Great Leap booking for 2000

ABOUT GREAT LEAP
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Great Leap is a multicultural performing arts organization that tours schools and theaters nationwide. Founded in 1978, Great Leap is dedicated to the principle of deepening race relations and promoting harmony between the diverse cultural groups of America. Our shows are appropriate for audiences who are exploring questions of identity, women's issues, relationship to community and social change. We also offer a children's version of one of our shows, A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens that is a fun, entertaining way for young people to learn about and appreciate difference.

A GRAIN OF SAND
songstory to waken sleeping warriors
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A Grain of Sand is the solo saga of one Asian American woman breaking through the forces of silence to find her own song. In a poetic fusion of story, song, movement and video imagery, Nobuko Miyamoto unravels her tales from days of Japanese relocation to the recent events of the LA uprising. During the late 1960's, the rhythms of change inspire a compelling pilgrimage as she finds her voice as an activist and singer in the Asian American movement, crossing borders into the Black, Latino and Native American struggles. Awakened by the possibilities and defeats, A Grain of Sand becomes a ritual that takes us beyond the chasms of color and culture, beyond the faultlines in our mind... into the oneness.

In conjunction with her performance, Nobuko offers a hands-on workshop entitled, "Finding Your Own Voice," for a small group of people who wish to uncover their own stories in a safe and sacred space.

A SLICE OF RICE, FRIJOLES and GREENS
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A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens is a multicultural extravaganza that brings together three or four artists for an evening of spoken word, music, movement and song. Giving humorous and poignant insight into the Asian American, Latino, African American and Deaf American experiences, the artists open windows into their own worlds through their personal tales. Though each slice may be different, "rice, frijoles, and greens" makes a statement that entertains as it enlightens, taking audiences beyond cultural borders.

Paulina Sahagun performs excerpts from "Nahuatl - Now What?" her Hi-Tech Aztec-in-Gringolandia Self-help Extravaganza. From the Mercado in Guadalajara to bad-hair days in LA, there is only one question: Does she know how to make tortillas?

Arlene Malinowski shares her autobiographical tale of a hearing daughter growing up with Deaf parents. This solo piece is taken from her full-length work entitled, "What Does the Sun Sound Like?"

Dan Kwong performs "Birth Interview" and "Song for Grandpa," stories of
growing up in Los Angeles in a Model Minority family gone haywire.

Chic Street Man, singer/songwriter and blues guitarist, brings it all home with his acoustic ballads, funky rhythms and jazzy upbeat originals.

Other possible artists include: Shishir Kurup, Louise Mita Jung, Nobuko Miyamoto, Bob Devin Jones, Sybil Desta, Michele Serros and many more!

PERFORMANCE HISTORY
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Great Leap tours colleges and universities nationwide as well as elementary, middle and high schools throughout Southern California. Some of the schools we have been presented by recently are: Wake Forest University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Missouri Columbia. Vassar College, Princeton University, Evergreen State College, University of Colorado Boulder. In California, we have been presented by colleges such as UCLA, Mount St. Mary's, De Anza College and Rio Hondo Community College. Since 1991, we have toured a children's version of A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens to elementary and middle schools throughout Southern California.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
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"A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens"
August 27, 1999, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY
September 21, 1999 Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles, CA
September 24, 1999 Campbell Hall School, North Hollywood, CA
September 28, 1999, CSU Dominguez Hills, CA
October 25, 1999, Cypress College, Cypress, CA
February 16, 2000, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
February 26, 2000, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

"A Grain of Sand - Reunion Concert"
September 10, 1999, Pomona College, Claremont, CA

"A Grain of Sand"
April 8, 2000 Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor, WA (tentative)

"To All Relations '99"
October 9, 1999, Senshin Buddhist Temple, Los Angeles, CA

BOOKING
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We are currently booking national tours for this multicultural treat for 1999-2000-2001. If you are interested in booking one of our shows, please email us at greatleap@anet.net, call us at (310) 264-6696, or check out our NEW website at http://www.greatleap.org

Nona Chiang
Booking Coordinator
Great Leap, Inc.
2912 Colorado Avenue, Suite 204
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 264-6696
(310) 264-6699 fax
http://www.greatleap.org