Dance

Sarala Dandekar has studied and performed classical Indian dance since childhood. She received intensive training in Odissi from Guru Jhelum Paranjape (Bombay) and additional training from the late Kelucharan Mohapatra, in his village in Bubaneswar, Orissa. Since 1991, Sarala Dandekar has performed and taught throughout the world, as a soloist in traditional performances as well as working with various dance troupes from the United States, Canada and India...  www.saraladance.com

Star Nation Project is a practice to learn, interact, and grow as a soul through our everyday lives.  Suga Jazz Dance Studio, Izanai Academy, and Yosakoi Nippon Suga-Ren, are practicing this idea through their inspirational dance called Izanai Yosakoi.  They also believe that dance is not the only way to do Star Nation Project.  Any ordinal activities such as saying good morning aloud with a smile can be a Star Nation Project as long as you keep love in the center of your heart.  Izanai means an invitation from heaven. The purpose of this dance form is to invite each soul to become awaken and realize who we really are. The founder of Star Nation Project and Izanai Yosakoi, Suga Kunitomo believes, “Now, the generation of separation is ending, and we are heading to the new generation of unification. We will become one by overcoming our differences in races, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and ego. The energy that unites us is Izanai.”  www.suga-izanai.org

Manipuri Jagoi Marup is one of India’s premier performance troupes, combining dance, drumming and martial arts in their repertoire. Dedicated to the rejuvenation of traditional folk and classical Manipuri dance styles, they were established in 1963 by the late Guru Padmashri Amubi Singh, have performed thousands of concerts in India and have enjoyed many successful international tours. Known for their dynamic athleticism and proficiency as well as for their unique-sounding drums, they are a visual feast, dazzling audiences with their acrobatic choreography.

Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director/Choreographer Ranee Ramaswamy, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater is dedicated to preserving the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam while using it as a springboard for innovative choreography. Ragamala's vibrant classical work and pioneering cross-cultural collaborations demonstrate to diverse audiences the versatility, depth, and contemporary vitality of Bharatanatyam. Their choreography draws from the exquisite Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam. Their work emphasizes the importance of preserving the classical form while bringing it into coversation with contemporary themes and diverse influences from around the world.  www.ragamala.net

Timothy Dobson is the founder of the Front Range Dances of Universal Peace and is an Interfaith Fellowship Minister. He is a brilliant community builder and spiritually inspired leader. Timothy began his work in 1989, (also Ty's first musical work) and has, through his deep commitment, established the largest ongoing dance circles in the world. Timothy is also a wonderful musician who has published two CDs of music representing the dance work.  www.dup-co.com

Akari Ueoka was born in Kochi, Japan and moved to Maui in fall 2001. She has loved dancing since she was a young girl and learned a Japanese dance called Minbu in elementary school and joined the rhythmic gymnastics club in her high school.  From there, her passion towards dance grew stronger, and she studied various dance forms, including jazz dance, modern dance, ballet, and hip-hop at Suga Jazz Dance Studio in Kochi.  She also studied Yosakoi dance under Ms. Suga Kunitomo.  Akari has performed with Kunitomo and assisted her in teaching Yosakoi dance in over 50 cities throughout Japan and Croatia, as well as New York, Honolulu and Maui.  She currently studies Oddisi from under the guidance of Sarala Dandekar while she teaches Pre-K and Kindergarten at ROOTS, a progressive, alternative educational facility on Maui.  Akari's article on Maui News