Événement

ANAR DANA: West Coast Project presents "Dances Under the Crescent Moon"

Dance ethnologist Helene Eriksen began her teaching career researching and performing dances of the Balkans, and celebrated her 40th teaching anniversary in 2019. Throughout her career, Helene has studied a multitude traditional dance forms, from Morocco to India, including various peoples of Turkey, the Balkans, and the Caucasus Mountains, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

This event marks the culmination of the inaugural ANAR DANA: West Coast project and intends to share the rich cultures of the Orient through music, costume, dance, and informational presentations by program participants.

At the start of each ANAR DANA season, a new group of women begins the 14-month long journey that is ANAR DANA - meeting about once a month for ten intensive twelve-hour weekend workshops. This season's ensemble repertoire includes:

Dance of the Nailiyat of Algeria
Saidi Wedding party
Bosnian multi-ethnic songs and dances
Turkish Misket spoon dances from the area around Ankara
The Armenian dance Uzundara
Iranian Baluchi dance
Afghani dances from the Logar Valley.

In addition, Helene Eriksen, internationally renowned dancer, scholar and choreographer, will join the ensemble on stage with evocative solo dances.