DANCE

The music and choreography of Asian-American dance sensation Nai-Ni Chen Dance combined with the world-class stars of contemporary classical music The Ahn Trio will take audiences into a realm beyond cultural boundaries for Temptation of the Muses, one unforgettable performance on Saturday, October 29th at The Grand 1894 Opera House. Sponsored by The Adolf and Kaethe Wechsler Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts, this performance is scheduled for 8pm.

Drawing on elements from the flowing lines of Chinese calligraphy to the thundering motion of the martial arts, Nai-ni Chen Dance is one of the few Asian-American professional dance companies in the United States. The show captures blossoms of color, energy and motion, "like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy," says The New York Times.

Born in Seoul, Korea and educated at the Juilliard School in New York City, the three sisters of the Ahn Trio ? violinist Angella, cellist Maria, and pianist Lucia ? are leading proponents of contemporary classical music. Breathing new life into the standard piano-trio literature with commissioned works from visionary composers, the Ahn Trio brings a new energy and excitement to the chamber music world.

Together, these distinctive artists present a one-of-a-kind collaboration of music and movement, while combining the grace and splendor of Asian art with the dynamic freedom of American modern dance. The trio has been touring successfully for over ten years and have six albums to date. An MTV appearance on Bryan Adams' "Unplugged" led to the development of the "Ahn- Plugged" and “Groovebox” albums (EMI), which embodies the excitement and energy of the Ahn Trio.

Photo by Carol Rosegg.