ForImmediateRelease April3,2012

Contact:LeahAmmon,(408)9615814 lammon@montalvoarts.org

NewDirectionsShowcasesContemporaryTalent
Seriesfeaturesgroundbreakingmusical,dance,anddramaticperformances byMontalvoArtistsinResidence
SARATOGA,Calif.TheMontalvoArtsCenterispleasedtoannounceitsspring2012lineupof programminginitsperformanceseriesNewDirections.CuratedbyKellySicat,directorofthe LucasArtistsResidencyProgram,NewDirectionspresentsworksofdance,music,andother performingartsorganizedbyformerandcurrentMontalvoArtistsinResidenceandselectother performersactiveintheculturalsceneoftheBayArea. FRIDAY,APRIL27,8PM

ConferenceoftheBirdsUnfeathered
CarriageHouseTheatre $20General/$15Members/$8Students FeaturingHalehAbghari(voice),LaurieSanMartin (composer),ChrisFroh(percussion);withDanaHarel (setdesign) FormerMontalvoArtistsinResidenceLaurieSan MartinandHalehAbghari,withpercussionistChris Froh,presenttheirnewperformancepieceinspired byFaridalDinAttars12thcenturypoem,The ConferenceoftheBirds.Thepoem,aclassicofPersianSufiwriting,isanallegoryofthesouls searchforthedivine,toldthroughthecontrivanceofaflockofbirdsseekingaking.SanMartins andAbgharisadaptationborrowselementsfromAttarstextandweavesthemtogetherwith othertraditionalpoemsandfablestocreateapiecerichinsatireanddrama.Takinginspiration fromthecustomsofKoreanpansoriandIraniantraditionalmusic,theyhavecreatedtheirown uniqueformforstorytellingcombiningvoice,percussion,computerprocessedsounds,Western classicalmusic,andbirdsongallplacedagainstmediabasedsetsdesignedbyvisualartistDana Harel,alsoaformerMontalvoArtistinResidence.

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FRIDAY,MAY25,8:30PM

MyGrandmother
PresentedbytheBethCusterEnsemble LilianFontaineGardenTheatre $20General/$15Members/$8Students FeaturingBethCuster(composer/bandleader),NilsFrykdahl (narrator),ChrisGrady(trumpet),VickyGrossi(bass),JessicaIvry (cello),JanJackson(drums),DavidJames(guitar),andDina Maccabee(violin) The1929silentfilmMyGrandmother,madebySovietGeorgian directorKoteMikaberidze,wasbannedinitsdayforitsirreverent satireofthestateorganizationofthestillyoungUSSR.Adelightful exampleoftheSovietEccentricCinemamovement,thefilmtellsthestoryofthetravailssuffered byamilquetoastbureaucratmodeledafterAmericansilentcomicHaroldLloydafterheloses hisjob.Mikaberidzesworkstilldazzlestodaywithitsbold,experimentalcinematictechniques includingstopmotion,puppetry,exaggeratedcameraangles,animationandconstructivistsets.To accompanythefilm,currentLucasMusicFellowBethCusterhascomposedanallneworiginal score,featuringaquickpacedpasticheofAmericanjazzandblues,contemporaryclassical,and worldfolkmusic.Sheandherensemblewillperformthescoreliveduringthescreening. FRIDAY,JUNE1,8PM

FallinLovewithFormosa
PresentedbytheDancingSunFoundationwith ScarecrowContemporaryDanceCompanyofTaiwan CarriageHouseTheatre $20General/$15Members/$8Students FeaturingBihtauSung,WenjinnLuo,and HanchiehTso(dancers) TaiwanesechoreographersandperformersBihtauSung,Wenjinn Luo,andHanchiehTsoaremembersoftwoofthemost distinguishedTaiwanesedancecompaniesintheworld.Sung,an acclaimedchoreographerofballet,modern,traditionaldanceand operatechniques,foundedtheDancingSunFoundationin1999inSiliconValley.In2011,shere locatedbacktoTaiwan.LuofoundedtheScarecrowContemporaryDanceCompanyinTaiwanin 1989withthegoalofhelpingtodevelopTaiwanesecontemporarydanceintoamoreactiveand vividartform.SheandhertroupeincludingcompanymemberTsohavetouredextensivelyall overtheworld.Together,thethreewomenwillpresentaneveningofmodernandtraditional ChinesedancecelebratingTaiwan.FallinLovewithFormosaFormosabeingthe16thcentury namefortheislandofTaiwanincludesfourworksinspiredbyhistoricaleventsandliterarytexts.
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Usingadanceformthatutilizesthephysicallawsoffriction,momentum,gravity,andinertia,the dancerswillexplorethehumanconditionthroughtheirinteractionswithoneanother. ###

Nowcelebratingitscentennialyear,MontalvoArtsCenterisanoasisofcultureand naturewhosemissionistocreateandpresentartsofalltypes,nurtureartists,and useourhistoricVilla,buildings,andgroundsininnovativewaysthatengagepeoplein thecreativeprocess.LocatedinSiliconValley'sSaratogahills,Montalvooccupiesa MediterraneanstyleVilla,builtin1912bySenatorJamesDuvalPhelan,surrounded by175stunningacres,includingthecampusofourinternationalLucasArtists ResidencyProgram.SenatorPhelanbequeathedthevillaandgroundstothepeople ofCaliforniafortheencouragementofart,music,literatureandarchitecture,a mandatethatMontalvohascarriedforwardeversinceitsfounding.Formore information,call(408)9615800orvisitwww.montalvoarts.org.

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