Samskara Academy, from Mumbai, with Houston Azerbaijanis, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, more
Mark Lacy
-Houston Performances of Samskara Academy of Fine Arts, Mumbai, India
-Two Important Freedom Celebrations - Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth
-Camp Dos Cabezas Volunteer Opportunities
-HIFC Travel: Exploring History and History-making Events
-Several Houston Events Highlighted
-Digital Storytelling and Photography Classes
-About this Email Newsletter
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas
Commission on the Arts and Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Institute
for Culture presents two special appearances by Namita Bodaji and
Samskara Academy of Fine Arts (Mumbai, India) with Houston
Azerbaijanis Folk Dance Group. Performances take place on Wednesday,
April 30, 2008, at University of St Thomas, Jones Hall and Sunday, May
4, 2008 at Rice University, Hamman Hall. Both performances begin at
7:00pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Bodaji will present a traditional program of Bharatanatyam fused with
modern influences and titled "Bharatajazzyam" with students from
Samskara Academy of Fine Arts. Houston Azerbaijanis Folk Dance Group
will begin each evening with traditional dances of Azerbaijan.
In addition to ancient traditional Indian classical dance pieces,
Bodaji, a highly acclaimed dancer who holds the title "Sringar Mani"
(Artistic Jewel), choreographs Bharatanatyam movements to interpret
western contemporary music, such as "To Be By Your Side" (Winged
Migration) by Nick Cave.
Bharatanatyam, one of the seven classical dances of India, developed
between 3,000 to 5,000 years ago in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
It was originally performed in temples by the "devadasis" (servants of
god). Ancient Hindu temples are adorned with sculptures representing
Bharatanatyam dance postures.
A dramatic theory of music and dance, Natyashastra, written 2,000
years ago by "Bharata", likely forms the formal basis of Bharatanatyam
and describes its usefulness as a common language, "When the world had
become steeped in greed and desire, in jealousy and anger, in pleasure
and pain, the Supreme One (Brahma) was asked by the people to create
an entertainment which could be seen and heard by all, for the
scriptures were not enjoyed by the masses, being too learned and
ambiguous."
The art form received great patronage during the Chola and Maratha
dynasties. Four brothers, Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu
of the Tanjore Court, during the rule of Maratha King Saraboji II
(1798 - 1832), codified the complex language of Bharatanatyam.
Dancers use an extensive vocabulary of hand gestures and facial
expressions, along with highly disciplined dance movements and poses,
to reveal epic dramas and scriptures of ancient India.
Admission is moderately priced at $10; $5 for students and seniors.
Groups or individuals needing special consideration should contact us
at 713-521-3686.
Doors open at 6:30pm. Local performances are made possible by
University of St. Thomas Modern and Classical Languages and KTRU, Rice
University Radio. Special thanks to Masala Radio for its support of
these programs.
Parking at University of St. Thomas is available in the Moran Center
(West Alabama Street at Graustark Street). Parking at Rice University
is available in visitor lots (entrance 20 and 21 on Rice Blvd).
For more information, please see:
http://www.houstonculture.org
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Two Important Freedom Celebrations
"On May Fifth," John Schmal reports, "people celebrate a historic
event of great significance to North Americans. Cinco de Mayo
commemorates the anniversary of General Ignacio Zaragoza's defeat of
the French at the small village of Puebla. While Cinco de Mayo is
merely a date in the Spanish language, it represents a significant
event in the history of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is also widely
celebrated in many Mexican-American communities as the triumph of a
people over oppression."
Learn more about Cinco de Mayo: A Struggle for Freedom:
http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/cincodemayo.html
Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated at Miller Outdoor Theatre at 3:00pm,
Sunday, May 4.
http://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com
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Houston recently crossed an anniversary date of great significance in
the history or Texas, the United States and Mexico - April 21, when
General Sam Houston defeated Mexican forces under General Santa Anna
in the Battle of San Jacinto. While the defeat won independence for
most Texans, it ensured two more generations of slavery in Texas (a
major source of contention between Texas and Mexico).
Slavery continued in Texas until the end of the U.S. Civil War, when
nearly two months after its conclusion, Union Major General Gordon
Granger, with 2,000 Federal troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas, where
he read General Order #3, "The people of Texas are informed that, in
accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United
States, all slaves are free."
Juneteenth has been celebrated annually since Granger's June 19, 1865
declaration.
Join us for 'A Gulf Coast Juneteenth', a free celebration, on June 19,
2008 at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Major local and regional acts will
take the stage beginning at 7:00pm, including New Orleans' ReBirth
Brass Band, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie from Eunice
Louisiana, and Houston Soul and Blues legends, Trudy Lynn and Sherman
Robertson.
Learn more about this important celebration at:
http://www.houstonculture.org/juneteenth
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Camp Dos Cabezas Volunteer Opportunities
Camp Dos Cabezas provides children from at-risk communities with the
experience of a Lifetime to help them achieve success in their lives.
The camp helps children develop interests that inspire them to learn
and improve their lives. Following their camp adventure, the students
take part in monthly workshops and field trips. They area eligible to
apply for a scholarship to attend a more advanced camp, Camp Chaco,
once they have participated for three years and remained active in
school.
Volunteers are needed for the upcoming camps in Arizona (Camp Dos
Cabezas) and Colorado (Camp Chaco). Request more information by
sending an email to ma...@houstonculture.org. Please see the website to
decide if this opportunity is right for you.
http://www.houstonculture.org/camp/campvols.html
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HIFC Travel: Exploring History and History-making Events
Houston Institute for Culture will be off on several great adventures
this summer. In addition to the camp activities mentioned above, we
will visit National Cesar Chavez Center on California, attend the
three centuries-old Feast of San Lorenzo in New Mexico, document the
history-making Democratic National Convention in Denver, and
facilitate activities in the nation's capitol during the annual
Smithsonian Folklife Festival. We will report from all this unique
places with web updates and photos on our website.
For upcoming educational adventures, please see:
http://www.houstonculture.org/travel
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Several Houston Events Highlighted
The Artery presents a series of interesting and unique events to begin
the summer season. The diversity of experiences provided by The Artery
is evident in the upcoming week - a Navajo flute player, Gypsy dances,
fire twirlers, and inventive Rice University musicians who will
present a concert of Udderbots.
Orlando Secatero
Thursday, May 1, 8:00pm
Traditional Navajo flute music by this New Mexico musician. His tour
is called 'The Way of the Traditional Warrior'.
Donation for visiting artist accepted.
Fire Twirlers with Drums
Thursday, May 1, 9:00pm
Members of LUMINOSITY, Houston's finest fire twirlers accompanied by
drummers from "Different Kind of Monkey".
Concert of Udderbot music
Friday, May 2, 8:00pm
Donations accepted for Gesundheit! Institute - Rice musicians who have
invented their own instruments.
Gypsy Dance Theatre
Saturday, May 3, 8:00pm
No charge.
The Artery
5401 Jackson (at Prospect)
http://www.arteryhouston.org
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As Houstonians face an uncertain future of limited energy supplies and
economic turmoil, we will present a pair of films on other nations'
reactions to these issues, including "Argentina: Turning Around", the
follow-up to "Hope in Hard Times" (a film made after Argentina's 2001
economic collapse) and "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak
Oil" at The Artery on Thursday, May 22, at 7:00pm. Mark your calendar
and stay tuned for more details.
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"Art and the Environment" - A talk by Lucy Lippard
The Rothko Chapel presents Lucy Lippard who will speak about "Art and
the Environment." The program will be held at The Menil Collection to
accommodate a slide show. A reception at the Rothko Chapel Archives
House, 1415 Sul Ross will follow.
After graduating from Smith College, Lippard worked for the American
Friends Service Committee in Mexico, an experience that affected her
deeply. She later received an M.A. in art history from the Institute
of Fine Arts at New York University. In her work she examines how
people create their identities from their environments and the
relationship of culture to place.
She argues that a powerful image can foster change and that art can
become something that "acts in the world." The most recent of over 50
exhibitions Ms. Lippard has curated is called "Weather Report: Art and
Climate Change," an interdisciplinary show on global warming at the
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. For the show dozens of artists
were asked to join with scientists to create pieces about climate
change. Of the show she said, "I love the idea that art can become
something that acts in the world."
Program takes place at The Menil Collection
1515 Sul Ross, Houston, TX 77006
http://www.rothkochapel.org
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Digital Storytelling and Photography Classes
Houston Institute for Culture offers classes in digital storytelling,
photography, and publishing as part of its Digital Story Resource
Center initiative. View a schedule of upcoming classes:
http://www.houstonculture.org/class/index.html
Thank you for supporting educational events in Houston.
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M a r k @houstonculture.org
Houston Institute for Culture
7111 Harwin Drive, Suite 132
Houston, Texas 77036
Learn more about Houston Institute for Culture
http://www.houstonculture.org/resources/hifc.html