Bollywood Choreographer

Decolonizing the Canon: Blue13 Dance Company Review

Sophie Bress for Ampersand LA

Blue13 questions the lines that we use to divide dance into categories, the lines that denote what is diminishingly called a “fusion” or “cultural” dance form. The company breaks these arbitrary lines, showing us there is no need for them. Blue13 dancers, clad in vibrantly adorned costumes and ghungroos (bells worn on the ankles in traditional Indian dance forms), whirl across the stage, swaying their hips in time to the beat of the drum, pausing only to balance in perfect arabesques, topping off their poses with the intricate arm, wrist and hand positions that come from classical Indian dance. McDaniels’ choreography shows us how much can be gained by a deep understanding and exploration of multitudes of dance styles. 

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TAIKOPROJECT & BLUE13 DANCE COMPANY COLLABORATION
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Ford Amphitheatre

An incredible evening of music and dance under the stars in Hollywood.  Blue13 performs alongside the wildly popular and energetic drummers of Taikoproject.  This event is one night only, and not to be missed!

PURCHASE TICKETS

Ticket Pricing: $50. $35, $25
Students with valid ID/Children: $25, $20, $15
Family friendly event.

Achinta’s 2017 Choreography Reel Available on YouTube

Blue13 Artistic Director, Achinta S. McDaniel choreographs not only for the company but also for the film, TV and commercial industries in Hollywood, specializing in Bollywood dance, Bhangra, contemporary, jazz, and more.  You may have seen her work in The Strokes Threat of Joy Music Video, on New Girl, Speechless, in Madden, Snapple, and Heineken commercials, and more.  Achinta is also a professor of dance at USC’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles, and teaches around the globe.  Shoot us an e-mail at [booking at blue13dance dot com] for more information.

Achinta Off to Michigan to Set a Piece on Young Ballet Dancers

I’m so excited to fly to Michigan tomorrow morning bright and early (send me good traffic vibes, LA).  I’m honored to be setting a Bollywood piece on a group of talented dancers from the Young People’s Ballet Theatre in Flint.  My family/friends from the Grand Rapids Ballet, Nick and Laura Schultz, asked me to come out and choreograph the grand finale of their student group, and I of course, happily accepted.  Can’t wait to work with this young dancers, and to show you all the finished product.  Look out for my tweets and instagrams all weekend!

-Achinta S. McDaniel

APAP Booking Dance Festival 2016 in NYC

Blue13 is proudly dancing in NYC at the Booking Dance Festival during ‪#‎APAP2016‬! See us at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the 4:30 block and the 8:30 block dancing excerpts from our touring piece, “Fire & Powder,” a contemporary Indian reboot of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in a ‘West Side Story’ setting.  8 Minute showcases, the latter block followed by a VIP reception.  Presenters at APAP gratis.  Others may purchase tickets HERE.