20 ~ Friday, July 9, 1999 — North Snore News Decidely theatr Katharine Hamer Contributing Writer “WE'VE heard rumours about you Vancouver audiences...you’re kind of spunky. So if you see anything up on the stage that you like, you just put your hands together.” Calgary-based dance troupe Decidedly Jazz Danceworks opted for a somewhat unusual opening for their pertermance of the circus-inspired piece Sond Jugalers. Members of the group in fall clown cos t u nm e appeared on stage at the Vancouver Playhouse fast Wednesday night and spose directly to the audience, encouraging an interactive evening. Saul Jugalers, choreographed by DJD artistic director Vicki Adams Willis, ran for two nights at the Playhouse as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Part dance; part gymnastics, and with a distinctly vaudevillian flavour, the piece told the story of a Picrrot-like clown, Litthe One (played by Sara Isabel Figueroa in Chaplin- esque fashion), and his journey through the land of funhouse mirrors at a carnival. The funfair theme even ran into the inter- mission, with carousel music wafting from behind closed curtains and a disembodied but over-excited voice inviting audience members to “come one, come ali. Buy a Decidedly Jazz Danceworks T-shirt in the lobby now!” Though there was no banter of British pantomime varicty (“Oh, yes he is! Oh no, he isn’t!”) between audience and performers, the production was highly theatrical, with a full house band positioned above the stage, vivid costume: and imaginative props. In his travels, Little Onc encounters a cat- creature, a trapeze artist, a voluminous snake, Reinterpretin @ Atash Dance Group per- forming Havay-e-Bandar at the North Vancouver Folk ical and a fortune teller (the latter producing a broken heart which Littl One carries forlorn: Wyo in bis Dick Whittington-stele handker chich) Alternating between sultry solos and vibrant chorus work, Sou! Jugqalers maintained a level of energy gripping cnough to keep even small children ins the audience enter: tained (“Look Mum, they're dancing, vay!” the tiny boy behind me shouted every time the group burst into a new fhirry of toot work.) sthnie diversions were utilized to great effect, with flamenco and South Asian dance integrated into the body of the piece along- side more traditional big band and soul styles. Dancer Rathryn-MeKinnon Phomson floated across the stage as a wide-winged blue butter- fly to tabla beats, while group attempts at toreador drama were intentionally comical. The dancers were clearly enjoying them- selves on stage. Adams Willis says that “a great deal of laughter,” went into the making of Soul Jugalers. “As individuals,” she says, “(the dancers) inay appear to be normal and well-adjusted, but put them in a dance studio together, mention che word ‘clown’, and catal madness ensues.” That madness included plare-spinning, hoop-jumping, juggling, and tumbling, accompanied by a symphony of giggles by the dancers. Though Adams Willis docs nor elaborate on the subject in her program notes, Lewis Carroll seems to have given her a great deal of inspiration. A manic timekeeper races across the stage at intermittent intervals in Soul Juaglers, and Yo-Yo — a shadowy, Cheshire Cat-like character, is Little One’s guide through the world of mirrors. Soul Juqglers was more Teletubbies run amok than Swan Lake, but no less appealing for it — as evidenced by the standing ovation DJD gor from its audience. Juggiers.” g the tradition Photo Trudie Lee CLOWN crazy: Isiah Dil_orenzo as “Serge” in Decidedly Jazz Danceworxs’ “Soui Astrelogers meeting for Hestia Speaks 2 M Hestia Speaks 2, The Diana E. Warwick will Festival, Centennial Theatre, Sunday, June 20. By Mahin Mitani Contributing Writer “SINCE traditions only continue if they are repeatedly inter- preted, art sheuld have a modern flavour and blend to new concepts of life,” says Mojdeh Shahriari, director of the Atash Dance Group. And it was on this basis that she choreographed Havay-e- Bandar for the North Vancouver Folk Festival presentation. In shiny bright red dress- es, the dancers enter onte the stage. Hands up with fingers spread out and shaking from night to left, left to right. The shoulders lean siightly forward, shaking and trembling. Then, the dancers kneel on the floor, swaying their hands with intense movements in a trance-like state prior to going into belly dance undulations in this highly charged work. “This is the modern interpretation of what women danced in matriarchal societies, says Shahriari. “When belief in women gods was widespread and when, in my interpreta- tion, peace dominated. It was a period when female-exclusive characteristics, like pregnancy and child-birth were praised as saintly rituals. At that time, religion was not an abstract con- cept, buc had a direct effect on the lives of the people.” Havay-e-Bandar as a ritual function, was thoroughly dif- ferent from what is common today. “It was exclusively danced by women with healing purposes and in certain tem- ples,” says Shahriari. “Women danced with naked bellies, and sometimes naked breasts, around the birthing bed. The movements, focused on the belly, did not have any sexual motive but were to diminish the intense pain of pregnancy and give the woman enough energy and strength to commit her saintly task.” Today, Bandari dance is presented in a way that is accept- able in Isiamic Iran, “While the dance in public is forbidden and considered a great sin, women practise it in their own private gatherings and Bandari dancing has become primarily a male dance,” says Shahriari. oes ee Le ae Photo Feyman Parse ATASH Dance Group director Mojdeh Shahriari has no problem blending jazz elements with Bandari dancing. “But despite all of these limitations, the dance has retained its ritual and healing roles. In the southern part of fran, when something sad happens, everyone dances — in other parts of Iran the people suffer in silence.” Havay-e-Bandar speaks in a language that is inward ort- ented. It invites you to abandon yourself to che dance and to become a part of the experience. Both men and women are included in the choreography. In Islamic iran women wear dark coloured clothing con- sisting of long pants, long skirts and long tunics. Their hair and faces are covered as well. in the Centennial Theatre pre- sentation, the women wear bright, warm colours with strongly made-up faces and hair spreading out on their shoulders, Jazz elements, as well, are used in Havay-¢-Bandar. “Both jazz and Bandari dance are rooted in (tribal culture) and western jazz dance has its origin in African dance. That is why it was easy “or me to blend some jazz elements in Bandari dancing,” says Shahriari. These efforts to combine the richness of traditional and modern dance, despite some Iranian-Canadian disagreement, will open the path for the evolution in Iranian folk dance. The Atash Dance Group consists of the following members: Mandana Edalati, Sara. Navidazat, Tooka Shabriari, Hojat Abmadi, Mahyar Salimi and director Mojdeh Shabriari wot eth tat Pe ee aera ’ a arr rea Te ray —_ en areas Ore Oe Se Se Se See SOs Se Oe Vancouver Society of Astrologer’s summer con- ference Friday, July 23 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and a fuil day of talks on Saturday, July 24 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Public Library, central branch, Alice McKzy Room. The festival is a fundraiser for both the Vancouver Socicty of Astrologers and the Vancuover Public Library. Tickets are on sale now at $50 per person. This year the speakers include Canadian poet Carolyn Zonailo. She is originally from Vancouver and has produced cight poctry books, numerous chapbooks and is an ardent astrologer/poct. Zonailo will explore Venus and the Heart Chakra. Australia’s Lynda Hill will speak on the Sabian Symbols and their impor- tance in the horoscope. Hill {lectures international- ly and is an expert on the application of the Sabian Symbols as oracles. VSA president and News contributing writer speak on Divination As a Sacred Ritual. Studying Tarot and astrology for 20 years, and reading profes- sionally for the last 10 years, Diana sces divina- tion as a vital tool accessi- bie to all. Anna Cibulak, 2 local numerologist with exten- sive study in spiritual prac- tices, will speak on Numerology and the Natural Rhythms of Gaia. Anne Massey is the founding president of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild. Anne’s work in astrology has Icad to writ- ing on astrology for many community papers in the Valicy. Anne will speak on Venus Retrograde, Our Magnifying Mirror. And lastly Jef Simpson whose extensive work in astrolo- gy makes him one of Vancouver’s brightest “stars” will talk on Hellenistic techniques in Those Enchanted Greeks. For conference reserva- tions contact Diana E. Warwick at 926~9027 or e-mail . Win two tickets to conference Enter to win two tickets to the Hestia Speaks 2 astrology confer- ence on July 23 and 24 at the Vancouver Public Libary. The event is a fundraiser for the Vancouver Society of Astrologers and the Vancouver Public Library with tickets avail- aie for $50 cach. Tell us the name of the three other planets involved in the August Eclipse and if your name is drawn you will be a winner of nwo tickets. Send your entries te Hestia Speaks Contest, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4. Attention: John Goodman. You can fax entries to 985-2104 or e-mai , Deadline for the contest is Tuesday, July 13, ee oe Soe, ec pba’? para area er rar ie ro