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Blue13’s ‘Shaadi’ is outdoor, immersive, contemporary
Bollywood dance celebration at Heritage Square Museum
LOS ANGELES (UPDATED Sept. 11, 2021) — You are invited to the Indian wedding of the season! Blue13 Dance Company requests your attendance at an outdoor, site-specific, audience immersive contemporary and Bollywood dance spectacular. Two performances of Shaadi (Hindi for “wedding”) take place on Friday, Sept. 17 and Saturday, Sept. 18 at L.A.’s iconic Heritage Square Museum. Grab a mask and get ready to dance.
The audience is part of the wedding party as the dancers perform throughout the beautiful private grounds and Victorian mansions of Heritage Square’s incomparable living history and open-air architecture museum. Drinks, music and a DJ are all part of the fun in a choose your own adventure-style experience that allows the “guests” to decide which characters in the story to follow (in socially-distanced pods) — the bride, the groom, or perhaps the rival ex — from the “cocktail party” in the gardens, to the ceremony on the porches, to the personal drama taking place inside the historic mansions.
“We wanted to create a celebratory, highly theatrical event in a COVID-safe and welcoming environment that’s not just a park or a parking lot,” says Blue13 artistic director and choreographer Achinta S. McDaniel. “Rather than acting as a backdrop, Heritage Square has inspired us. The work has become responsive to the site.”
Blue13’s highly energetic and theatrical style, performed by dancers of many backgrounds, draws from ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, Bhangra, Kathak and Bollywood to tell unforgettable stories. A first-generation South Asian American, McDaniel pulls precision, humor and deep emotion from her ensemble to create rebellious and unconventional work that turns the cultural stereotype of Indian dance on its head.
Dancers Anthony Arellano, Jacquelyn Buckmaster-Wright, Alisa Carreras, Valerie Chen, Atticus Dobbie, Robert Gomez, Kirby Harrell, Joya Kazi, Lindsay Lykins, Jacob Magana, Antonio Martinez, Monica Moskatow, William Okajima, Chase Peterson, Hayden Rivas, Svetlana Tulasi, Myra Joy Veluz and Adrianna Vieux create the story.
Musicians include Punjabi drum (“dhol”) group Dhol Nation, along with violinist and sarangi player Alma Cielo and percussionist Enrique Lara. DJ Sandeep Kumar fires up the turntables, playing Bollywood, Bhangra and Western hits.
Blue13 associate artistic director Jon Paul assistant choreographs.
Performances of Shaadi start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 and Saturday, Sept. 18 (gates open at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $75 (“head table” – includes wine and hors d’oeuvres); $35 (“wedding party” – includes wine); and $10 (“ring bearers” – limited quantity for students and 90031 residents only). The Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer St. in the Montecito Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. There is a free parking lot on Homer Street; ADA parking is available, but must be reserved in advance. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.blue13dance.com.
Proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours will be required of all patrons, and admittance is limited to ages 12+. All current CDC and local guidelines regarding seating and masks will be followed at each performance.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘Shaadi’
WHAT:
Blue13 Dance Company presents Shaadi (“wedding”), an outdoor, site-specific, audience immersive contemporary and Bollywood dance spectacular. The wedding party invites the audience to share in their happiness and drama as they dance the night away at one of Southern California’s most beautiful wedding venues: Heritage Square Museum in the Montecito Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Blue13’s highly energetic and theatrical style draws from ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, Bhangra, Kathak and Bollywood to tell unforgettable stories.
WHO:
• Choreographed by Blue13 artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel
• Assistant choreographer: Jon Paul
• Dancers: Anthony Arellano, Jacquelyn Buckmaster-Wright, Alisa Carreras, Valerie Chen, Atticus Dobbie, Robert Gomez, Kirby Harrell, Joya Kazi, Lindsay Lykins, Jacob Magana, Antonio Martinez, Monica Moskatow, William Okajima, Chase Peterson, Hayden Rivas, Svetlana Tulasi, Myra Joy Veluz, Adrianna Vieux
• Musicians: Punjabi drum (“dhol”) group Dhol Nation, violinist and sarangi player Alma Cielo, percussionist Enrique Lara
• DJ Sandeep Kumar fires up the turntables, playing Bollywood, Bhangra and Western hits.
• Presented by Blue13 Dance Company
WHEN:
• Friday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 7 p.m.)
• Saturday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 7 p.m.)
WHERE:
Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer St.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
HOW:
www.blue13dance.com
TICKET PRICES:
• $75 “Head Table” (includes wine and hors d’oeuvres)
• $35 “Wedding Party” (includes wine)
• $10 “Ring Bearers” (limited quantity for students and 90031 residents only)
PARKING:
• Free lot on Homer street; ADA lot available, please contact in advance
OTHER:
• Proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours will be required of all patrons.
• Admittance is limited to ages 12+.
• Social distancing and masks required during the performance.
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