Minh Tran & Company awarded National Dance Project Production Grant

Portland, Oregon Dance Company Receives National Attention

(PRWEB) July 30, 2003 -- NEFA is very pleased to announce that Minh Tran & Company has been awarded by the National Dance Project for Nocturnal Path" to be developed by Minh Tran & Company during the 2003-2004 season. Funding is to support project development costs up until the time of its premiere and can cover costs including artist/design fees, rehearsal fees, travel, per diem, space rental, costumes, music, sets, promotional materials, and documentation.

The award was made possible by the Doris Duke Fund for Dance of the National Dance Pojrect, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Altria Group, Inc.

The National Dance Project (NDP) provides grants for the production and touring of contemporary dance in the United States. The project is overseen by a group of 12 performing arts presenter Hub Sites, advised by 6 dance field leaders, and administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). The NDP is endorsed by Dance/USA and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

Tran has enlisted some of the regions most skilled dancers -- Tere Mathern, Jae Diego, Michael Barber, Jennifer Hong, Cydney Wilkes-visual designer Christine Bourdette along with Light Designer Bruce Keller to share in the exploration of his culture and training. Nocturnal Path" explores the most intimate time frame-nocturnal-when one can reflect on ones beliefs. Nocturnal Path" is a dance journey resulting from Trans Buddhist upbringing and his recent research and connections with fellow artists from Southeast Asia through UCLAs Asia Pacific Performance Exchnage (APPEX) in the summers of 97 and 99, and with Trans current role as a curatorial member of Dance Theater Workshops Suitcase Fund The Mekong Project,"-an artist-to-artist exchange in Southeast Asia since 2000.

Nocturnal Path" is scheduled to have its premiere in Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland, Oregon as the opener of the White Bird/ PSU Dance Series on October 23-25, 2003. Along with the world premiere of Nocturnal Path, the evening program will also present Trans repertoire featuring the stunning Portland Taiko drummers and the live choral music by the David York Ensemble. An excerpt of Trans new work is scheduled to be part of the Northwest New Works Showcase to be presented by PICA as part of the Time Based Art Festival in September 14, 2003 at Body Vox Studio.

Along with the NDP Production grant, this project is being supported by White Bird for marketing, publicity, and other administrative tasks including consultation, planning for production-allowing Tran to have the opportunity to focus on artistry to produce a substantial new work. White Bird will serve as fiscal agent, providing administrative assistance, and advising to develop the tour.