blue13 dance company at the Ford July 22 and 23

blue13 dance company, the Southland’s leading Bollywood dance troupe, under the artistic direction of choreographer Achinta S. McDaniel, returns this summer to the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre to present the World Premiere of their new show, INTO THE BOLLYWOODS, with Musical Director, Tej Gill.

The cast for INTO THE BOLLYWOODS will include dancers playing multiple roles: Achinta S. McDaniel as Cinderella, a Wicked Witch and as a Gypsy; Arun Mathai in the leading role of Jai; Kory Keith as Jai’s sister and as The Wicked Stepmother; Kelly Markos as Rapunzel; Rieka Toya as Snow White; D. Valentine as Raja Charming; Derrick Garcia as The Big Bad Wolf, Rapunzel’s Fiancé and as a Dwarf; Amanda Simolari as Jai’s sister and Gretel; Taryn Francis as Little Red Riding Hood; Fernando Casas as Druhi, The Wicked Stepsister; Jaime Salgado as Andica, The Wicked Stepsister; Gina Daley as a Gypsy and a Dwarf; Paulina Vallin as a Wicked Witch and as a Gypsy; Jon Paul as the Duke and as a Dwarf; and Chris Rutledge as the head Dwarf.

Additional dancers in the Ensemble will include: Kasi Aysola, Harmony Costa, Emily Goulding, Faith Jeffries, Yumi Kaguya, Alexis McCarthy, Jake Sarkissian, Mindy Von Elling, and more. Production personnel include: Achinta S. McDaniel, Artistic Director; Tej Gill, Music Director and Composer; Peter Freeman, Production Manager and Malinder Tooray, Drummer. The production is sponsored by India West, India Currents, LA 18 KSCI-TV, Jennifer Cheng and Masood Salehi, Bhupinder and Nilli Sawhny, Earl S. McDaniel, Jr. Foundation and Dance Conservatory of Pasadena (the artistic home of blue13 dance company).

WHAT: Jai Ho! Jai Ho! It’s off to work we go! Achinta S. McDaniel’s blue13 dance company returns to the Ford Amphitheatre this summer to dream up INTO THE BOLLYWOODS, a spectacular Indian dance and music fairytale filled with magical beans, princes charming, wicked witches and a Bollywood-dancing world of intertwined tales inspired by classics like Jai (Jack) and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack & Jill, Hansel & Gretel and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The show will feature original music by composer Tej Gill, as well as Bollywood crowd-pleasing songs.

Follow the hero, Jai (Jack) up the beanstalk on a journey to conquer his villains, win the girl of his dreams and live happily ever after! Theatergoers are encouraged to arrive early at the Ford Amphitheatre prior the performances to enjoy pre-show Indian food and entertainment. The courtyard of the Ford Amphitheatre will be transformed into an enchanted and mystical Bollywood Forest with all the requisite Indian trimmings, including exotic creatures of the night, performers, music, food, drinks, games, vendors displaying and selling their wares. Guests will have a chance to enter the drawing for a free dance lesson for themselves and family and friends at $5 per entry prior to the show. The winner will be announced at intermission. The courtyard will open at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off of the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, 2011 at 8:30 p.m.

HOW: As an Early Buyer Incentive, tickets purchased prior to July 15, 2011 are only $25 each. Full price tickets after July 15th are $30 each. VIP Premium Seating is $45 each and includes a blue13 Goody Bag and free entry into a drawing for a private Bollywood Dance lesson for the winner and their friends. Tickets for Full-Time Students with identification are $15 each. Tickets for Children 12 and under are $12 each. Groups of 8 – 15 people receive a 10% discount. Groups of 16 or more people receive a 20% discount. If three or more Ford Amphitheatre evening events are purchased simultaneously, patrons receive a 20% discount.

Tickets for this event are General Admission. Tickets may be purchased from the Ford Amphitheatre Box Office by calling 323-461-3673 (323-GO-1-FORD for non-visual media), or online at www.FordTheatres.org. Get a sneak preview of what to expect by visiting http://youtu.be/ApsECh8fa8Q to Meet the Artmakers, dancers Arun Mathai and Kory Keith, two of the stars of INTO THE BOLLYWOODS.

To enter the drawing for a free dance lesson ($5 per entry - open to the public), please visit blue13 dance company’s website at www.blue13dance.com for further information.