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
