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alban elved dance co
WELCOME !

ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANYpresents
the 2nd Annual SARUS FESTIVAL for Performing Arts, August 4-17th, 2008
serving New Hanover and Pender Counties, North Carolina, USA

Please check back often for regular updates!
!!!UPDATES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE!!!

1) FUNDRAISER/GALA postponed until OCTOBER 24th, 2008. More Details tba.
The printable performance schedule has been updated to reflect these changes.
DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE & CLASS SCHEDULE HERE - updated on 08/02/2008
"Performance & Class Schedule '08

PRESS RELEASE 2008
l 2008 SARUS DANCE FESTIVAL PRESS RELEASE
l CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
l CALL FOR ARTISTS and APPLICATION
l CONTACT US

Donate to the SARUS FESTIVAl for Performing Arts & ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANY

The 2nd ANNUAL SARUS DANCE FESTIVAL "STAGES" DANCE ON BEACH, IN DOWNTOWN, MUSEUM LOCATIONS, AND MORE IN NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COUNTIES featuring spectacular and unusual new site-specific works from professional local, national and international choreographers.


SARUS 2008 ARTISTS
This years' performing companies offer a wide variety of artistic voices combining fierce physiality with meditative and sculptural movement with architectural or natural settings. Some will interact with the audience, some will encourage audiences to walk amongst the performers or be a part of the events.
In alphabetical order:
Samir Akika, Algeria/Germany " info
ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANY, Germany/USA " info
Alias Compagnie/Pascal Magnin, Switzerland (tentative) " info
Amaranth Dance Company, VA " info
Asimina Chremos, Chicago, IL " info
Marcus Behrens, Germany " info
Janelle Tatum Eggleston, VA " info
Heidi Echols Godfrey, Winston-Salem, NC " info
Rui Horta, Portugal/Germany " info
human kinetics movement arts/Yana Schnitzler, NYC " info
Jennifer Raine Kostel, Wilmington, NC " info
Eric Martin, NYC " info
William McNeill " info
Jennifer Medina, VA " info
Bridget Morris, Charlotte, NC " info
Matthew Sydney Morris, NC " info
Shea-Ra Nichi, NC " info
Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble " info
The Dance Cooperative (Wilmington, NC) " info
Turning the Wheel, Wilmington, NC " info
Dawn Webster " info
The International Crane Foundation " info
Aaron Hock " info


Forward Motion Dance " info

SARUS FESTIVAL site-specific performances take place in non-traditional and unusual locations, turning architecture and nature into playgrounds for artistic expression and community meeting. Site-specific performances enrich, confront and surprise the public by mixing choreographed scenes with the spontaneity and idiosyncrasies of their environment.

VENUES SARUS 2008:
1) The beach at Wrightsville Beach Access #4
2) Johnnie Mercer's Pier
3) The Dance Cooperative
4) Historic downtown Wilmington River Front Park
5) The Cameron Art Museum
6) Independence Mall parking lot, carousel and other areas
7) The RED BARN STUDIO
8) Carolina Beach near Harper Ave, beach, gazebo stage and boardwalk
9) Burgaw Train Depot
10) Water Street restaurant
11) bottega art & wine
12) whqr montage gallery
13) downtown Wilmington farmers market
and other locations...
check back for updates!


CLASSES: Many classes are offered for everyone. Check our class schedule for more information



The International Crane Foundation is offering a presentation on the Sarus Crane Grus antigone (the six foot tall standing bird inspired the naming of the festival) at Cameron Art Museum on August 10th, followed by a large multi choreographer performance showcase at the museum that afternoon. The Cameron Art Museum is also collaborating with the festival on their Kids @ CAM series on August 16th. Monday through Thursdays during both weeks the festival offers classes on the beach and at the Dance Cooperative for dancers and non-dancers, young and old alike. Beach Yoga and Tai-Chi. And, of course,... ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANY will fly the festivals maskot, a 23 foot wingspan sarus crane puppet.

Audiences will be thrilled with what we have planned for them this year, and we are still coming up with new ideas and concepts!
As of 05/21/2008 the SARUS DANCE FESTIVAL events amount to 23+ performances by 23 artists and companies in 13 locations, still growing! Artists come from Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Wilmington, NC, from New York City and Germany, Chicago, Virginia and more. Subject to change.




More ...
DANCE FILM SHOWINGS " DANCE FILM INFO
Power point presentation/lecture about the SARUS bird Grus antigone by Gopi Sundar/International Crane Foundation"lecture INFO


What prompted the forming of SARUS DANCE FESTIVAL :
After the recent move of alban elved dance company's artistic director Karola Luttringhaus to downtown Wilmington, the non-profit-organization decided to celebrate its' expansion by adding a new kind of event to the arts scene of the area.

SARUS
The Sarus Crane (grus antigone) is the largest flying bird, standing up to six feet tall and weighing 18 pounds or more and with a wingspan of 10 feet.
Crane birds dance. The "dance" is often during general excitement. The head is lowered to the ground while the wings are lifted and spread. The sudden return of the head upward, often throwing a stick or piece of vegetation into the air, and downstroking of the wings causes the bird to jump into the air. The dance of the Sarus, and other cranes, serves to reinforce pairbonding between partners and work up hormonal activity in preparation for the breeding season.

The people of northern India consider cranes sacred. The name "Sarus" has a Sanskrit origin and means "of water", "lake or wetland". In fact, in Tamil (a south Indian language) the term "Sarasa-naadanam" refers to graceful dancing. In Vietnam, they symbolize fidelity, long life and happiness. The crane is thought to be an emissary that bears worthy souls to heaven.

Crane birds are an endangered species and are among the oldest living bird groups. In fact, a Sandhill Crane fossil 9 million years old is the oldest known modern bird fossil.

For more information and to help cranes around the world go to the web site of The International Crane Foundation at www.savingcranes.org
Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)
"Territorial Duet" Photo taken in India by Gopi Sundar, International Crane Foundation
The photo shows two territorial pairs defending their individual territories on an invisible border.
The pair on the left is doing the Unison Call and the pair on the right is indulging in
"displacement preening" - preening as if nothing is happening to show their confidence.

Also: Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgJq4T5xMbE





SARUS DANCE FESTIVAL
alban elved dance company/KAROLA LUTTRINGHAUS
Berlin - New York City - North Carolina
info@sarusfestival.com
copyright: alban elved dance company/Karola Luttringhaus - all rights reserved [mad duck productions]
Photo: Bill Ray III, Dancer: Andrea Lieske/alban elved dance company