here to the moon. I was not prepared for the gestalt of this performance--the splendor of the costumes,

Myth and Fantasy come true before your eyes.

More Please!!!! Thank you Carolyn."

Madelyn Taylor, Dance Educator (7/10)

Carolyn Krueger and Sina in Bamboo I.

Cynthia Beckert as the World Tree in Blue Sky, White Wing.

Zahra Zuhair, Nikii Henry, Donna Speckman, Monica Ramos

and Jane Glaser in First Flowers.

All photos on this page by Alvin & Fransisca Sugianto.

Unauthorized use, downloading and/or copying

by any means constitutes violation of copyright.