JULY 2010
Gulistan Dance
Theater presents
Yoldosh"Traveler"
July 16, 17 & 18
Fri & Sat at 8 PM
Sun at 2 PM
Photo by Alvin & Fransisca Sugianto
TICKETS: $22.00 - Click to order:
or Call 1-800-838-3006
The Arena Stage @ Theatre of the Arts
1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Parking with theatre validation:
$2.00 - lot at Hollywood & Highland
$8.00 lot adjacent to theatre
Gulistan Dance
Theater’s YOLDOSH – “Traveler” celebrates the magic of tradition and the power
of imagination with two different, yet equally engaging, dance excursions. Known
for its fascinating repertoire of authentic women’s dances of former Soviet
Central Asia, Gulistan first tours the historic kingdoms of Uzbekistan by way
of a variety of captivating regional dance styles.
In the second act
of YOLDOSH, Gulistan ventures beyond the borders of tradition with its
innovative dance theater work “Crossings.” In “Crossings,” original dance myths inspired by the Steppes
and Silk Roads of Central Asia set the mood for a more mystical sort of journey.
In Act I, entitled
“Postcards from Uzbekistan,” selections from Gulistan’s unusual collection of
traditional women’s dances of the Silk Road are performed in opulent, festive
costumes. This dazzling display of
millennia-old dance styles is enlivened by narrative drawn from Artistic
Director Carolyn Krueger’s travels in Uzbekistan. Guest musician, Tanya Merchant, is featured performing Uzbek
songs and playing Uzbek dutar (2-stringed lute). Among the pieces are vibrant, athletic drum dances; folkoric
dances from Uzbek wedding traditions; and dances performed with hand-held percussion
instruments. Classical dance and
musical repertoire expresses the mystical Sufi poetry and sentiments inherent
in the arts of Central Asia.
In the second act,
Gulistan demonstrates its theatrical range in Carolyn Krueger’s “Crossings,”
which returns to the stage after its successful premier in August 2009. Nominated for two 2009 Lester Horton
Awards (Outstanding Achievement in World Dance; Outstanding Achievement in
Costume Design), “Crossings,” which was inspired by its creator’s 20 years of
immersion in the arts and cultures of Central Asia and the Middle East, navigates
imaginary landscapes as mythical beings journey through the seasons and across
dimensions in an anachronistic, kinetic collage of alchemy and ornament. Characters imagined by Ms. Krueger and
realized by her talented cast are animated with masks, artfully-employed props
and fantastic regalia—some appearing otherworldly and puppet-like at the same
time.
The cast of YOLDOSH includes Artistic Director Carolyn Krueger along with Gulistan’s dynamic dance ensemble: Jane Glaser, Nikii Henry, Monica Ramos and Donna Speckman. Featured guest artists are Cynthia Beckert, Sina, Tanya Merchant on the Uzbek dutar (2-stringed lute) and dance soloist Zahra Zuhair.
“[‘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).
"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
VIDEO CLIPS FROM ACT II OF
YOLDOSH - "Traveler"
See more at
