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BLUE13 DANCE COMPANY
CONTEMPORARY INDIAN DANCE THEATRE
“Los Angeles-based Blue13 Dance Company remains true to
the origins of dance while maintaining a modern edge, pushing the
envelope and challenging social norms.” —Buzzine.com
Blue13 Dance Company is a contemporary Indian dance
theatre ensemble based in Los Angeles, California. Since 1999, the
company has performed all over the United States and abroad in
it’s signature Neo-Kathak and Bollywood-Tech styles, modern dance
work that is highly energetic, colorful, and theatrical, and inspired by
the classical and cultural dance of India. Artistic director, Achinta
S. McDaniel reinvents the cinematic Bollywood concept for the live
concert stage, pulling precision, musicality and emotion from her
ensemble to create work as rebellious and unconventional as its
creator. Storytelling through dance is central to the company, as is a
continual exploration of technique and collaboration with its diverse
performers and choreographers. The work is moody and emotional,
presenting the audience with an intelligent performance experience
that turns the cultural stereotype of Indian dance on its head.
work. Teaching artists of the company hold local weekly classes,
and engage in residencies, workshops, masterclasses, school
assemblies and community outreach internationally.
Blue13 Dance Company’s mission is to advance experimental
and non-traditional contemporary dance, while preserving and
cultivating the cultural and classical forms of India. Translating
dance into enduring societal contributions, Blue13 dispels cultural
stereotypes and connects diverse communities through cross-genre
and multicultural live performances, dance education, and outreach
that inspire global unity and togetherness.
cover photo: anne slattery
[now touring
choreography
achinta s. mcdaniel
costumes
crystal "star" orozco
running time
90 minutes
Hip Hop Capulets battle Bollywood Montagues in Blue13’s
latest, “Fire & Powder,” a contemporary urban Indian dance
spectacular inspired by Romeo & Juliet and Westside Story.
Fire & Powder is a modern retelling of the classic tale,
portraying a world of drama, romance and warring dancers
living on the wrong side of the tracks. Rival gangs take to the
streets for exciting battles of styles from Breaking vs. Bhangra
to Tap vs. Bharatanatyam. The story is ripe with laughter, love
and tragedy told through a most powerful and driving force of
dance.
photo: anne slattery
fire & powder
photo: anne slattery
photo: anne slattery
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
The Story of Alice
choreography
achinta s. mcdaniel
musical direction
tej gill
costumes
lisa garr
pamella kapoor
nimmi singh
running time
90 minutes
See Alice’s arranged marriage! See Alice run! Blue13
characters, from Madhatter’s disguised as Hindu Gods, to
Peacocks, Monkeys, the Rani of Hearts, and a menacing
McDaniel turns the classic on its head and brings to life an
mad, Bollywood spiced-up take on Alice in Wonderland.
“The intermingling of ballet, modern dance and hip hop
with traditional and modern Indian dance forms to recreate
this classic tale created a highly entertaining spectacle.”
—Kayte Deioma, About.com
photo: christa holmes
photo: nisha sondhe
photo: nisha sondhe
photo: nisha sondhe
photo: christa holmes
photo: nisha sondhe
choreography
achinta s. mcdaniel
musical direction
tej gill
running time
85 minutes
side is on display in this tongue-in-cheek, sensual satire
piece that nods at Hindi language cinema and then slaps
it in the face! The root of the work is parody of sexual
repression in Indian cinema, and Blue13 truly takes it
beyond boundaries- from girls clad in nothing but white
sheets singing along to a Bollywood classic, to a Chicagoesque jailhouse lamentation, to a Bhangra inspired bar
“Lusty and spirited...it is easy to guess why Blue13’s
performances are all sold out shows.”
—Irene Gupta, India Journal
photo: earl mcdaniel III
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
photo: kory keith
photo: kory keith
photo: earl mcdaniel III
choreography
achinta s. mcdaniel
musical direction
tej gill
costumes
pamella kapoor
running time
85 minutes
A magical Indian dance theatre work inspired by A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. Karishma is ripe with charm and mystery,
fairies both naughty and nice, four young lovers, and an
and charm.
“Every once in a while there will be a short-lived performance
that begs to be seen even if the run is too short for review
some time.”
—Backstage West
photo: troy borruso
photo: troy borruso
photo: nisha sondhe
photo: nisha sondhe
choreography
achinta s. mcdaniel
musical direction
tej gill
running time
85 minutes
An Indian fairytale told through diverse contemporary
wicked witches, and a dancing world of intertwined tales
inspired by classics like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella,
and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Follow Jai (Jack)
on his journey up the beanstalk to conquer his villains,
demands, get the girl.
“The ultimate cross-over fairytale combining the most
popular western fables with Bollywood dancing and
Bhangra rocked...”
—Parimal Rohit, India West
photo: earl mcdaniel III
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
photo: paul antico
BLUE13 DANCE COMPANY
TOURING FEES
(Fees quoted for company of 11.)
Single Performance:
$12,500 + accommodations and local travel
Half-Week Residency:
$15,000 + accommodations and local travel
Full-Week Residency:
$17,500 + accommodations and local travel
Artistic Director
Artistic Director and founder of Blue13 Dance Company,
Achinta S. McDaniel is a pioneer of modern Indian dance
and instructor, McDaniel’s powerful and fresh style draws
hip hop, Bhangra, Kathak, and Bollywood to create
spectacularly theatrical and vibrant dance. She is known
for her experimentation with international styles and her
inventive staging of many genres. Her work is highly dramatic
exotic, mysterious, wild, rebellious and unconventional.
McDaniel was born in Queens, and grew up studying
her start as a choreographer at Hathaway Brown School at
the age of 14. Throughout her high school years, she danced
in local university ensembles at Cleveland State and Case
Western Reserve. McDaniel attended New York University,
where she earned her undergraduate degree in Dance,
Choreography and Theatre, thereafter moving to Bangalore,
India to study classical Indian Kathak with guru Maya Rao.
Upon returning to New York in 1999, McDaniel founded
Neo-Kathak dance collective, Blue13, building her presence
in the community through performing and choreographing
the modern Indian dance theatre form, and through teaching
Bollywood and Bhangra dance classes to children and adults
across the Tri-State area. In 2001, McDaniel relocated the
company to Los Angeles, expanding over several years to
include a core of 15 dancers from diverse technical and
cultural backgrounds.
“Truly beyond all spectacle [is] the dancing seductress
artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel, who brightens up the
stage with her presence and brings to the crowd a wave
of enthusiasm that leaves them yelling from their seats.”
—eyespyla.com
photo: troy borruso
“The vigor and excitement of [“Fire & Powder] inspires you to leap out
of your seat and dance right along with them, which is exactly what
thisunique performance allows the audience to do via a Bollywoo
themed Flash mob…This show is fresh, vibrant, and full of life!”
–Shana Williams, Life in LA (on Fire & Powder)
under the artistic direction of Achinta S. McDaniel, burst from the
outdoor stage with a joy and energy one rarely sees…Kory Keith,
dancing the lead role of Alice, not only captures the good nature
and captivating allure one associates with the Hindi screen, but
enough to qualify as a village, provides verve and spectacle as
they execute the spirited choreography and disport in their bright
and inventive costumes. To have had the opportunity to witness
this kind of creativity, particularly on a warm summer night in an
outdoor amphitheatre, is to know that feeling that living in L.A.
might, in fact, be a most superior experience.”
—Wenzel Jones, Back Stage Blog Stage
“Blue13 Dance Company’s new production Khel! A Bollywood
Bedtime Story got off to a splendid start at its World Premiere
to a packed audience of over 1000 at the Ford Amphitheatre.
The spectators, predominantly non-Indian were transported into
a land of make-believe under the starry Hollywood night sky for a
shade less than two hours. A production inspired by her love for
reading and Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories
in particular, Artistic Director Achinta McDaniel has created a
journey through fantasy which penetrates the fascinating specter
of playful dreams.”
—K.B. Nair, India Journal
Blue13 Dance Company remains true to
the origins of dance while maintaining a modern edge, pushing
the envelope and challenging social norms. They use a little bit of
Bollywood, a little bit of on-stage ensemble, a little bit of Hollywood, and a whole lot of soul!”
—Parimal M. Rohit
“I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Paheliyan:
The Story of Alice. Blue13 Dance Company’s production takes
Alice from an Indian wedding, on a chase after the Brown Bunny
into the Rabbit Hole to an East Indian interpretation of Wonderland
with monkeys and peacocks in addition to the Mad Hatter and
Cheshire Cat. The intermingling of ballet, modern dance and hiphop with traditional and modern Indian dance forms was used
to tell this classic tale, creating a highly entertaining spectacle!
Alas, it only played two nights at the Ford Amphitheatre.”
—Kayte Deioma, About.com
“Spectacle! Spectacular! Spirited! That sums up the
Bollywood telling of Alice in Wonderland, Paheliyan:
the Story of Alice by Blue13 Dance Company. Blue13’s
Bollywood-tech style brings vibrant music, colorful textures
and rhythmic hypnotic movement to the classic tale. Like
piece weaves together many threads to bring the wow of a
Bollywood musical. There’s the necessary wedding scene of
actors and live musicians to create the Bollywood musical’s
feeling of a cast of thousands. The music chosen by music
director Tej Gill is constantly entertaining and inspiring.
The lip synching dancers relay the lyrics of a language not
spoken but felt. Everything is upbeat, cheerful and soulful.”
—Kelly Hargraves, eyespyla.com
“Thunderous applause, sometimes accompanied by shouts
of enthusiasm, was heard virtually after every dance
performance throughout the evening as Achinta S. McDaniel
and her Blue13 dancers charmed the audience...with their
production of Khel! A Bollywood Bedtime Story...”
—Michel W. Potts, India West
photo: ryuichi oshimoto
“Fresh off an electrifying performance at the 49th Annual
Holiday Arts Celebration on December 24th at the Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, Blue13 is
troupes to grace a stage.”
—Parimal M. Rohit
from hip-hop to aerial/acrobatic dance, Blue13 stirs the pot
thick and heavy, coming up with a totally original dish!”
—Rayhané S. Sanders, Campus Circle
head after watching the dancers of Blue13 Dance Company
twirl, twist and leap into the air as they danced to Bollywood
songs. ‘Nachle India’ at the Barclay Theatre saw high
voltage performances from Blue13 Dance Company.”
—Irene Gutpa, India Journal
Blue13 Dance Company is non-profit
contemporary Indian dance theatre ensemble
based in Los Angeles, with a mission to connect
diverse audiences through the power of live,
aesthetically and culturally daring dance.
Exclusive Representation in North America:
Jessica Marino, Artist Manager River City Artists Management
[email protected]
(484) 599-0252
www.rivercityartists.com
Touring: Booking performances, residencies and outreach.
Creative Services:
Dance Education: Booking classes, workshops, lectures.
Blue13 Dance Company
Phone: 310.876.BL13 (2513)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.blue13dance.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/blue13dancecompany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blue13dance
Twitter:@blue13dance