Looper's Delight Archive Top (Search)
Date Index
Thread Index
Author Index
Looper's Delight Home
Mailing List Info

[Date Prev][Date Next]   [Thread Prev][Thread Next]   [Date Index][Thread Index][Author Index]

Video Performance lowell southeast asian water festival 8.20.04



Hi folks,

I'll be doing video improvisations with  The 
Jambient Project at the end of the Lowell 
Southeast Asian Water Festival, which looks 
pretty interesting overall.

Lowell Water Festival Directions:

495 or 3 to the lowell connector
Follow connector to the end and take a left (Gorham Street)
Gorham becomes Central Street
After crossing canal, bear right onto Prescott Street
Right onto East Merrimack street
2nd building on your right is Middlesex Community 
College (big new looking brick building), the 
show is in the back.  There is some parking right 
in front, and plenty on the street nearby.




1.       5:30 pm           Traditional Music (CD)



2.       6:00 pm           Introduction by MC and 
Event Coordinator, Tooch Van, Special Guests



3.       6:15 pm           Blessing Ceremony

Religious Presentations by Ajahn David Chutiko, 
English; Venerable Sao Khon, Khmer; Venerable 
Thich Thien Hue, Vietnamese; and Venerable 
Mangkone Dhammadharo, Laos.



Followed by Blessing of event.



4.       6:45 pm           Blessing Dance by Somaly Hay & Co.

Dance of Best Wishes:  Also known as the Blessing 
Dance, this piece is ritually performed at the 
beginning of all events and programs to rid evil 
spirits and to bring forth joy and happiness to 
the audience. 



5.       6:55 pm           Peace Dance

Peace Dance:  Somaly Hay is a Cambodian Court 
Dancer trained at the Royal Palace as a young 
child.  The art of Cambodian Court dance, as all 
the arts of Cambodia, was nearly decimated during 
the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970’s.  Most of 
the nation’s artists were killed or forced to 
flee the country.  In her search for spiritual 
understanding of the events of September 11, 
Somaly found her sorrow transformed to a feeling 
of peace, and was inspired to create this court 
dance as an expression of healing.  The intent is 
to illustrate the power of the mind, spirit, and 
soul in achieving inner peace and tranquility. 
“We pray to the highest power - asking for peace 
and prosperity.  Our dance is the gift of peace 
to all.”  Performed by Somaly, Rithmaly, 
Sokphury, Nicole, Brenda, and Sophan.



6.       7:10 pm           Tivea Propei (Glorious Day) Dance

Glorious Day Dance:  The text in the song 
accompanying the dance reads as follows: A 
glorious day of ours - The children all meet in 
solidarity - For friendship all over the world - 
Heartedly - not tiring - Living near and far 
without worries - Very happy - Solidarity in hand 
- Having glory and prosperity during our 
celebration - The coutry is properous because we 
love our nation.  Performed by a special group of 
adopted children from Cambodia: Emma, Sothea, 
Srey Dy, James, Lea, and Solinda.



7.       7:20 pm           Laos National Flower Dance by Tamara Phongsavad

                                     This dance is 
performed to honor this event with our treasured 
flowers.



8.       7:30 pm           Bopha Lokei (Flower of the World) Dance

Robam Bopha Lokei - Flower of the World Dance: 
 The words in the song accompanying this dance 
are translated as follows: “Usually everybody 
wants flowers - For decoration or to decorate the 
body - The sweet scent of the flowers bring 
prosperity - The beauty of the flowers is like 
the beauty of the girls - Everybody admires the 
flowers - Even the bees surrounding the flowers 
want pollen - Flowers fully bloomed make you want 
to pick them and turn them into flower garlands.”





9.       7:40 pm           Buong Suong (Wishing) Dance

The Buong Suong Dance is the climax of a ritual 
traditionally performed to request the deceased 
king to protect the kingdom from drought, hunger, 
or other suffering, and to bring peace. 
Offerings are made to the four directions prior 
to the arrival of the dancers who unify this 
world with the celestial abode of the ancestors.



12.     8:00 pm           Blessing of the Canal

                            Mike Wurm, Lowell 
National Historical Park Volunteer Coordinator to 
give history of the canal system and invite Monks 
to Bless the Canal.



13.     8:30 pm           Candle Floats

                                     FLOATING 
CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY ( Loy Krathong)

While facts regarding the origins and intentions 
of this ceremony may vary, few would disagree 
that it is a joyful and ‘generosity-based’ 
ceremony whose meaning comes from the hearts of 
the participants. It is celebrated throughout 
South East Asia as well as many Temples in the 
West.  The floating candles are normally designed 
and constructed by the person for the occasion. 
This 21st Century adaptation, while made from 
different materials, consists of the traditional 
candle, incense and flowers. Before releasing it 
upon the river, the person makes an intention, or 
prayer, dedicated to loved ones, living or 
deceased, wishing for them all the very best of 
good health and good fortune.  We suggest that, 
no matter what our intention, we might also add a 
prayer for our fallen and wounded soldiers and a 
prayer for world peace.



Monks are invited by MC to lead the candle 
floating procession on canal. Followed by 
audience participation.



14.     8:45 pm           The Jambient Project

  "Encompassing elements of dance, classical, rock 
and jazz musical styles  as well as ambient 
soundscapes, The Jambient Project mixes 
musicianship and improvisation with electronic 
precision, creating genre busting grooves, 
textures and harmonies."

-- 
" Practice makes perfect, imperfect is better."  -- Paul Bley

                Emile Tobenfeld, Ph. D.
Video Producer                  Image Processing Specialist
Video for your HEAD!                    Boris FX
http://www.foryourhead.com              http://www.borisfx.com