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electric
CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE presents Blue ELECTRIC Artistic Director/Choreographer • Cheryl Flaharty Assistant Director • Maile Baran Primacio Script • Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl Lighting Design • Donald Ranney Jr. Dancers • Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau, Squire Coldwell, David DeBlieck (Guest Artist), Laura Brucia Hamm, Chandra Miars, Dennis B. Miller, Danielle Paschal, Maile Baran Primacio, Geneva Rivera, Kent Stromberg, Justin Young, Nicole Young Costume Design and Construction • Cheryl Flaharty, Anne Tongg, Kathy James, Dee Kursat, Carlynn Wolfe Video Production • Cheryl Flaharty, Sergio Goes, Neal Izumi, Mike May Aerial Trainers • David DeBlieck, Liz Cooper Acting Coach • John Watt Stage Manager • Patrick Hajduk Wardrobe • Rebecca Horne Production Assistant • Brian Gustaveson IONA Managing Director • Crystal Brewe IONA Production Assistant • Geneva Rivera IONA Interns • Hans de Wall, Leah Calixto, Laura Nelson Thank You Please join us in thanking our “Electrolights”: LUMINARIES - $10,000 + Jean Rolles Kasanow & Associates Wealth Management Patrick and Lori Oki, Grant Thornton WATER BEARERS - $2,500 + Lee Eisenstein CREATIVE SPARKS - $1,000 + Stan and Janet Zisk Linda Wright and Tony Gelish Mark Morita Nova Arts Foundation Board of Directors Mark Steckel President Patrick Oki, CPA Treasurer Kristin Shigemura, Esq. Secretary Jeff Berman Rea Fox Ron Kowalke Kevin Matsuda Andrew Meader Michael North Dean Ueda IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is seeking new board members! If you are interested, or would like to nominate someone call 262-0110 or e-mail [email protected]. The Company IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is renowned for its harmonious and innovative blend of Eastern, Western and indigenous influences. IONA’s visionary Artistic Director, Cheryl Flaharty, has been mesmerizing audiences for over a decade with her one-of- a-kind viewer-attuned performances. From the company’s adored classic, ‘The Mythology of Angels,’ to Flaharty’s tour de force, ‘Destiny,’ IONA masterfully moves the heart through storytelling and symbolism. The 10 - 14 member troupe melds luxuriant costumes and staging, witty spoken text, and the power of music to create a consummate experience that reaches beyond dance to total theatre. The genesis of IONA was choreographer Cheryl Flaharty’s realization, upon completion of her studies in New York City in the late 80s, that for dance to evolve as an art form, it had to defy specific categorization and narrow definition. Under the tutelage of choreographer Poppo Shiraishi, she had been profoundly affected by the experimental movement language of the Japanese butoh dance form. The deeply emotional and physically subtle characteristics of butoh resonated with Flaharty’s innate sense of dance as an expression of all that transcends the body. From its very inception in 1990, IONA (formerly Iona Pear) began to develop a visual vocabulary all its own. Departing from the somber underpinnings of classic butoh, Flaharty sought to elevate the awareness of audiences to beauty, reverence, and uplifting elements of existence. Flaharty’s affinity for story, allegory, psychology and world mythology shaped IONA’s work as narrative yet non-literal, ancient in content but contemporary in interpretation, and ultimately poetic. From this orientation arose IONA’s first evening-length performance in 1992, “The Mythology of Angels”. It was greeted with instantaneous raves and has become a signature work for the ensemble. The success of “Mythology” set into motion Flaharty’s aims of reaching out directly to the community through outreach programs, private events, and cultural grassroots activities. These events were further galvanized by IONA’s critically-acclaimed evening length pieces “Worshiping Sun”, in 1995, “Hawaiian Myths & Legends”, in 1997 and “Destiny”. The company has toured extensively throughout the Hawaiian Islands, to China, and on the Mainland. Eternally progressive, IONA as a complete dance-theatre entity continues to build alliances, widen the impact of art and remain true to its core: the elemental contribution of dance to life. CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE Blue ELECTRIC Artistic Director/Choreographer • Cheryl Flaharty IONA draws their work from western modern dance fused with Japanese butoh dance. The dancers work improvisationally in the development of movement for the productions. “Hear the voices of the foremothers, Hear They ask you why you let the earth become polluted Poisoned, Exhausted They remind you where you come from Do you hear? Again they want to remind you That the earth is our mother If we take her life We die with her” -Mari Boine Persen For Adi and the forgotten kingdoms The Siren’s Call Dancers • The Company Rope Solo • Nicole Young (4/21, 4/23), Chandra Miars (4/22) Opening Poem • Laura Brucia Hamm Music • Charlottemarie (www.charlottemarie.com “Circle of the Sun” Naked Heart CD), Mari Boine Persen, This Mortal Coil Text • Kahlil Gabrin Abbe Brewster Caffe proudly supports and congratulates Iona Contemporary Dance Theater on the World Premiere of Blue ELECTRIC Gourmet Pizzas • Casual Fare • BYOB 451 Piikoi Street, Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone & Fax (808) 596-8866 (Next to Blockbuster Video) Once There Were Oceans Dancers • Opening Monologue, Squire Coldwell Trapeze Trio • David DeBlieck, Danielle Paschal, Maile Baran Primacio Music • Charlottemarie (www.charlottemarie.com “Bodhisattva’s Dream” Naked Heart CD) Text • Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl Songs to a Forgotten Mother Dancers • Nicole Young with Laura Brucia Hamm and Squire Coldwell, David DeBlieck with The Company Danielle Paschal, Maile Baran Primacio, Laura Brucia Hamm, Chandra Miars, Geneva Rivera, Nicole Young, Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau, Squire Coldwell, David DeBlieck, Kent Stromberg, Justin Young Trio • Geneva Rivera, Kent Stromberg, Justin Young Music • Charlottemarie (www.charlottemarie.com “The Way Home” Naked Heart CD) Tea at 1024 Text • Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Jeffrey Rothfeder (from Every Drop for Sale), The Dancers Video • Sergio Goes Water of Love Dancers • Maile Baran Primacio, David DeBlieck, Chandra Miars, Squire Coldwell, Danielle Paschal, Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau, Laura Brucia Hamm, Kent Stromberg UV Duet • Nicole Young, Dennis B. Miller Ring Solo • Geneva Rivera Serving Tea Tuesday - Friday 11-2 Saturday 11-4 Reservations are Appreciated Music • Sinead O’Conner, Mari Boine Persen, The Silva Brothers, Pink Martini, Gipsy Kings The Hydrogen Illusion Dancers • Maile Baran Primacio, Danielle Paschal, Chandra Miars, Dennis B. Miller, The Company Music • Deva Premal, Charlottemarie (www.charlottemarie.com “The 10th 1024 Nuuanu Avenue • Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 521.9596 • www.teaat1024.com Gate” Naked Heart CD) Text • Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Kahlil Gabrin The Creators Cheryl Flaharty Cheryl Flaharty is a visionary artist whose work seeks to unveil the mystery of the human spirit. Raised in Hawai‘i, she received a B.A. in Dance from the University of Hawai‘i and performed as a principal dancer with Betty Jones’ and Fritz Ludin’s Dances We Dance Company. Flaharty’s choreographic vision has been equally influenced by her work with butoh master Poppo Shiraishi, with whom she performed as a principal dancer in New York from 1985-1990, in his Go Go Boys Company. Ms. Flaharty’s experience with these two differing dance forms has brought forth the unique synthesis of Eastern and Western movement and spirituality that her IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is known for. Since her 1990 return to Hawai‘i, Ms. Flaharty has become a major force in the local dance community. She is the recipient of six Hawai‘i State Dance Council choreographic awards, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ Individual Artists Fellowship, and the Baciu Award for cutting- edge work. Flaharty’s vision has expanded beyond the realms of contemporary dance with the creation of work for Sal Murillo’s “YES International Revue” in Waikiki, and collaborations with Hawai‘i Opera Theatre in “Macbeth” and “The Tales of Hoffman.” An influential and inspiring teacher, Ms. Flaharty has taught numerous classes and workshops throughout the state of Hawai‘i and in New York, and served as guest instructor at Mid-Pacific School for the Arts, the University of Hawai‘i, and the University of California, San Diego. Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl was born in Honolulu of Samoan, Hawaiian and Caucasian ancestry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Antioch University and a Master’s degree in Drama and Theatre from the University of Hawai‘i. As a playwright, she has had twelve plays produced, several of which have toured to Britain, America, the Pacific and Asia. Her work is published in several anthologies. Her own anthology, Hawai‘i Nei: Island Plays has been published by the University of Hawai‘i Press. She has written documentary scripts for Hawai‘i Public Television and was a writer/ producer for the series “Biography Hawai‘i”. Ms. Kneubuhl has also been actively involved in producing many community programs which reflect the unique history and lifestyle of her island home. She was named one of the Extraordinary Women of Hawai‘i in 2001 by the Foundation for Hawaii Women’s History and the Native Hawaiian Library of Alu Like, Inc. In 1996, she was the first theatre artist to receive an Individual Artist Fellowship from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and in 1994 she was honored with the Hawai‘i Award for Literature, the highest literary award in the State of Hawai‘i. Serving the Wealth Management needs of the families in the Hawaiian Islands and in 11 other states for 22 years! Proud supporters of IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre for over a decade!! Congratulations to Artistic Director Cheryl Flaharty and all the gifted IONA Dancers!!! “The essence of investment management is the management of risks, not the management of returns.” -Benjamin Graham (father of Value Investing and mentor to Warren Buffet) Sergio Goes Brazilian filmmaker Sergio Goes started his career as a photographer. His work has been published and exhibited internationally, including shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the London Biennial, and in Hawai`i at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and The Contemporary Museum. His feature-length documentary Black Picket Fence was awarded the HBO Feature Documentary Award and the Charles Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award. His film work has been shown in major film festivals in the US, Europe, South America, Australia, and Japan, and broadcast on the Sundance Channel. In 2005 Goes was among 7 invited artists featured in The Contemporary Museum’s Biennial Exhibition of Hawai`i Artists (2005). 3268 A Paty Drive • Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 www.kasanowandassociates.com Tel: 808-988-1311/1511 Toll Free: 800-988-4469 Fax: 808-988-1711 Email: [email protected] Director’s Notes ART & SOUL Fine Art Photography Mixed Media Prints Encaustic Works Director’s Notes by Cheryl Flaharty Mary Farkash 808-263-0909 My very first mother was love. Pure. Empty. A vessel to be filled only by me. I was water. Pure water. Electric blue water. A diamond in my mother’s eye. My very first mother was love. The Boundry Between Ourselves and Nature is Illusion " Oness is Reality " These words are from an exercise I conducted with the dancers to trace our ancestry back to our first mother. Out of this and other explorative exercises we have, for the past year, spun the threads of creation to give birth to what you see before you this evening. The journey has been profound. The more we immersed ourselves in the subject of water the more water surrounded us. The more we focused on the environmental problems of our planet the more imminent and real they became. And the more healing and love we shared the deeper our relationships grew. ‘Electric Blue’ has been created to heal and honor the ocean and to revive a lost reverence for water - the life force we so often take for granted. The story of the Chattahoochee River is only a tiny example of what is going on worldwide. Even in our home land of Hawai’i, the water wars have begun. Many have predicted that a world war would be fought over water - not oil. If water reflects what we put into it - our wars and hatred - such shall we reap. It is time to understand the value of water in order to heal ourselves and our planet. In ‘Electric Blue’, I look to reviving the water myths of old as well as creating new mythologies for our future. The creation of ‘Electric Blue’ began almost four years ago with the gift of music by Mari Boine Persen coupled with the death of Geneva’s grandmother, Adi. The first vision was of a performance on a beach during which Adi’s ashes were released. Since that time Adi’s spirit has guided the creation of this work. Our first beach performance was on Waikiki beach on December 17, 2005. The Company took the work to the beach communities of Makua, Haleiwa and Waimanalo as well. The last beach performance was to take place on Kailua beach, where the work was conceived, but it was canceled due to sewage overruns and the pollution of Kailua Bay. I am interested in how Earth’s water systems serve to connect all of the land on the earth, and thus all peoples. When humankind tries to control nature, we invade it – like another country – and change it. The flags in the beginning of the show – Tibet, Navajo Nation, Mayan, Aboriginal, Kurdistan, and Hawai’i – represent this idea. For thousands of years, men have told tales of beautiful and dangerous creatures that inhabit the waters of the world. Though sometimes kindly, Mermaids were often dangerous to man. To see one on a voyage meant an omen of shipwreck. The Sirens of Greek mythology were half-bird rather than half-fish, but they sang with such unearthly sweetness that sailors, drawn to them, wrecked their ships on the rocks or were devoured by them. In Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses tied himself to the mast so that he could safely hear the Siren’s voices. In Scotland, people tell of Selkies – magical creatures of human form who live in underwater palaces. To swim from their world to ours, they don seal skins, which they hide, once ashore. If a man finds the skin of a Selkie he may claim her for his bride, but in the end, she finds the skin and returns home to the sea. The mother – the vessel of salt water into which we are born. All Great Mothers are born from the primeval ocean – the primordial womb of life from which all created forms emerge. Tracing our ancestry back, we honor our foremothers and recognize that, like the Selkie, as we are born into water so shall we return. I would like to thank most of all the dancers for their talent, dedication, and vision. I would also like to thank Gloria for your creative gifts, which have brought me inspiration. A big thank you to Crystal for your strength, amazing dedication and vision. To my Board, my dear friends, and many volunteers for all your support. Bless you all! The Dancers Chandra Miars began her first classes of dance instruction at La Pietra when she was five. She studied dance and fine in Milan, Italy and at California College of the Arts in Oakland. Returning home to Hawaii she continued to pursue her love for both the performing and visual arts. In 2000 she received her B.A. in Painting from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Chandra took her first workshop with Cheryl Flaharty in 2000 and was invited to join the Company. Chandra is currently a professional artist and shares her passion for art teaching middle and high school students at Le Jardin Academy. Danelle Paschal started dancing in 1996 with the Baha’i Youth Workshop. This group led her to perform in numerous places in the Pacific including Guam, Saipan, Samoa, and New Zealand. She then acquired dance training for two years at Leeward Community College. Danielle’s first encounter with IONA was at the Hawaii Theatre in 2002 as an audience member for ‘Destiny’. Danielle has been dancing with IONA since 2003, she has performed with IONA in China, Wisconsin, and the outer islands. David DeBlieck received his B.A. in Theatre Arts from Augsburg College and his M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Hawaii. David performed as a Company member with IONA from 19942001and is delighted to be working with the company once again as a guest artist and aerial consultant. David has danced with Betty Jones & Frtiz Ludin and Tau Dance Theatre, directed the Hawaii State Dance Council’s Choreographic Awards Festival from 1997-1999, coordinated the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Festival in 1999 and is a recipient of the University of Hawaii’s Carl Wolz Award for Excellence in Modern Dance. In his homeland of MN, David works as artistic director of Wicked Sister Dance Theatre and teaches in the theater program at Augsburg College. He performs frequently as a guest artist with former IONA dance partner, Caroline Sutton Clark’s Wicked Cricket Dance Theatre in Austin, TX. Dennis B Miller has danced with IONA since 1991. Having studied Butoh with Tanaka Min and Dairakudakan in Japan, and Mitsutaka Ishii and Katsura Kan in Hawaii, he received a HSDC Choreographic Award in 1995. Dennis graduated from UH Manoa with a BA in Dance in 2000. Recently, Dennis enjoys contact improv workshops in Berkeley. He teaches an open Saturday morning Butoh class, and operates a massage establishment in Waikiki. He likes to say, “Shoots!” Juliana Simone (Sunset Homes, LLC) Ned Sperling Rae Watanabe Cricket Nam John H. and Thelma Diercks Gardner Bemis Stephen and Ruth Canham Laura M. Casey Michele L. Damico Louisa Di Grazia Robert Dunn Gaye Glaser Rebecca J. Horne Roy M. Kamitono Annie Kwock James and Elizabeth McCutcheon Susan Pelke Errol Rubin and Nancy Shipley Rubin Ruey Jane Ryburn Will Schoettle Delia Stoehr Howard Wiig Melinda Wood Eric Aten William Seeman -ASSAGE#ARE s0HYSIO#ARE s!QUA#ARE s 4- 4- 4- 4WO,OCATIONS +APOLEI7AIPAHU +!0/,%) 7!)0!(5 WWW PTHAWAIICOM IONA would like to thank WindHorse Health Care 970 Kalaheo Avenue • Kailua HI 96734-1866 808-254-5577 “Healthcare for the body & mind” Mahalo to our supporters Gods & Goddesses- $2,500 + Jean E Rolles Patrick and Lori (Oki, CPA) Saints $1,000-$2,499 Bobbie Lou Yeackel and Stan Snider Stan & Janet Zisk Harry Kasanow Georgia Donna Gedge Anthony Gelish and Linda Wright Mark Morita Angels $500-$999 Gary Higashida Friends $100-499 Linda Powell Tim Whiteside Donald Hudson Kevin Matsuda Catherine Richards Christian Aall Ttee Dawn Cavallero L.H. & B.C. Gordon Jac Holzman Haigh Roop Alexandra Avery Peggy Hill and George Carlson Christiane Lucas-Click Kristin Shigemura Dean Ueda Lynette Wageman Fredrica Cassiday Ann Egami (EuroUSA) Fred and Erminie Gartley Robert Godbey (Godbey Griffiths Reiss Chong) James S. Gray Peggy Murphy Hazzard Louise K. Y. Ing Heinz & Julia Lange Anthony Lee Janice Marsters David J. Randell (Windward Eye Physicians & Surgeons) Gary Sohler (Gary Sohler Associates, Inc.) Mark Steckel Masami Teraoka Michael Wurtz Isabelle Yao Gaylord Wilcox Dante Dimabuyu Luana Kuhns and Ernest Fulton James Jensen Linda Kidani Donald Matsumori Cathy Wood J. Forest Ocean Bennett Kenneth H. and Sandra F Bleifer Dora W. Choy Jan Elliott Dean & Jaynine Nelson (WindHorse Healthcare) Mark Nokes Honey & Alan Pavel Alice Scheuer Geneva Rivera’s path led her to the world of dance at the age of two. She studied hula, Tahitian, ballet, and jazz. Through learning Butoh she feels that she has met people who will remain close to her heart for the rest of her life. She gives gratitude to all who have supported her and understood her passion. She would like to dedicate her dance to her family who Have, among many things, taught her to love unconditionally. Justin Young has been dancing with IONA for one year. His love of dance was kindled at a 2003 festival in Kualoa valley. After a semester of modern dance at KCC with Mimi Wisnowski, Justin performed with “Giinko Maraschino”. Having studied American Sign Language, Justin is interested in the complex relationship between human expression and the body. He is inspired by the inherent musicality and cadence of the body and of language as an avid linguist, body surfer and percussionist. This summer will find Justin traveling to Beijing to study Mandarin. He was born and raised in Honolulu and enjoys longboard skating. Kent Stromberg has been cultivating a passion for dance his entire life. It was an improvisational dance class in college that began his more serious explorations in dance and movement. He earned a Master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from the Naropa Institute, where the dance influences were contemplative and self explorational in nature. He joined IONA four years ago. Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau is the youngest and newest addition to IONA at age 19. He began dancing with 24-VII Danceforce Studio at 15 and is currently training and performing with their professional company. Kuponohi’ipoi has been featured as a semi-finalists on Star Search, performed in the 2003 Pro Bowl, with the Hawai’i Opera Theatre, and with Hawai’i Ballet Theatre. Kuponohi’ipoi also entertained thousands as a dancer on the beautiful Pride of America. He has recently auditioned for Tokyo Disneyland and looks forward to performing with them in July. Laura Brucia Hamm began dancing for IONA in 2000, she continues to be in awe of the incredible talent and friendship of the wonderful dancers. Laura thanks the Hamm family, her husband for all his dedication and love, and the support that her mother Antonella, sister Rosa, and beautiful Zachary and Sophia bring. It is a delight to be on this stage in their presence as they are blessings that continue to ignite her being. Laura would like to thank Cheryl for providing another incredible production and for the genius qualities that she possesses wrapped around vision, spirit and movement. Maile Baran Primacio Ten years ago Maile experienced IONA for the very first time… sitting in one of your seats in this very Theatre. Coincidentally, at this time she also happened to stumble upon her first Modern Dance class at U.H. Manoa. Never would she have dreamt that, years later, she would be sporting a dance degree and performing in this Company with her first teacher and inspiration- David DeBlieck. This is now her eighth year with IONA and she is very grateful. Maile would like to thank her Amazing family, Dearest Patrick, Cheryl, and Harry for their love and support. Nicole Young has a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology from UH Manoa, which she puts to use as a dance teacher at the Movement Center. She has performed with Upside-Down Dance, Tau Dance Theater, Convergence Dance Theater, Derek Daniels, and Hawaii Opera Theater. When she is not doing a show or rehearsing, she can be found dancing up a storm at Fashion 45 or quietly painting watercolors at home. Squire Coldwell started Dancing on advice from his acting teacher to improve his acting, and has been dancing ever since. Squire has done many shows ranging from acting, dancing, tech, to designing of shows. He is a member of Tau Dance Theater, Honolulu Dance Theater, Loose Screw Hawaii’s premiere Improv group, was a board member for several years for Kumu Kahua Thearter, and worked for Honolulu Theater for Youth as an actor, tech and prop designer. YOU ARE INVITED Please join us for an opening night VIP celebration with the performers and creators of ‘Electric Blue’ at thirtyninehotel (at 39 Hotel St.) Friday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets to this private event are $15 and include pupus- all proceeds benefit IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre’s future operations. Sponsored in part by Thirtyninehotel, Abbe Brewster Caffe , Murphy’s Bar and Grill, and Sunset Homes, LLC. IONA Summer Workshop Join IONA Artistic Director and performers for four Sundays of dance! Open to the public. Sunday, May 14 • Sunday, May 21 • Sunday, May 28 • Sunday, June 4 Fee: $100 • Time: 1pm-4pm • Location: YWCA Call 262-0110 or e-mail [email protected] to reserve your spot. Attendees may be invited to participate in future IONA performances. We need your support! Did you know that IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is a 501c 3 Non-profit organization? As the main project of the Nova Arts Foundation, IONA is dedicated to the creation and performance of innovative dance/ theatre works that provide transformational imagery and messages. IONA’s mission is to effect a positive change in the community while providing opportunities for artists to evolve. The Company aspires to create high quality work that inspires social, personal and spiritual growth, bridges cultural experiences, and provides greater understanding of how the arts affects all of our lives. Your donations directly support productions like these, outreach to disadvantaged communities, Salon Series productions, and much more. Contributions in support of IONA are tax-deductible and can be sent to: P.O. Box 670, Kailua, HI 96734. Please visit our website at www.iona360.com for more information.