Tuju Taksu is an innovative dance troupe that uses contemporary Balinese masks to create powerful modern performance theatre. The dances explore the mystery and magic of stories from diverse traditions.
The masks are collaboration between Balinese master mask maker, Ida Bagus Oka, and American choreographer, Maru Matthaei, founder and director of Tuju Taksu. Using traditional Balinese woodcarving techniques they have created many original performance masks which are blessed in a special ceremony to activate their spirits. Evoking the spirit of the mask awakens that essence in performer and audience alike.
Tuju Taksu has been performing in Bali and Northern California since 1995.
"White Sea/ Light On Water"
with Sha Sha Higby & Tuju Taksu Masked Dance
August 11-14, 2005, 8:00 p.m
Young Performers Theatre
Fort Mason Center, Building C
San Francisco 94123-1382
Evocative Sculptural Costume, Masks and
Puppetry in Timeless Motion
WHAT:
Sha Sha Higby and Tuju Taksu combine to create a unique evening of evocative
masks, sculptural costume & dance, August 11-14 at 8 pm at Young Performer's
Theater in Fort Mason Center. Sha Sha Higby is an international sculptural
performance artist, and Tuju Taksu is an innovative dance theater troupe
featuring original masks created with Ida Bagus Oka in Bali. Each evening
will dynamically juxtapose and interweave these artists work into enticing
combinations.
The artists use varying illusions of scale, seamlessly blending masks, movement, and music in a drama of memory and timelessness. These elaborate creations suggest ancient worldwide cultures, inspired by the the artist's study in Japan, Indonesia, and India.
"A Higby performance is a blissful combination of shamanism,dance,& puppetry in which the costume comes alive. For three decades her art has remained as impressively unique as it is whimsically refreshing."
— SFChronicle"Sculptural Anthropology"
— Times"Tuju Taksu is characterized by their original masks, created during a a ten year collaboration by director Maru Mathaei and Ida Bagus Oka, a master mask carver from Bali."
— Featured in "Best of the Bay" SF Chronicle"Prepare for an evening of highly original entertainment."
— Bali Spirit Magazine
WHEN:
August 11-14, 2005, 8:00 p.m (Thurs-Sun)
WHERE:
Young Performers Theater
Fort Mason Center, Building C
San Francisco 94123-1382
TICKETS:
Cost: $20
www.ticketweb.com
www.tixbymail.org
www.shashahigby.com
or 415.868.2409
WORKSHOPS:
Make a Dancing Mask and Wings on a Stick
with Sha Sha Higby
Saturday, August 20 and/or September 10 12-5 p.m
Call 415.868.2409 or visit
www.ticketweb.com for more information.
International performance/sculptural artist, Sha Sha Higby is known for her evocative and haunting performances using the exquisite and ephemeral body sculpture she meticulously creates and moves within. Elements of Asian and Western traditions influence this "theater of slow passion" (Ornament Magazine) unique for their "metaphorically hyper functional outfits ...combining elements of sculpture, puppetry and wind chimes." (Independent,Colorado). Sculptural costume, dance, and puppetry explore the atmospheric world within the magical borders between death and life. "layers of color and texture that float like an apparition as Higby moves" (The Times.) For the last two decades, she has performed & taught extensively throughout the United States, Asia, Australia, and Europe. She creates a fantastical world where her rich costumes, meticulously formed from wood, paper, silk, Japanese lacquer, ceramics and gold leaf, come to life unexpectedly.
Tuju Taksu is an innovative performance troupe that features original masks created, blessed and danced in Bali. They have performed for the past ten years in Bali and the Bay Area with a changing cast of international performers from Indonesia, America, Germany, Israel, and many other countries. Since all pieces contain improvisation, each performer brings an individual interpretation to the piece, so each performance is unique. The masks communicate in ways that transcend time, place, and cultural boundaries.
Funded by Zellerbach Family Fund &William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, CASH, program of Theatre Bay Area, in partnership with Dancers' Group funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Irvine Foundation and the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund/Grants for the Arts. Fiscally Sponsored by Dancers Group, a nonprofit organization supported in part by The California Arts Council, Grants for the Arts, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Fleishhacker Foundation, and Zellerbach Family Fund.
Dancers' Group
3252A 19th Street
San Francisco, CA 94702
415.920.9181
415.860.6648 (cell)
415.920.9173 (fax)
www.dancersgroup.org
Sha Sha Higby
P.O. Box 152
Bolinas,CA 94924
phone/fax 415-868-2409
www.shashahigby.com
shasha@shashahigby.com