Three faces of MODERN DANCE

       Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance & Music this year presents the work of three outstanding choreographers who are at the forefront of the international dance movement
       Story by JENNIFER PARKS
       Dance is always a work in progress, constantly evolving, refining, reinventing itself. It's a mantra that choreographers like Taiwan's Lin Hwai-Min, Ukraine's Radu Poklitaru and Spain's Carmen Mota live by. All three will showcase their individual approaches to dance during the Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance and Music.Carmen Mota's canvas is flamenco, Lin Hwai-Min infuses elements of tai chi and eastern philosophy into his idiom and Radu Poklitaru runs with the philosophy of ballet liberating it from the confines of rigid classicism.
       The youngest of the three, Poklitaru takes classical ballet and blends it with many different styles.To codify his views on dance, he formed the Kiev Modern Ballet Theatre in 2006.Lin Hwai-min had exactly the same thing in mind when he set up Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan in 1973, as did Carmen Mota when she set the ball rolling for her Carmen Mota Dance Group in 1977.
       Individually each of them is changing the meaning of "classic", and together they are taking dance into the future, ensuring that it remains relevant as it keeps pace with changing expectations. None of them, however,can be accused of presiding over the end of "classical dance", for each is creating new classics which enshrine and showcase traditions.
       Poklitaru will be the first to present his viewpoint:his Kiev Modern Ballet Theatre will stage the two-act modern ballet Carmen TV on September 13- a modern balletic interpretation of Georges Bizet's well-known classic, and an engrossing interpretation of a Verdi classic, the one-act opera-ballet La Forza del Destino on September 15.
       Like all his choreographies these are experiments and a search for novelty with an unexpected approach to classical theatrical plots. As in every Poklitaru production, the aim is to show the complicated inner workings of the human psyche. As a choreographer,Poklitaru appreciates free dance, which denies nothing,and embraces every dance style.
       "If I find a classical move that makes the point, then I use it, just as I will use a movement from modern dance," he said."When one has no taboos, one's palette is richer. It may seem to be eclectic, but when I use many styles I feel truly free."
       His work penetrates deeply into the mystery of human nature, unveiling hidden truths through dance and unsurprisingly Poklitaru is considered at the forefront of modern dance and ballet in Europe today.
       "I would like to believe that I am," he said."I'm on the front line of my creative way, searching for my own unusual face... always searching for something, unsure in final the result and in the rightness of the art's 'main way'." As he searches, his astounding choreographies create an enviable level of interest.
       On September 22 and 23, Lin Hwai-min's company takes this encounter with dance to a different plane when Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan presents Lin's most celebrated choreography,Moon Water which premiered in 1998, and has since impressed critics everywhere. The choreography also topped the New York Times list of the best dances in 2003.Moon Water (or Shui Yuei ) is a metaphor for the Buddhist proverb,"Flowers in a mirror and moon on the water are both illusory", and the ideal state for tai chi practitioners,"Energy flows as water, while the spirit shines as the moon". Lin interprets this in a choreography that employs the movements of tai chi and has set it to a "Selection from Six Suites for Solo Cello by JS Bach." The inspiration for this work was the River Ganges in India, which he encountered on nu-merous trips to Bodhgaya.
       Lin sees himself as "a struggling soul trying to figure out the path through a maze of every new work".Everyday life, impressions and sentiments that accumulate and settle like dust are his inspirations."They cry out, demanding to be realised as a work," he says.
       Cloud Gate's repertoire is filled with gems like Moon Water . All have roots in Asian myth, folklore and aesthetics, but Lin brings to these old beliefs and stories a contemporary and universal perspective. Intriguingly,the company's two dozen dancers include in their training Tai Chi Tao Yin, meditation, martial arts, Chinese opera movement, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy.When Lin founded the Cloud Gate Theatre of Taiwan,it was the first contemporary dance company in any Chinese-speaking community, and today, it continues to break new ground.
       Carmen Mota takes the fiery tradition of flamenco and infuses it with a contemporary vision, and while updating the genre she ensures that it remains true to its traditions. Mota, however, is not doing a balancing act with her choreographies: she is making a decided statement with each beat of the castanet and swirl of the skirt.
       The performance Fuego!(October 10 and 11) brings all the traditional fiery rhythms of flamenco to the stage but with a contemporary twist as live flamenco music and vocals meld with Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Private Investigations of The Dire Straits among others, to create a new soundscape that is the perfect foil for flamenco's energy and breathtaking movements.
       "I wanted to familiarise a wider international audience with flamenco, without alienating those already entranced by traditional Spanish dance," Mota said.
       "Therefore I opted for a fusion of choreography with design, lighting and costumes for a different stage.
       "I took the liberty of applying techniques used in large-scale productions all over the world, while respecting the key values that make Spanish dance so amazing."
       The result is absolutely extraordinary and breathtaking. The first act is a fusion of modern dance and traditional flamenco - a sort of Spain meets Broadway.
       The second act shows the traditional side of flamenco,with Mota bringing into play her experience of over 50 years in professional flamenco dance and international entertainment, as well as her feel for a theatrical buildup.
       These three choreographers are both the traditional and the contemporary face of dance, and in their creations aficionados will find a fulfilling experience.
       Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance Music is presented by Bangkok Bank, B Grimm,Bangkok Post,Dusit Thani Hotel, King Power Group, Siam Cement Group, Thai Airways International, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Toyota Motor Thailand Co.
       THE PROGRAMME Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance & Music Venue:Thailand Cultural Centre Time:7:30pm, with an extra 2:30pm show on Sept 26-27 Mon, Sept 7La Traviata , three-act opera by Moscow Ekaterinburg Theatre Tickets:4,000/3,000/2,200/1,700/1,000 baht Wed, Sept 9Tosca , three-act opera by Moscow Ekaterinburg Theatre Tickets:4,000/3,000/2,200/1,700/1,000 baht Thur, Sept 10 Symphony Concert by Ekaterinburg Symphony Orchestra Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Fri, Sept 11 Madame Butterfly , three-act opera by Moscow Ekaterinburg Tickets:4,000/3,000/2,200/1,700/1,000 baht Sun, Sept 13 Carmen TV , two-act modern ballet by Kiev Theatre, Ukraine Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Tue, Sept 15 La Forza del Destino , modern opera-ballet by Kiev Theatre Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Thur, Sept 17 Punarnava , Indian classical dance by Kathak Kendra Tickets:1,500/1,200/1,000/800/400 baht Tue, Sept 22& Wed, Sept 23 Moon Water by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Sat, Sept 26& Sun, Sept 27 Cinderella on Ice by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Tue, Sept 29 Carmina Burana , contemporary ballet by Spellbound Dance Tickets:1,500/1,200/1,000/800/400 baht Thur, Oct 1"Evening With Jazz" by Starch jazz band from Switzerland and Beets Brothers jazz band from the Netherlands Tickets:1,500/1,200/1,000/800/400 baht Sun, Oct 4Romeo and Juliet , ballet by Shanghai National Ballet Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Tue, Oct 6La Sylphide , two-act ballet by Shanghai National Ballet Tickets:2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht Thur, Oct 8 MMariza, world's leading Fado singer, Portugal Tickets:2,000/1,600/1,300/1,100/600 baht Sat, Oct 10& Sun, Oct 11 Fuego!by Carmen Mota's Flamenco Dance Group, Spain Tickets:3,000/2,200/1,700/1,300/600 baht Fri, Oct 16& Sat, Oct 17 Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo,New York Tickets:2,5000/2,000/1,600/1,200/600 baht
       Tickets available from Thai Ticket Major, tel 022623456 or visit www.thaiticket major.com (24 hrs).

STRIP FOR DIGNITY

       Bangkok University Theatre Company is staging Plueng , a contemporary lifestyle stage show which promises to make you laugh 'til you drop at the M Theatre on New Phetchaburi Road. The showtime is 7:30pm daily on Wed-Sun, plus a 2pm matinee on weekend from September 2-13.
       Based on the hit comedy The Full Monty , the thought-provoking yet hilarious play revolves around six men who are struggling to keep up with their lives amid the economic crisis.Each resorts to stripping as an identity of dignity to live up to their roles as mature men, fathers and humans.
       The cast is led by Sasidsorn Sut-thikasem, who plays a taxi driver whose life is heading for big trouble until he discovers the 'strip' solution.Although laughs are guaranteed, the show emphasises that honourable life and human dignity exist even in strippers.
       The performance is directed by Assistant Professor Punnasak Sukhee,whose list of critically acclaimed pro-ductions includes Dear Death, Dancing to Nirvana, I Shall Ride the Rain-bow When I Grow Up and Cabaret .Tickets cost 500,800 and 1,000 baht (250 baht for students) and can be purchased from Thaiticketmajor booths. Call 02-262-3456 or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com.

GAGS GUARANTEED

       Glamorous showgirls back on stage for a charity show
       After April's success of The Last Day Show: Will I Survive?, the hilarious Day Freeman and her sassy pal Pipat "Khaimook" Puengsub bring the glamorous showgirls back on stage today (Aug 28)for another round of amusing entertainment.
       "Those who missed the shows in April asked us to produce CDs, which would likely lead to piracy. So if people want to see the show, we would rather do it live, which is much more fun for the audience to see us sing and dance on the stage rather than on a flat screen," said Auntie Day, Thailand's top drag queen.
       The new version continues to be a combination of musical, stand-up comedy and cabaret show - all in all, a spectacle to get people rolling in the aisles. The divas, Wasan "Nong" Uttamayothin, Warayut "Kai" Milintrjinda and Yuthana "Jaew" Lophanpaibool as well as the dashing Jason Young all make a comeback for the Return of the Last Day Show:Will I Survive?
       This time, dad-to-be Somchai "Tao" Khemklad and Daraneenuch "Top" Phopiti join the cast for the gags-guaranteed show, which is about a theatre going bankrupt because people have become less interested in cabaret shows and Auntie Day not giving up to save the theatre and the showgirls.
       "There's the drama because the story is based on the hardship of being a showgirl,which is based on their real lives. But it's more of a comedy to bust stress and bring on the laughter," she said."Above all, it's for a good cause with proceeds helping poor patients."
       The show supports Ramathibodi Hospital's Bone Marrow Transplantation Project under royal patronage of HM the Queen, which involves helping kids with thalassemia. RT
       "The Return of the Last Day Show: Will I Survive?"begins today (Aug 28) at Aksra Theatre, King Power Complex, Rang Nam Road, with two performances at 3pm and 8:30pm from Aug 28-30 and Sept 4-5.Tickets cost 500,800,1,000,1,200,1,500,2,000 and 3,000 baht. Call 02-262-3456, or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com.