Rajamani brings his Moonlight Tanz to the intimate Carver Theatre every year featuring different music and dance traditions. This year he takes his audience on a musical trip to the Eastern Eurasian regions including Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. Just south of this region is the far eastern stretches of the Islamic cultures of Tajikistan, Usbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India melding into the Hindu cultures. These regions have shared history through the ages and specifically during the Soviet period when many of these regions were either a part of Soviet rule or were conquered by Soviets or had friendly ties with the Soviet Regime.

Rajamani’s fascination with Eastern European cultures comes from his childhood listening to folktales read to him by his grandmother. In recent years he has collaborated with top Russian musicians specially Russian Gypsy.

www.oliverrajamani.com

Tickets come with 20% off dinner at Hillside Farmacy Restaurant on the day of event
10 minute walk from restaurant to “Carver Theatre”.

The Slavin Nadal School of Ballet
With roots in Russian-based technique, the Slavin Nadal School of Ballet Curriculum is designed for the serious dance student desiring a high level of mastery. It reflects the values and vision of its founders –  refined training, sound technique, artistry, discipline and deep appreciation for the art of classical ballet.
School Founders Eugene Slavin and Alexandra Nadal were former Principal Dancers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Prior to opening the Slavin Nadal School of Ballet in 1989, they were the founding Artistic Directors of Ballet Austin, Directors of the Ballet Austin Academy, and Artistic Directors of the company’s predecessor – Austin Civic Ballet.

School Directors Joseph and Kimberly Nygren Cox are both artists with long and diverse careers in dance. In addition to their many years of performing professionally, they have had their choreography presented in numerous venues and are both recipients of the Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship Award for Choreography from the Kentucky Arts Council.

Mr. Sergey Vashchenko began his musical training as a child on the bayan and balalaika in his native Ukraine. He has also toured throughout Europe, now touring with his group “Kalinka”.  He released his debut recording cd “Concerto for Balalaika with Symphony Orchestra”, by R. Makarenko at the Perm Radio Station in Russia in 1988. Mr. Vashchenko has also been the conductor and musical director for shows at Rice University of Houston, from 1998 to 2003, for the orchestra affiliated with the Balalaika-Domra Association of America as well as serving as musical instructor and Dean for Balalaika at the Perm Cultural Institute for Arts.