|
Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
1984 Program By Dick Oakes |
THIS IS HISTORICAL INFORMATION ONLY
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Folk Ensemble
MITCHELL ALLEN, Executive Director
DON SPARKS, Artistic Director
LEONA WOOD, Founding Artistic Director
MARDI ROLLOW, Associate Artistic Director
JOHN ZERETZKE, Music Coordinator
DEANNE SPARKS, Vocal Coordinator
LIZ STILLWELL, Lighting Design
1984
Programme
TRANSYLVANIA - Hungarian Folk Dance
This suite of folk dances from the Hungarian ethnic villages around
the Transylvanian city of Cluj in the present-day Romania is made up of
a lads' dance, legenyes, and a couple dance from Mezosegi. The
lad's dance is a virtuoso piece, performed by the best dancers in the
villge as the opening number at a dance event. The couple dance is
actually a distilled form of the Transylvanian dance cycle, a long
continuous dance that evolves through successive changes in tempo and
rhythm.
Choreography: TIMAR SANDOR
Musical Arrangement: MAIMON MILLER
CENTRAL ASIA - Dances from Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan
In the ancient cities of the silk road, Uzbek and Tadjik peoples
have mmingled for centuries. Combining mid-eastern and far eastern
cultures, these dances display styles halfway between Persian and
Chinese. Here, a classical Takjik dance, accompanied by a freme drum
known as daire, is followed by an elegant court dance from
the city of Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan.
Tadjik Choreographer and soloist: MARDI ROLLOW
Daire: JAMES KNIGHT
Music: PHILIP HARLAND
SCOTLAND - Medley of Dances
Scottish dancing is of a very courtly character because, in many
ways, it still resembles the dancing of the late renaissance. The
national Lilt, reel, and Broadsword all demonstrate the beauty
and technical brilliance of the dance form, which also has become a
highly regulated and competitive exercise.
Choreography: BARRY GLASS
SONGS FROM ANATOLIA
The traveling minstrel, with his long-necked saz, is still
heard in rural areas of Anatolia today. The first song, "Uzum Hava" ("Long Song"), sung in a free form, shares certain characteristics
with American Blues. The second, "Pinar Basi," is a popular Anatolian folk song.
Sung and played by: ERGUN TAMER
Darbuka accompaniment: COSKUN TAMER
The Company
|
Mariane Allen Mitch Allen Ron Allman Anthony Biedul Ronda Berkeley Jennifer Brosious Stuart Brotman Dolores Burciaga José Carvajal Peggy Caton Paula Davis Charles Eisen David Feeney Molly Forman Melanie Fryman Robert Gately Tamberlaine Harris Cindra Harrold John Hegland Jim Knight |
Mitzi Lutesinger Tracie Marcus Rita Oliver John Persson Rone Prinz Sandy Rasmussen Sue Rodearmel Mardi Rollow Roland Sedillos Barbara Schaffer Susan Shapiro Sue Ellen Smyle Hillary Sohn Deanne Sparks Don Sparks Çoskun Tamer Ergun Tamer Steve Theodore Martin Tracy John Zeretzke |
A Brief History of the AMAN Folk Ensemble
The Los Angeles-based AMAN Folk Ensemble was founded in 1967 under the direction of Leona Wood and Anthony Shay, for the purpose of preserving and presenting America's multicultural heritage as it is expressed through music, song, and dance. The company takes its name from the biblical affirmative the Eastern and Middle Eastern Europeans pronounce "Aman" and American's, "Amen." The implications of this word are reflected in the abiding respect and affection for cultural values invested in the research, choreography, music and staging of AMAN's international repertoire.
Since its inception, AMAN has gained steadily in artistic excellence and in reputation as America's preeminent folkloric performing company. Since 1975, when AMAN joined the roster of companies funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Touring Programme, the company has toured extensively throughout the United States.