Ann Woo, Director of the International Performing Arts Center, 6148 Bollinger Road, San Jose, invites the public to a unique arts event, October 17, 9:30 a.m. Madam Pei Yu Wang of Beijing will lead a seminar/demonstration of Beijing Opera. She will bring a troupe of seven to demonstrate the elaborate make up, singing, and acting of this 400 year old art form. Ms Woo explains that the Beijing Opera was actually created from diverse regional theatrical traditions and includes choruses, recitatives, martial arts, acrobatics and magic. It made “a very entertaining performance to the common folks as well as to the royal families.” In earlier centuries, the performers toured distant cities. As they could not afford to carry sets, props and costumes, they had to develop ways to convey their stories through expressive movements, singing and facial expressions. Developed long before electricity, the art required that the performers learned how to be heard without any amplification except their own voices. The program will be bilingual, English/Chinese and is free of charge. There is parking available near the International Arts Center’s entrance.
IDF@SV IS “AWESOME!” – DANCERS’ COMMENTS
INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL@SILICON VALLEY, 2015 began just two months ago. It was a whirlwind of dance, energy, creativity. Comments keep coming in from participants about how much they loved their experiences. The word most often, and most appropriately, used is AWESOME, awesome teachers, awesome dancers, awesome new friends. Here are just two sent to Dr. Leslie Friedman, founder and director of IDF@SV.
“Boy, did I have fun taking those classes! I am glad you offered Pilates because I have always wanted to try it, and I just loved it—and Amity is awesome! What a wonderful, fun experience and I just adore all the people I’ve met at the festival this year and last…Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making all this possible. Love & admire you to pieces!” C
“Leslie, Thank you so much for the wonderful forum to present dance to the Silicon Valley! Loved the teachers, classes – (yours was awesome!) and beautiful environment you created! Great to see Ann Woo again too! Much appreciated, Leianne
COME DANCE WITH US! it really is that wonderful.
Pictures: top to bottom: Artist/teachers Leslie Friedman, Contemporary Dance & Choreo-cubator©; Amity Johnson, Pilates; Ann Woo, Classical Chinese Dance.
IDF@SV DANCER SHILPA TORVI PREMIERES NEW WORK
The International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley loves to follow the work of its artists. Shilpa Torvi participated in the Choreo-cubator© this summer; two of her group works were presented in the Festival Concert and she also presented work in the Choreo-cubator© showcase. That makes the upcoming premiere of her major new work all the more exciting. Shilpa discovered a wonderful vehicle for her desire to expand the movement horizons of Bharatanatyam. The heroine of the ballet La Bayadere is an Indian temple dancer. What a perfect opportunity for Shilpa’s creative explorations: using the elegance and narrative power of Bharatnatyam within the enchanting tale of a dancer’s passions. Original music for the Ballet in Bharatanatyam is by Australian Satyajeet Samant. Choreographic Support was contributed by Pratima Shah. The new La Bayadere should become a classic. Be there for an extraordinary experience. Nov. 14 & 15, Jackson Theater, Ohlone College, Fremont, CA. For tickets & information: www.dikshaadanceacademy.com
FABULOUS FESTIVAL 2015 HUGE SUCCESS
Where did the time go?! The International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley 2015 was an amazing joy ride of dance energy. The dancers put their hearts into learning new choreography and creating new dances. Three performances: the Festival Preview Salsa, the Choreo-cubator© Showcase, and the crowning glory of the Festival Concert. Seven Master Classes on the Full Day of Dance© and intensive workshops through the week in Choreography, Classical Chinese, Contemporary, Dunham, and Salsa. Every day was packed with discoveries, beauty, experiences to treasure.
Pix: Audreyanne Covarrubias, Artist/Master Tapper teaching; Lucy Gubbins, Brooke Rankins, Myu Campbell, Shilpa Torvi, Aarohi Torvi; participants & audience Choreo Showcase; Polish Folk Circle with Master Teacher Christina Smolen, Julie Van Gelder, Nandini Surendranathan, Etta Walton; Julie Van Gelder, Nandini Surendranathan, Etta Walton practice the tap flap step; Artist/Teacher Etta Walton prepares for her Line Dance class.
IDF@SV FESTIVAL CONCERT TODAY!
The International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley presents the FESTIVAL CONCERT, today, Aug. 16, 3 p.m. It is at the Mountain View Masonic Center, 890 Church St., corner of Church & Franklin, in Mountain View, CA, 94041. Don’t miss the beauty and fun of this concert! Dance styles include: Bharatanatyam, choreographed by Shilpa Torvi; Classical Chinese ribbon dance, choreographed by Ann Woo; Contemporary dance, choreographed by Leslie Friedman; Salsa, choreographed by Leanne Rinelli; Tap choreographed by Audreyanne Covarrubias. Tickets: $15 general/$10 for over 65 or under 10 years of age. $25 sponsor ticket receives preferred seating and includes a $10, tax deductible donation to The Lively Foundation, the not for profit presenter of IDF@SV. Don’t miss this great event!
GAVINA COFFEE TASTING & CUBAN SALSA DEMO: FREE!
Don’t miss this! It’s one of the most fun events of the summer. The Festival Preview Day for the International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley, August 9, Mountain View Masonic Center, 890 Church Street, Mountain View. The program:
4 p.m. FREE GAVINA COFFEE TASTING! Aromatic & delicious. Do not miss this chance to learn about great coffee and find out why Gavina has been favored by coffee connoisseurs for 4 generations. Gavina Vice President, Lois Coburn, will be there to offer great tasting samples.
3:15 p.m. FREE SALSA PERFORMANCE led by the fabulous Leanne Rinelli. An amazing dancer, Leanne learned Cuban Salsa in Havana last year. Don’t miss this! It will be beautiful and exciting.
1:30 – 2:45 Cuban Salsa class taught by Leanne Rinelli, no partner or previous experience needed 12 – 1:15 Dunham Technique/Afro-Haitian class taught by Leslie Arbogast for beginners- pros Cost: 1 class for $12.50; both for $20.00 CLASS NOT REQUIRED TO ENJOY THE COFFEE TASTING OR TO WATCH THE SALSA PERFORMANCE!!! See you tomorrow!!!
IDF@SV Class Schedule: It’s here!!
Here’s the link to get you to the post with the complete class & event schedule for the International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley. http://www.livelyfoundation.org/wordpress/?p=833 Remember to log in to http://www.livelyfoundation.org/wordpress/?=cat2 when you are looking for information about IDF@SV. You can find all the articles by looking at the lists of posts, but if you leave off the /?=cat2 you will see whatever the most recent posts are first. Don’t miss this chance to dance. It is ideal for everyone from pros to beginners. DANCE! CREATE! PERFORM! Put your heart back in your art this summer at IDF@SV!
pictures: Leanne Rinelli dances Salsa; Etta Walton leads Line Dances; Audreyanne Covarrubias & Megan Ivey Tap; Leslie Friedman dances in “Come Down, Angels.” 
IDF@SV: NEW PRICES FOR FESTIVAL PROGRAMS!
Great news for everyone who wants to participate in the International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley: Price reductions are happening NOW. Do not hesitate; these deals are too good to pass up. New offerings are (1) for the Festival Preview Day, take one class for $12.50; take TWO for $20. (2) for those wanting to take only two of the M2F© workshops, new price is $180. These are great deals for amazing experiences. The Festival Preview classes can be enjoyed by total beginners who have never tried to dance before AND by experienced, even professional dancers. DO NOT MISS THE FUN! and remember that on August 9, Festival Preview Day, you can watch Leanne Rinelli’s fabulous Salsa Demo Performance for FREE, and you can participate in the Gavina Gourmet Coffee Tasting for FREE whether you take a class or not. Special note to those new to IDF@SV or new to dance: during the week, 8/10-8/14, there are definitely dance experiences which welcome YOU. The Salsa class welcomes non-dancers as well as those who Salsa even in their sleep. Do you have a lot of dance training but not in the kinds of dance being offered? NO PROBLEM. You are welcome in all the classes. Did you dance years ago but have not danced recently. NO PROBLEM. Come back to dance. Try something new and have a great time. Contact livelyfoundation@sbcglobal.net for more news. 
IDF@SV Presents FESTIVAL PREVIEW DAY, August 9
Get a taste of the many flavors of the International Dance Festival@Silicon Valley. Come to the Festival Preview at the Mountain View Masonic Center, 890 Church St, Mtn. View, CA. Events run from noon to whenever the wonderful Gavina Gourmet Coffee company runs out of aromatic, smooth, delicious coffee for their FREE coffee tasting. Coffee Tasting begins promptly at 4 p.m. The Lively Foundation is proud to have Gavina as a Lead Sponsor of IDF@SV 2015.
Sample a dance class! Go ahead, just give it a try. You will have so much fun doing it. The Festival Preview offers a drop in class in Dunham Technique (Afro-Haitian) dance, noon-1:15 p.m., taught by Leslie Arbogast, a dancer with national recognition as a leader in Dunham Dance. Mixed levels, beginners-pros welcome. It’s great to find out how many parts of your body can move!
Or, try the Cuban Salsa, 1:30-2:45 p.m., taught by Leanne Rinelli. It’s rhythmic, fun, sensual. No partner is necessary. Any level, beginner and up. Ms Rinelli studied Cuban dance and music in Havana. You will have a blast trying this class.
OR, do not take a class at all! You are still welcome to attend the FREE Salsa Demo Performance AND the FREE GAVINA COFFEE TASTING. What a great day! Leanne Rinelli leads the Salsa performance. This is going to inspire you to spend the next 5 days coming to dance class. You will not want to sit still when you feel that rhythm in you. When was the last time you felt so great as you really are? Here’s the schedule for the Festival Preview. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Dunham class is Noon-1:15 p.m.; Salsa class is 1:30-2:45 p.m.; Salsa Demo begins at 3:15; Gavina Gourmet Coffee Tasting begins at 4 p.m. Come for the whole day or pick your events; a fabulous time is waiting for you! For information: livelyfoundation@sbcglobal.net or call 650/969-4110. Costs for classes: Mention this Livelyblog post get half price; register for the Festival; get half price. Full price: $25/$36.
IDF@SV 2015: CLASS SCHEDULE
Here it is: the class schedule for your most wonderful dancing week. Please note: (1) there are differences day to day, especially MWF schedules compared to Tues & Thursday, and (2) there are two venues, our Headquarters at the Mountain View Masonic Center, and the nearby Pacific Ballet Academy, 1095 Wright Ave., Mountain View.
MONDAY and WEDNESDAY, August 10 & 12
12:00 – 1:30 Classical Chinese adults & teens Mtn. View Masonic Center 1:30 – 3:00 Contemporary Dance Mtn. View Masonic Center 3:15 – 4:45 Salsa Mtn. View Masonic Center 6:00 – 7:30 Choreo-cubator© Pacific Ballet Academy 7:30 – 9:00 Dunham Technique (Afro-Haitian) Pacific Ballet Academy
TUESDAY, August 11
9:00 am -10:30 Contemporary Dance meets at Mtn. View Masonic Center 10:30 -12:00 Classical Chinese for Adults meets at the Mtn. View Masonic Center 12:00 – 1:30 Classical Chinese for ages 12-14 meets at the Mtn. View Masonic Center 1:30 – 3:00 Dunham Technique meets at the Mtn. View Masonic Center 6:00 – 7:30 Choreo-cubator© meets at Mtn. View Masonic Center 7:30 – 9:00 Salsa meets at Mtn. View Masonic Center
THURSDAY, August 13
9:00 am -10:30 Contemporary Dance meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 10:30 -12:00 Classical Chinese for Adults meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 12:00 – 1:30 Classical Chinese age 12-14 meets at the Mtn. View Masonic Center 1:30 – 3:00 Salsa meets at the Mtn. View Masonic Center 6:00pm – 7:30 Choreo-cubator© meets at Pacific Ballet Academy 7:30 – 9:00 Dunham Technique meets at Pacific Ballet Academy
FRIDAY, August 14
10:30am -12:00 Classical Chinese for Adults meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 12:00 – 1:30 Classical Chinese age 12-14 meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 1:30 – 3:00 Contemporary Dance meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 3:15 – 4:45 Dunham Technique meets at Pacific Ballet Academy 6:00 – 7:15 Choreo-Cubator© meets at Mountain View Masonic Center 7:30 – 9:00 Salsa meets at Mountain View Masonic Center
QUESTIONS? CONTACT THE LIVELY FOUNDATION: livelyfoundation@sbcglobal.net