Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, UTSC -- Presented by Cultural Affairs
Professor Michal Schonberg hosts the popular Asian Theatre Lecture Series featuring esteemed artists from Canada and abroad. This year's series features Nova Bhattacharya (Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer), William Lau and Xu Feng-Ze (Peking Opera), Kiyoshi Nagata and Aki Takahashi (Japanese Music and Theatre), and renowned Balinese musician I Wayan Sinti, dancer Cokorda Istri Nilawati and Annette Sanger. All lecture/demos are FREE of charge, and all are welcome.
Classical Indian Dance with Nova Bhattacharya
January 23, 2006
12 noon – 2pm
Nova Bhattacharya’s lecture will cover a brief history of the historical context of Bharatanatyam as it developed from its practice in the temples and courts of Southern India to a contemporary theatrical art form as well as provide a glimpse into the construct of the two key aspects of the form – the abstract dance and the mimetic storytelling.
Peking Opera with William Lau and Xu Feng-Ze
February 13, 2006
12 noon – 2pm
William Lau’s lecture/demo will cover a brief history of the development of Peking Opera, cover the major character roles: Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou, the symbolic meanings of theatrical conventions, the usage of make-up,costumes, and props, and the different styles of repertoires.
Japanese Music and Theatre with Kiyoshi Nagata and Aki Takahashi
March 13, 2006
12 noon – 2pm
Taiko performer Kiyoshi Nagata will discuss the role of Japanese percussion instruments in both folk music and the classical traditions of Kabuki and Noh theatre. Vocalist and shamisen player Aki Takahashi will discuss the role of the three-stringed shamisen in folk music (Min'yo) and classical music (Hogaku). She will also demonstrate the structure, tuning and and meaning of shamisen and vocal music in these specific genres.
Balinese Music and Dance with I Wayan Sinti, Cokorda Istri Nilawati and Annette Sanger
March 20, 2006
12 noon – 2pm
Interrelationships between Music, Dance and Drama in Balinese Performing Arts
As in many Asian cultures, music, dance and drama (as well as religion) are inextricably linked in the performing arts arena. Though a very small island, Bali has an extraordinary variety of artistic traditions — ranging from masked dances to shadow puppet plays — all of which are accompanied on the gamelan, an orchestra of tuned percussion instruments. Following a general introduction to Balinese performing arts, this workshop will focus more closely on a few representative genres: the courtly gambuh dance-drama, classical legong dance, vocal music based on texts from the Ramayana, and the wayang kulit shadow puppet play. The workshop will be illustrated with live music and dance as well as audio-visual materials.
For more information, please contact Leah Takata at 416.287.7076 or visit www.utsc.utoronto.ca/cultural