Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble and C. Eule DanceCelebrate Asian New Year at Long Island University's
Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, February 15-16

Brooklyn, N.Y. - To welcome in the Asian New Year, Long Island University's Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts will present a varied program of dance and music on Friday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 16, at 3 p.m.

The celebration includes the premiere of a new work by composer Meg Okura,  performed by the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble; a performance by C.Eule Dance of excerpts of a Japanese folk tale, "The Crane Wife"; traditional Chinese folk dance by the LIU Asian Student Association; and a lion dance by Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association.

Founded in 2006 by violinist Meg Okura, Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble has defined a new genre of music, "world chamber jazz," with its multicultural and original sounds. The musicians demonstrate dexterous playing on all of their instruments, including traditional instruments such as the erhu (two-stringed Chinese violin), shinobue (a Japanese bamboo flute), as well violin, flute, cello, soprano sax, piano and world percussion.

C. Eule Dance is a New York City-based modern dance company under the direction of choreographer Caron Eule. Eule's movement fuses classical modern dance, ballet, gymnastics and traditional dances from around the globe, and employs a wide variety of music, from Chopin to Bebel Gilberto.

The show will close with a traditional Chinese lion dance performed by Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association. Though the art of lion dancing is all but a memory in most kung fu schools, historically the lion dance has been an integral part of traditional kung fu training. The lion dance, while symbolizing good fortune and protecting against negative influences, is also vital to the proper training of strength and "live power."

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.kumbletheater.org or by contacting the Kumble Theater box office at (718) 488-1624. You may also stop by the box office, located on Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus at the corner of DeKalb and Flatbush Avenues, in downtown Brooklyn. Train lines 2, 3, 4, 5, B, M, Q, R, A, C, or G have stops near the Brooklyn Campus.

Posted: February 4, 2008

Media contact: (718) 488-1015