Bellydance Evolution Presents “Fantasm – Odyssey of Dreams”

 An enchanting ‘magic carpet ride’ of Scheherazade’s ancient tales of the adventures of Sinbad told through Middle Eastern and contemporary folkloric dance. As part of the 2017 Summer Season at the fully refurbished Ford Theatres, Bellydance Evolution presents the Los Angeles debut of Fantasm – Odyssey of Dreams at the outdoor amphitheatre on Friday, July 21, at 8:30 p.m. The timeless tales of Scheherazade and the heroes of Arabian folklore come to life following Sinbad’s voyages across imaginative worlds. More than 20 dancers will pull from a variety of Middle Eastern and contemporary folkloric dance styles to bring these mythical characters to life, set to an exciting original score by Paul Dinletir, audiomachine’s co-founder and head composer.
Founded in 2009 by world renowned choreographer Jillina Carlano, Bellydance Evolution (BDE) explores, celebrates and reimagines Middle Eastern dance for the 21stcentury. By fusing bellydance with other popular and lesser-known dance forms, BDE promises to take audiences on a spectacular journey. With a mission to bring awareness of Middle Eastern dance with its inherent rich diversity and artistic validity, BDE celebrates the dynamic aesthetic of Middle Eastern dance, culture, and creativity, sharing its joy of dance with all communities. BDE takes a revolutionary approach to the art of belly-dance, presenting theatrical dance shows with a storyline, much like a ballet. The show features a cast of 20 international artists from diverse backgrounds in Middle Eastern dance, contemporary, tribal, and fusion dance, each bringing their own unique vision to the production.
Bellydance Evolution has performed to sold-out crowds in over 20 different countries spanning North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The company was featured at the 2012 Mawazine festival in Morocco, where it performed for the Queen of Morocco. With the success of its residency program, Bellydance Evolution has established ensemble company members in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America.
“We are so excited to have this opportunity to return to the Ford with our fourth production, Fantasm – Odyssey of Dreams, in my hometown of Los Angeles. We really wanted to challenge ourselves this time around by adding even more over the top creative staging, a spectacular array of handmade theatrical costumes and the addition of new styles of dance such as the Arab folk dabke and Egyptian shabbi dance,” said Jillina Carlano, Bellydance Evolution founder and artistic director.
Fantasm – Odyssey of Dreams is part of the Artists Partnership Series, a multidisciplinary performing arts series presented in partnership with LA County-based arts organizations and producers that, combined with IGNITE @ the FORD!, JAM Sessions and Big World Fun, make up the Ford Theatres’ celebratory 2017 Summer Season.
Ticket prices start at $25; Reserved Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323-461-3673 (for non-visual media 323-GO-1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 10 or more, please visit www.FordTheatres.org.