Blue13 Dance Company Presents MASH-UPS, MADNESS & MOODSWINGS 9/24

blue13 dance company (blue13), the critically acclaimed Contemporary Bollywood dance ensemble, returns to The Edye Second Space at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center; 1310 11th Street (on Santa Monica Boulevard, between 10th and 11th Streets); Santa Monica, CA 90403 with a One Night Only performance of the company's newest show, "MASH-UPS, MADNESS & MOODSWINGS." (This ain't yo' mama's Bollywood!). The show will be presented on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $22 each. To purchase, visit the website www.thebroadstage.com or call The Box Office at 310-434-3200. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

Director Achinta S. McDaniel and her diverse company will take theatergoers on an outrageous journey from their signature Bollywood-Tech, Neo-Kathak & Bhangra-Funk styles to classical Indian & modern dance. The company is known for its irreverent humor, satire, and the destruction of your expectations of "Bollywood."

The media continues to rave about blue13 dance company's work: "Saucy, sassy and sexy!" says the India Journal; "The Bollywood dance craze is sweeping the nation as Achinta McDaniel and her Bollywood dancers perform!" declares The Doctors; "Thunderous applause was heard virtually after every dance performance throughout the evening as Achinta S. McDaniel and her blue13 dancers charmed the audience!" heralds India West; and "Electrifying performance!" writes Buzzine.com.

McDaniel said: "We are thrilled to come back to The Edye with our new show, ‘Mash-Ups, Madness & Moodswings.' This production is exactly what the title suggests: just a smattering of mad, mixed-genre dance pieces like blue13 does best - from an emotional, lyrical modern piece, to a pure satire, to a colorful dramatic pure Bollywood number, this show has it all. We're attacking this show differently than our usual large cast; we are only using eight performers dancing small group pieces, duets and solos, which is something we haven't done in a long time. I think everyone will find something they love in ‘MMM.'"

The cast: Achinta S. McDaniel (of Venice), Kory Keith (of Studio City), Arun Mathai (of West Hollywood), Kelly Markos (of West Los Angeles),
Nelson Aparicio (of Santa Monica), Taryn Francis (of North Hollywood), Rieka Toya (of Tokyo, Japan), Noel Bajandas (of Hollywood). Production personnel will include: Achinta S. McDaniel, Artistic Director/Choreographer; Arun Mathai, Associate Artistic Director; Kory Keith, Assistant Choreographer.

blue13 dance company has performed for sold out audiences all over Los Angeles, the U.S. and abroad, most recently premiering the critically acclaimed, "Mischief" at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. Recent productions include: the company's Bollywood production at the national Artprize competition closing ceremonies in Grand Rapids, Michigan in October, 2009; the premieres of "Bollywood Delicious," "Paheliyan" (the company's Bollywood take on "Alice in Wonderland"); the international tour of "FEZ: Queen of Cities;" and the 2008 Ford AmphiTheatre World Premiere of "Khel! A Bollywood Bedtime Story" (on which a feature documentary film has been made) which will be released by McSand Films in 2011. Most recently blue13 company members appeared on MTV'S "Parental Control," and on KCAL-TV on, "The Doctors."

Since 1999, blue13 has performed both onstage and on screen, in a variety of genres, including McDaniel's signature Bollywood-Tech, Bhangra-
Funk, and Neo-Kathak styles, as well as in contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, fire dance, aerial arts and more. blue13's performance style introduces audiences to a new genre of work by experimenting with international dance techniques to create contemporary dance theatre fueled by storytelling, a multi-ethnic cast and multi-genre influences. blue13's work is simultaneously irreverent and traditional. The ensemble takes pride in destroying stereotypical compartmentalization of dance, particularly expectations of what Bollywood "should be." To learn more about blue13 dance company, please visit www.blue13dance.com.

Achinta S. McDaniel (Artistic Director, Choreographer and Dancer) is a pioneer of mixed genre contemporary dance in the United States, working as a leading choreographer both on stage and on camera throughout the nation for over 10 years. A prolific choreographer, performer, and instructor, McDaniel's work appears in feature films, television, commercials including the recent Snapple and Bounty Paper Towels spots, music videos, and live theatrical dance productions from Los Angeles to Mumbai. In 1999, McDaniel founded blue13 dance company, and has since enjoyed great success in creating live, critically-acclaimed dance productions internationally in her signature styles, Bhangra-Funk, Neo-Kathak and Bollywood-Tech.

blue13 dance company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated of the advancement of experimental and non-traditional contemporary dance while preserving and cultivating the cultural and classical forms of India. Passionately translating dance into enduring societal contributions, blue13 dispels cultural stereotypes and connects diverse communities through cross-genre and multicultural classes, workshops and live performances that inspire global unity and togetherness. Dance education is central to blue13's long-term community goals. Under the umbrella of blue13, Artistic Director Achinta S. McDaniel created The Blue School, teaching Los Angeles' longest running Bollywood and Bhangra style dance classes at studios: Debbie Reynolds (North Hollywood), Swerve (in Los Angeles), International Dance Academy (in Hollywood), MnR Dance Factory (in Brentwood), UCLA (in Westwood), The Pretenders Studio (Santa Monica), Heart & Pole (Hermosa Beach), and Dance Conservatory of Pasadena.

The Edye, located behind The Broad Stage on the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center campus, is a performance and rehearsAl Hall dedicated to all Arts eclectic and powerful. It's a small, intimate space which provides theatergoers with the opportunity to experience being up-close and personal with performance art. For a complete season schedule, directions to the venue and parking information, please visit the website, www.thebroadstage.com.

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