Spotlight on India at OzAsia Festival in Adelaide (September 14-30)

Kailash Kher will perform in Adelaide in September

The OzAsia Festival is one of the popular festivals at the Adelaide Festival Centre since it began six years ago and this year we are putting the spotlight on India with a number of Indian performances highlighting the richness of this vibrant country as well as performances and events focusing on Japan, Korea, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and of course Australia.   The festival will run from 14 -30 September and will play host to 20 performances, 73 events featuring 300 artists and presenters. Please see media release attached.

With spotlight on India in 2012 OzAsia will present the following shows / events as part of its India foucs:

Kailash Kher ”“ Indian music megastar Kailash Kher will be part of OzAsia’s Australian Premiere where he will with his eight piece band Kailasa, perform a unique blend of spiritual Sufi chants, Rajasthani Gypsy rhythms and Punjabi dance fused with electric guitar; modern beats and an array of traditional instruments.

Other highlights include:

Fearless Nadia ”“ In 1930 she was one of the biggest stars in Bombay, a sword fighting, whip-cracking, punch-flinging Australian born stunt woman extraordinaire.   A female version of Zorro, Fearless Nadia was the first stunt queen of Indian films; a blonde blue-eyed girl from Perth and a pioneer in Indian Cinema. This show will screen a restored version of one of Nadia’s most celebrated films, the birth of Bollywood, accompanied by a new and completely original score by musical chameleon Ben Walsh performed live by the orchestra of the Underground with special guest musicians and dancers from India adding to the adventure.   Including passages for table improvised and composed by tabla maestro Aneesh Pradhan.   Info. Attached

Sandy Evans’ Indian Project featuring Sarangan Sriranganathan ”“ jazz meets classical Indian rhythms and an Adelaide Exclusive.   Australia’s leading Indian singer and sitar player Sarangan Sriranganathan creates a musical dialogue with Sydney jazz duo, Sandy Evans on sax and Brett Hirst on bass.

An Installation by Ramta Drig ”˜Reflect’ ”“ This is a collective of artists who explore the potential of art to provide a spiritual framework to challenge inequalities and injustices.   Founding artists Amit Kalla (Jodhpur) a nationally awarded poet/painter and Himanshu Vyas (Jaipur) a columnist for the Hindustan Times, celebrated poet and photographer along with local Adelaide artist Daniel Connell.   Please see attached info. on this show.

Professor Amareswar Galla ”“ Presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre and The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA, Professor Amareswar Galla will be giving the Keynote Lecture at the festival.   Titled More Than Meets The Eye (Safeguarding Intangible Heritage ”“ Asian Australian Perspectives) and will be discussing how within multicultural Australia we as Australians acknowledge and engage with the intangible heritage of so many rich cultures? How do we also recognise the first Australians, our indigenous peoples and reflect in our sense of place   the complexity of both the original culture and subsequent cultures? Amar will reflect on this fascinating topic through his voice as an IndoAustralian.   Educated in New Delhi, a longstanding citizen of Australia and a global contributor to multicultural heritage and arts, Amar’s career currently encompasses a leading role in the 40th Anniversary of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, directing the International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, Copenhagen and as a Professor of World Heritage and Sustainable Development at the University of Split, Croatia.   Formerly a Professor at the University of Queensland and at ANU, he also led a National Affirmative Action program for the participation of ATSI peoples in Australia museums, galleries parks and world Heritage Areas.   For a full bio on Professor Galla please see the PDF attached.

Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company ”“ Fresh from an Edinburgh International Festival 2012 season, Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company take you on a mesmerising dance journey through traditional and contemporary forms and will be presenting a poetic double bill direct from India.   Info. attached.

The Needle On The Gauge ”“ in conjunction with CACSA (Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia) the Adelaide Festival Centre is presenting this exhibition which is curated by Ranjit Hoskote and introducing seven Indian artists who work with avatars and extension of the photographic image: Ravi Agarwal, Ram Rahman, Samar Jodha, Gauri gill, Ryan Lobo, Veer Munshi, Gigi Scaria.   Through documentary projects, performance-based work, posters and composite media practices the artists trace India’s collective crises and afflictions.   Information on this exhibition attached.

India On Screen ”“ Each year in the OzAsia Festival we present OzAsia On Screen, which is a program of films that are screened at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide.   This year we are thrilled to also present India On Screen.   Films that will be screened in this program this year include Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries), Taj, Watch Indian Circus, Quarter No. 4/11, Please Don’t Beat Me, Sir!, Nobel Thief, Fearless Nadia and Diamond Queen. Please see PDF attached for more information.

Bollywood Dance Workshops ”“ We will be hosting Bollywood Dance workshops in one of our venues here at the Adelaide Festival Centre during the festival.   These will be run by Fusion Beats Bollywood Dance School.

Beyond the Self ”“ This is a National Portrait Gallery Touring Exhibition and explores the representation of the self in current South and Southeast Asian visual art practice.   This exhibition is being presented in conjunction with Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia.  There will also be a special Indian cultural event on Saturday 15 September.   Please see PDF attached for more details.

Cooking Demonstrations ”“ there will be three cooking demonstrations this year that are ticketed events:

Mrs Singh ”“ for 32 years the award winning Jasmin Restaurant has been a favourite with curry fanatics addicted to Mrs Singh’s take on Indian cuisine.   Mrs Singh’s book Jasmin Kahani was published to commemorate 30 years of Jasmin Restaurant.   During her cooking demonstration Mrs Singh will prepare her three favourite recipes: Fish Sambal, Pepper & Cummin Chicken Curry and Channa Masala.

Christine Manfield ”“ is one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs who is deeply passionate about India: its people, culture and naturally, cuisine.   Christine will share her authentic recipes gathered across many visits to India and reflect the stories of people from all walks of life.   Her latest book is called Tasting India which is more than a cookbook, it’s a labour of love and an inspiring journey through India’s cities, temples, dining rooms, street food and restaurants of India that she has collected over more than a decade of travel to the country.

Peter Kuruvita ”“ During this demonstration Peter will share his Sri Lankan heritage through recipes enlivened by stories from his travels and family background.   Peter is an acclaimed chef and owner of Flying Fish, Sydney and Fiji.   He is also an author, presenter of My Sri Lanka and Island Feast (SBS TV), hotel and restaurant consultant and highly regarded and experienced member of the Australian food scene.

To view the full program view the brochure online at www.ozasiafestival.com.au

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