ZINGARIS PRESENTS - RYTHMIC ILLUSIONS
June 26th, 2004
Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center
San Francisco

A BENEFIT TO SUPPORT AIF AND NARIKA

In their first production of the summer, Zingaris presents Rhythmic Illusions, an ensemble of high-energy, multicultural dance pieces which blends Asian Indian Folk, Bollywood and Classical with Hip-Hop, Jazz, Modern, African, and other international flavors.

Rhythmic Illusions also features, Kaif, a Bay Area Sufi-rock band that plays percurssion heavy fusion music. Kaif will present complex duets between the tabla and drums, which juxtapose intricate rhythmic patterns (talas) of Indian classical music with beats of the drum, instrumentals on the electric guitar and Sufi songs from the South Asian subcontinent.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to two charities, America India Foundation (AIF) and Narika. AIF [www.aifoundation.org] supports socio-economic developmental projects in India and Narika [www.narika.org] works to address the problem of domestic violence in
the South Asian community in San Francisco Bay Area.

The dance line-up for the three-hour concert offers an eclectic mix of performances. While old favorites like "Eena Meena Deeka" brings alive Kishore Kumar's heydays in the 1950s, "Dola re Dola" brings onstage a fast paced dance displaying the tradition Bollywood film-dance moves.

"Kahe Ched Mohe", a graceful Kathak piece, adds intense but subtle footwork, chakkars (pirouettes) and expressions while "Hollywood Bollywood Contemporary" intertwines discrete elements of different styles including Hip Hop, Flamenco, West African Dance, Jazz, Tango, and Modern Indian.

The ever-popular Bhangra dance is represented through Brit Bhangra fusion, a performance that seeks to explore the traditional aspects as well as modern influences of Bhangra through the medium of dance set to the song of Sukshinder Shinda.

The "Panihari" water carrier's dance set to the music composition of Zakhir Hussain represents folk dances in the mix. Alongside the eternal "Dandiya Raas", a high energy dances wherein people movie in an imaginary circle to the beat of Dandiya sticks. The "Tippani" finishes the collection with its high-energy, rhythmic and formation intensive, where the dancers use tippanis (sticks) in unison as they criss-cross the stage.

East meets west theme is further enhanced by the "Organik" where a combination of jazz, hip-hop, and modern styles are mixed with Bollywood. "Awaaz" further pursues that theme by adding the classical elements of Kathak and Bharatnatyam.

About Zingaris:

Zingaris is a critically acclaimed South Asian, non-profit dance Production Company founded in 2001. We stage high quality productions that showcase diverse dance forms from the South Asian subcontinent and, in the process, raise funds for other non-profit organizations that support child literacy and women�s empowerment initiatives in
developing nations. Please visit www.zingaris.org for more information.

About Kaif:

Kaif is a fusion rock band from the Bay Area. Kaif which means "a state of spiritual intoxication" in Urdu, plays sufi rock music, fusing ethnic music from South Asia with Western styles, exciting originals and covers artists like the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,
Junoon, Euphoria. Please visit www.kaif.org for more information.

Zingaris Contacts: