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Anthony Shay
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Dr. Anthony V. Shay is a dancer and choreographer with over fifty years of performing and creative experience in staging and choreographing dances and music from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. After years of study in Iran, Dr. Shay created the Village Dancers. Along with Leona Wood (1922-2008), a painter, teacher, and expert in Middle Eastern dance, he created the famed AMAN Folk Ensemble (aka, AMAN International Music and Dance Company) of Los Angeles, California in 1963 and served as artistic director until 1977.
With Master's Degrees in Anthropology, Folklore and Mythology, and Library Sciences, he is able to bring the expreriences of travel and training to his work. In addition to being a full-time librarian, a part-time researcher for the Smithsonian Institution, a choreographer for a number of ethnic-oriented dance companies, a concert flutist, teacher and translator for the Department of Immigration, he directed AMAN. Somehow, in his spare time, he has become a better-than-average bridge player, designed and planted a rose garden in his back yard, and conducted lecture and dance courses for UCLA Extension.
During his first years in college, he learned Persian on a dare and became so accomplished in the language the he was able to fool even natives. Invited by the Iranian ambassador to visit Iran, he spent one year there eventually singing in Persian on a regular radio program.
He was choreographer and artistic director of the AVAZ International Dance Theatre, a group he founded in 1977. In this period he has choreographed over 150 works for both his own company and on commission to other groups.
He is an assistant professor of dance and cultural studies at Pomona College in Claremont, California.
Dr. Shay earned a Ph.D. in Dance History and Theory at the University of California, Riverside in 1997. He currently holds the position of associate in dance at the same institution, where he teaches dances of the Iranian cultures sphere.
Dr. Shay is a five-time recipient of the National Education Association (NEA) choreographic fellowship and was an NEA resident artist in La Napoule, France. In 1990, he was a seminar participant in "Latin American Music in a historical and social perspective" at the University of Texas, Austin. In 1995, Dr. Shay was again awarded a summer scholar position in the seminar "Re-imagining Societies: The Middle East and Central Asia" at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. On November 18, 1995, Dr. Shay received commendations from President Bill Clinton and the entire City Council of Los Angles for excellence of his choreographies, honoring his fortieth year as a choreographic artist. The Kaleidiscope Festival designated him as Distinguished California Artist in 1997. He was awarded a James Irvine Fellowship in Dance for 1998 as one of eight of the top choreographers in the State of California. The award is accompanied by a $30,000.00 fellowship for research focused around a core focus on Iranian art, which enabled Dr. Shay to visit important art collections and libraries in a number of different countries. This fellowship is the most coveted dance award in the United States.
SHAYISMS
Tony's 10 Commandments
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Thou shalt not shuffle. |
AMAN Psalm 23
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Tony is our shepherd; we shall not forget it. He maketh us to dance on wretched stages; he leadeth us beside short people. He restarted our soles. He leadeth us in the paths of folklore for AMAN's sake. Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of Berendo, we shall fear no purse snatchers; for thine art is with us. Thy shrieks and thy stomps; they comfort us. Thou preparest suites before us in the presence of all. Thou annointest our heads with false braids; our caps runneth over...and over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us dummies all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in the house of AMAN forever. |
Among Dr. Shay's publications are
- Balkan Dance: Essays on Characteristics, Performance and Teaching. By Anthony Shay, 2007.
- Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism, and Harem Fantasy. Bibliotheca Iranica, Performing Arts Series. By Anthony Shay and Barbara Sellers-Young, 2005.
- "Boys Night Out in Leadville."
- Choreographing Identities: Folk Dance, Ethnicity and Festival in the United States and Canada. By Anthony Shay, 2005, 2006.
- Choreophobia. Mazda Publishers, 1999.
- Choreophobia: Solo Improvised Dance in the Iranian World. Mazda Publishers, 2000.
- Choreographic Politics: State Folk Dance Ensembles, Representation and Power. Wesleyan University Press, 2002.
- Dancing Across Borders: The American Fascination with Exotic Dance Forms. By Anthony Shay, 2008.
- When Men Dance: Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders. By Jennifer Fisher and Anthony Shay, 2009.
Dances Dr. Shay has taught include Beljevina, Bibersko kolo, Bitoljka, Četiri u krst, Cigančica, Kato mi kato, Krecavi ketuš, Kriči kriči tiček, Lepa anka kolo vodi, Mangupsko kolo, Mišnjača (Lički Tanac), Mista kolo, Nevestinsko Ooro, Podravski Ddrmeš, Pokupski drmeš, Pokupski plesovi, Posavski plesovi, Prigorska Polka, Staro planinsko, Stara prizrenka, Sukačica, Sumadijsko kolo, Toško Oro, Valpovačko kolo, Zavrzlama, and Ženil si je sirotek (Lepa moja milena).
Because most of Dr. Shay's works were intended for repertory companies, they received and still receive multiple performances, sometimes over one hundred or more times. For example, Up with People has five casts of one hundred performers and annually performs Dr. Shay's works several hundred times in one year collectively. Im Anush Daviq, an Armenian choreography he composed in 1979, was a part of the AVAZ repertoire for more than 15 years and has received at least 200 performances during that time period.
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NAME |
AREA |
PERFORMED BY |
YEAR |
Raqs-e shadi |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1997 |
Raqs-e ghuri |
Tajikistan |
AVAZ |
1996 |
Raqs-e Ayineh |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1997 |
Ferghanin usuli |
Uzbekistan |
AVAZ |
1995 |
Ciftetelli Suite |
Ottoman Turkey |
AVAZ |
1995 |
Mouashshahat |
Lebanon |
AVAZ |
1995 |
Dabka Suite |
Jordan |
AVAZ |
1995 |
Usul-e Samarqandi |
Uzbekistan |
AVAZ |
1994 |
Tak-Navazi |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1994 |
Vrlicko Kolo III |
Croatia |
Komeinka |
1995 |
Ghawazi Dance |
Egypt |
AVAZ |
1994 |
Răčhenitsa from Thrace |
Bulgaria |
Up With People |
1995 |
Gagara |
India (Gujerat) |
Up With People |
1995 |
Šop Suite |
Bulgaria |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1963 |
Podravina Wedding |
Croatia |
AMAN, Duquesne U. |
1974 |
Vrlič'ko Kolo I |
Croatia |
AMAN, Duquesne U. |
1968 |
Linđo |
Croatia |
AMAN, AVAZ, Duquesne U. |
1969 |
Dances of Bukhara |
Uzbekistan |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1967 |
Dances of Bojnurd |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1993 |
Raqs-e Chupi |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1978 |
Kurdish Suite |
Iran/Iraq |
AVAZ |
1986 |
Katta Uyin |
Uzbekistan |
AVAZ |
1978 |
Persian Gulf Suite |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1979 |
Dances of the Ghawazi |
Egypt |
AVAZ |
1994 |
Dances of Eastern Serbia |
Serbia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1964 |
Dances of Prizren |
Serbia |
Village Dancers |
1962 |
Bunjevačko Momačko I |
No. Serbia |
AMAN |
1966 |
Bunjevačko Momačko II |
No. Serbia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1966 |
Bunjevačko Momačko III |
No. Serbia |
Duquesne U. |
1969 |
Azerbaijan Suite |
Azerbaijan |
Village Dancers |
1960 |
Azerbaijan Suite II |
Azerbaijan |
Komeinka |
1989 |
Azerbaijan Suite III |
Azerbaijan |
AVAZ |
1990 |
Azerbaijan Suite IV |
Azerbaijan |
Duquesne U. |
1975 |
Im Anush Daviq |
Armenia |
AVAZ |
1978 |
Dances of Zelina |
Croatia |
Duquesne U. |
1974 |
Balun I |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1970 |
Balun II |
Croatia |
AVAZ |
1983 |
Stara Bosna |
Bosnia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1971 |
Kraljice |
Croatia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1972 |
Cake Walk |
USA |
Up With People |
1980 |
Carnival |
Brazil |
Up With People |
1981 |
Dajčovo Horo I |
Bulgaria |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Dajčovo Horo II |
Bulgaria |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1963 |
Dajčovo Horo III |
Bulgaria |
Up With People |
1982 |
Thracian Suite |
Bulgaria |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1968 |
Dances of Šumadija I |
Serbia |
Village Dancers |
1960 |
Dances of Šumadija II |
Serbia |
AMAN |
1970 |
Dances of Šumadija III |
Serbia |
Duquesne U. |
1975 |
Dances of Šumadija IV |
Serbia |
AVAZ |
1984 |
Dances of Baranja |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1976 |
Nevestinsko Oro |
Madeconia |
AMAN |
1967 |
Macedonian Suite |
Macedonia |
AMAN |
1965 |
Kalajdžisko Horo I |
Macedonia |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Kalajdžisko Horo II |
Macedonia |
AMAN |
1964 |
Banat Suite |
Serbia |
Village Dancers |
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Lancer Quadrilles |
USA |
Village Dancers |
1962 |
Dances of Vera Cruz |
Mexico |
AMAN |
1974 |
Fandango |
California |
AMAN |
1976 |
Jota Aragonesa |
Spain |
AMAN |
1973 |
Banat Suite I |
Serbia |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Banat Suite II |
Serbia |
AMAN |
1964 |
Banat Suite III |
Serbia |
AVAZ |
1978 |
Čoček |
Serbia |
AVAZ |
1980 |
Ḱuperlika (Ćuperlika) |
Macedonia |
AMAN |
1966 |
Ottoman Suite |
Turkey |
AMAN |
1964 |
Hoedown |
USA |
Up With People |
1978 |
Dances of Posavina I |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1970 |
Dances of Posavina II |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1972 |
Dances of Posavina III |
Croatia |
Duquesne U. |
1974 |
Dances of Posavina IV |
Croatia |
AVAZ |
1979 |
Dances of Posavina V |
Croatia |
AVAZ |
1991 |
Dances of Split |
Croatia |
AVAZ |
1992 |
Tanac from the Isle of Krk |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1967 |
Dance from Pag |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1967 |
Ballos from Sifnos |
Greece |
AVAZ |
1980 |
Ballos from Chios |
Greece |
AMAN |
1969 |
Taverna I |
Greece, USA |
AMAN |
1972 |
Taverna II |
Greece, USA |
Duquesne U. |
1976 |
Taverna III |
Greece |
AVAZ |
1993 |
Zeybek |
Turkey |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Turkish Suite |
Turkey |
Village Dancers |
1960 |
Dances of Slavonija I |
Croatia |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Dances of Slavonija II |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1963 |
Dances of Slavonija III |
Croatia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1968 |
Ladarke I |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1965 |
Ladarke II |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1970 |
Dances of Prigorje |
Croatia |
AMAN |
1969 |
Dances of Prigorje II |
Croatia |
Duquesne U. |
1969 |
Dances of Pokuplje |
Croatia |
AVAZ |
1987 |
zang bozi |
Tajikistan |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
raqs-e mojassameh |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1993 |
Running Sets I |
USA |
AVAZ |
1983 |
Running Sets II |
USA |
AVAZ |
1986 |
Caluşari |
Romania |
AVAZ |
1986 |
Šopsko Horo |
Bulgaria |
AMAN |
1965 |
Rice Harvest Dance, Gilan |
Iran |
Village Dancers |
1960 |
Bazi-ha-ye namayeshi |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1992 |
The Dancing Out |
Hungary |
AVAZ |
1985 |
Verbunkos |
Hungary |
AMAN |
1970 |
Dances of Torbat Jam |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1980 |
Dances of Baluchistan |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1982 |
Motreban |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1980 |
Dance of Qajar Court |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1984 |
Shateri I |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1979 |
Qazaqi I |
Azerbaijan |
Village Dancers |
1961 |
Qazaqi II |
Azerbaijan |
AMAN |
1965 |
Qazaqi III |
Azerbaijan |
AVAZ |
1979 |
Dasmali |
Azerbaijan |
AVAZ |
1981 |
Tarantella |
Italy |
Up With People |
1980 |
Hopak (Gopak) |
Ukraine |
Up With People |
1982 |
Horovod |
Russia |
Up With People |
1992 |
Katanka |
Serbia |
AMAN, AVAZ |
1965 |
Shota |
Albania |
Village Dancers |
1962 |
Kartuli |
Georgia |
AVAZ |
1993 |
Dance of Qaraqanah |
Tunisia |
AVAZ |
1985 |
Rugovo |
Albania |
AMAN |
1969 |
Kochari |
Armenia |
AVAZ |
1983 |
Dances of Vranje |
Serbia |
Village Dancers |
1963 |
Kheliji |
Saudi Arabia |
Komeinka (New Orleans) |
1997 |
Bandari (Persian Gulf) |
Iran |
AVAZ |
1977 |
Bandari II |
Iran |
Komeinka |
1996 |
Bandari III |
Iran |
Pomona College |
1997 |
Armenian Suite |
Armenia |
AVAZ |
1996 |
Silent Dances |
Bosnia |
Pomona College |
1998 |
Monajat |
Uzbekistan |
Scripps College |
1998 |