New Works and South Asian Arts in association with the Pacific National Exhibition

present

Bollywood Wedding Written by Raakhi Sinha

with Gurpreet Sian and Camyar Chai

Directed by Camyar Chai

July 23 – 26 2009 8pmJuly 25 & 26 2009 2pm

Italian Gardens, Hastings Park, Pacific National Exhibition

The ActorsPreet Bal The MC Almeera Jiwa Sunayna (the bride) Balinder Johal* The Grandmother Nimet Kanji* Mrs. Singh (mother of the groom)Claire Lindsay Ingabord Frieda Patel (mother of the bride)Leena Manro Amisha (divorced sister of the bride) Kallol Mitra Janak (the bride’s brother)Bhavkhandan Singh Rakhra Mr. Singh (father of the groom) Trisha Rausse Twinky (the groom’s younger sister)Poonam Sandhu Isha (item girl)Munish Sharma Hanuman Singh (the groom) Raahul Singh* Bobby (cousin of the groom) Parm Soor* Mr. Patel (father of the bride)

The Dancers Nycki Basra, Harjot Bedi, Ritika Bhachu, Anish Dave, Mala Dave, Karima Essa, Avneet Gill, Kieran Heralall, Sonia Johal, Chandan Khaira, Kiran Mander, Deepak Manhas, Sidharth Moudgil, Paromita Naidu, Sunddip Panesar-Nahal, Priyanka Parkash, Sonia Parmar, Mandeep Patrola, Shauna Pears, Aarti Shah, Sumit Sura, Kulveer Taggar, Junita Thakorlal, Jason Vaisvila The MusiciansNeelamjit Dhillon Tabla, Flute, Sitar Sejal Lal ViolinSabrina Saran Vocals

The BandEn Karma

The Production TeamDirector Camyar Chai*Assistant Director Nadia Chaney Principle Choreographers Poonam Sandhu and Raakhi SinhaAssistant Choreographers Preet Bal and Deepak ManhasDancer Coordinators Sonia Johal and Shauna Pears, Footedge Dance Company Music Director Gurpreet SianExecutive Producer Barb Clausen Co-Producers Raakhi Sinha and Gurpreet Sian Production Manager Beverly WalkerTechnical Director Jason DuboisStage Manager Hilary Davis*Publicist Jodi Smith, JLS EntertainmentGraphic Designer John Endo Greenaway, Big Wave DesignPromotional Photos Pardeep Singh Costume Designer Jay Havens Wardrobe Assistant Melanie WickesActors’ Costumes supplied by Crossover Bollywood SESet Decor and Props Builder Karen MirfieldMendhi Artist Aneela NasirAudio Engineer Kris BoydASM/Steward Julie StewardASM/Steward Missy Lebans

A Note from the CreatorsWe are, let’s say, first time playwrights. With the help of Camyar, who was a constant source of inspiration, guidance and love. We are proud and excited to share our creation with all of you. Bollywood Wedding is an ode to the hundreds of weddings that we have been to, performed at and witnessed. We were reception performers. There, we said it. We realize now that the temporary dip in peer social status, the plates of paneer and artery-clogging butter chicken and the drunken uncles we encountered were all worth it. This piece would not be what it is without those experiences…and also the contribution of Kallol Mitra! We would like to dedicate this to Michael Jackson, an inspiration to all Bollywood dance.

Raakhi Sinha and Gurpreet Sian

A Note from the Executive ProducerWhat a journey this has been! It started about three years ago when I rather impetuously asked Raakhi and Gurpreet what project we might do together. When they said “a Bollywood Wedding!”, I was hooked. So was Camyar, thankfully, and the turning point in the creation and production of this extravaganza came when the Playwrights Theatre Centre, with the support of a City of Vancouver Diversity Initiatives grant, graciously supported the development of the script. Throughout this journey, I have had the great pleasure of working with these amazingly talented and energetic artists and their extended families of friends and collaborators. Along the way I even received an invitation to Gurpreet’s real-life wedding, and I am most grateful to be welcomed into this circle of warm and generous people. It has been a joy to help nurture this production, and I truly appreciate the support of the New Works staff and board who have championed Bollywood Wedding throughout its long journey. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I do.

Barb Clausen

*courtesy of Canadian Actors Equity

Bios

Camyar Chai Camyar is an award winning director, writer, actor and producer. In addition to his twenty years of working on stage and television pro-ductions, he is the founder of Neworld The-atre and received an MFA in Directing from UBC. Upcoming projects include the return of Ali and Ali as well as his Arts column on CBC radio. Camyar is the Executive Director of Leave Out Violence (LOVE) BC, an arts-based youth leadership organization.

Nadia Chaney Nadia Chaney is a Vancouver-based poet, performer and facilitator. In spring 2009 she wrote and directed her first (multi-media) play, Myrtle Silverspot: A Kitchen Confiden-tial, as part of the Sista'hood Celebration. To learn more about Nadia please visit www.byanydreamsnecessary.com

Raakhi Sinha Raakhi Sinha is a well-known personality in the Vancouver South Asian arts community. She has been dancing for over 20 years, and has performed for the UN World Urban Fo-rum, The Grey Cup Parade and most recently at the 2009 Juno Awards with Russell Peters. She is a co-founder of South Asian Arts and of FootEdge Dance Company. Raakhi is a co-host of a daily radio show on RJ 1200 AM and presents bhangra and Bollywood music segments on CBC Radio 1.

Gurpreet Sian Gurpreet has been involved in the arts since he began playing the dholak at his local Sikh temple. He has participated in international bhangra competitions as well as taught bhangra workshops to adults and children during festival times throughout the lower mainland. He’s performed at the One-year Olympic Countdown Concert with Sarah McLachlan, the opening of the new Vancou-ver Convention Centre, and most recently at the 2009 Juno Awards with Russell Peters. Gurpreet co-hosts a daily radio show on RJ1200 AM with Raakhi Sinha.

Barb Clausen Barb Clausen helped found and currently runs New Works, a Vancouver organization that presents a wide diversity of dance events, and provides management and production support to dance artists and projects. Barb has been working in the arts community since 1980 and has programmed dance at a variety of venues. Barb is, with Jim Smith, the Producer of DanceHouse, Vancouver’s new large-scale contemporary dance series.

The Actors

Preet Bal - MCAn environmentalist by trade, Preet discov-ered her passion for acting late in life. Her artistic resume includes competitive dance, recreational dance, television hosting and several appearances in locally produced music videos. Even while trying to save the world from climatic doom, Preet enjoys her ability to make audiences laugh.

Almeera Jiwa - SunaynaAs Intern Artistic Director at Touchstone Theatre, Almeera has worked with companies such as Carousel, The Arts Club, Felix Culpa and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. Selected theatre: As You Like It (Blue Bridge), Ride The Cyclone (Atomic Vaudeville), Tideline (Touchstone). Film/TV: Mrs. Miracle, Psych, Romeo, John Tucker. Almeera graduated from Studio 58.

Balinder Johal - Grandmother Balinder Johal has worked in Hollywood and for Canadian TV shows and movies, educational videos and on many voice-overs on and off camera in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Her Chachi ji episodes on community related-issues have been an attempt to bridge the cultural, educational, gender and generational gaps.

Nimet Kanji - Mrs. Singh I’m passing on the usual boring stuff. If you’d like to know more about me just ask the per-son next to you. Or go on-line to IMDB.com and search for me. Or call my agent Emilio at Muse Artist Management. He’s really nice and he’ll tell you all you want to know.

Claire Lindsay - Ingabord Frieda Patel Favourite theatre credits in Vancouver include the Canadian premiere of Debbie Does Dallas the musical (Pickled Productions) and the recently closed Tony and Tina’s Wedding (Hoarse Raven Theatre). Claire is very excited to be making her first appearance with South Asian Arts and New Works.

Leena Manro - Amisha Leena Manro was a boring, overpaid lawyer living in Alberta... until she saw the light and left it all to become a Bollywood-dancing, comedy-writing actress! Leena is co-founder and co-writer (with Munish Sharma) of Bol-lywood Shenanigans and the sketch comedy group I Can't Believe It’s Not Butter Chicken.

Kallol Mitra - Janak This is Kallol Mitra's sophomore performance as a comedy actor. Earlier in the summer he was part of Revenge of the Butter Chicken, a sold out show put on by Bollywood Shenani-gans. Look for him in more comedy acts in the near future.

Bhavkhandan Singh Rakhra - Mr. Singh Since 1974, Bhavkhandan Singh Rrakhra (B K Singh) has been fortunate to work with well-known directors of Punjabi theater: Mr. Harpal Tiwana, Yog raj sedha and Mohan Baggan, to name a few. BK has had the plea-sure of working professionally in the Greater Vancouver Area, as well as internationally.

Trisha Rausse - TwinkyTrisha has had the pleasure of playing many different ethnicities. A white girl in Revenge of the Butter Chicken - Bollywood Shena-nagins, a French girl in Ladies Man - No Bells and Whistles and an Indian girl in Bollywood Wedding. After winning the lottery and spending it all, Trisha is thrilled to return to theatre.

Poonam Sandhu - IshaPoonam has worked in Bollywood with chore-ographers Ganesh Hedge and Raju Khan, and now continues to work her magic here for stage, film and television. Having studied bal-let, classical Indian and modern dance forms, Poonam is a creative genius who lifts ordinary dancers to new levels with her choreography.

Munish Sharma - Hanuman Munish Sharma comes from a far and distant place called Regina, Saskatchewan. He received his BFA in Performance from the University of Regina. Thank you Raakhi, Ca-myar and Gopi for casting me as the Groom. Munish is also in a Sketch group called, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Chicken.

Raahul Singh - Bobby Raahul Singh has been acting in film, TV, and theatre for a decade. You may have seen him in the Hollywood film The Guru, or as the leading man in the film Bollydouble. Last year Raahul started an actors’ studio (www.mainstreamactor.com) and has started writing and producing his own screenplays.

Parm Soor - Mr. Patel Parm was born in India and is delighted to go to a Bollywood Wedding! Stage highlights include Macbeth, Firehall Arts Centre; Romeo and Juliet, Kaleidoscope Playhouse; and Coronation Voyage, The Vancouver Playhouse / The National Arts Centre. Parm also appears in the upcoming release of the Sony Pictures disaster epic 2012.

The DancersNycki Basra has been dancing with Foot-Edge Dance Company since 2007. Previously she danced with the SFU Women's Alumni Bhangra Team, one of the first all women's teams in North America. Nycki’s main focus is the fusion of Indian and Western dance. She supports events that promote culture and awareness around charitable causes.

Harjot Bedi has been a Bollywood/bhangra dancer since she was five years old. Dance started as a hobby, and it has developed as a passion and is a big part of who she is. She looks forward to moving to Toronto for her post-secondary education, and receiving more formal dance training.

Ritika Bhachu was born to dance! From Bol-lywood style to Garba, and from competitive bhangra to self choreographed numbers for a myriad of events, then spicing things up with the advanced group for Shiamak’s Indo Jazz Move-ment, and adding a dash of salsa, Ritika is cur-rently a happy part of the FootEdge dance crew!

Anish Dave is a software engineer by trade, and living his dream of making video games. Six years ago, he stumbled upon the joys of dancing after getting intoxicated at a club. He and his wife have danced in events and competitions, in styles including Raas, Garba, hip hop, Latin, bhangra and Bollywood.

Mala Dave is a professional doctor and amateur dancer. She is a family physician with a love for dance. She has found that dance adds much to her life: bright colours and costumes found in Bollywood, the energy and traditions of folk dance, the discipline of classical dance, and the passion of salsa.

Karima Essa is a 22 year old dance instruc-tor for the City of Surrey, teaching hip hop, tap, bhangra, Indian, jazz and belly dance for people of all ages. A three-time Cana-dian national champion, and internationally recognized, Karima helps all her students experience the true sensation of movement.

Avneet Gill has danced with FootEdge for three years, while being a high school teacher and running her own business, Reach Higher Education Centre. Her love of Bolly and bhangra has also seen her dance with Rangeela and UBC Girlz in the past, and coach a high school bhangra team.

Kieran Heralall has been a dancer for eight years and has extensive training and experience in bharata natyam, Bollywood, Indian folk, dancehall, and hip hop. Kieran currently teaches at Drive Dance Centre and choreographs for local singer Nessa V. He also collaborates frequently with the best dancers from Vancouver and Toronto.

Sonia Johal is an Executive of FootEdge Dance Company, and is one of those dancers who accidentally happened to discover her passion for dance. Starting dance later in life, she tried a little bit of Bolly and bhangra be-fore joining the award-winning bhangra team VIBE and competing across North America.

Chandan Khaira is part of the UBC Girlz Bhangra Team and has expressed her artistic talent on stages all over North America since 2003. Combining grace and charm with her strong athletic ability, Chandan has been an eye-catching presence amongst her elite dance mates.

Kiran Mander has been dancing bhangra, gidha and Bollywood for eight years. Kiran is the choreographer and coach of the first all-female competitive bhangra team, UBC Girlz, which has been winning competitions all over North America since 2002. Recently, she performed in the opening of the 2009 Juno Awards with Russell Peters.

Sidharth Moudgil works as a software engi-neer at Electronic Arts. As a side hobby he is actively involved in dancing with FootEdge. He has mainly been involved with Bollywood dancing but lately he has been getting into other forms.

Deepak Manhas is a scientist and wannabe dancer. He would love to teach dance to chil-dren with chronic illness as well as showing others how to incorporate dance as a daily activity for healthy living. He would settle for dancing in the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics.

Paromita Naidu trained in ballet and bharata natyam, and combines dance traditions from the East and West. She studied ballet and contemporary at Canterbury High School, and NYU. She has studied classical Indian dance for 20 years. After completing an arangetram under Jai Govinda she successfully competed in traditional Indian folk dance.

Sunddip Panesar-Nahal is a former UBC Girlz Bhangra Team member who has trav-eled across North America doing competitive dance. She is also a Punjabi folk singer and has recently re-located to Vernon, BC where she is working on her PhD in Education.

Priyanka Parkash started dancing at the age of nine and has always been her happiest while engaged in the art. She has been a member of the FootEdge Dance Company since September 2008 and balances her pas-sion for dance with post-graduate studies as a CA articling student.

Sonia Parmar is 22 years old and currently working as a full time legal assistant and a full time student at SFU. She is finishing a Womens Studies Degree and plans to study Law. Sonia has been dancing for 12 years and teaching dance for eight.

Mandeep Patrola attended UBC and is now pursuing graduate studies in field of Clinical Biopsychology and Neuropsychology. She is the captain and co-founder of the UBC Girlz Bhangra Team, which performs and competes throughout North America. Mandeep is a black belt in the martial arts, and has been competing for 17 years.

Shauna Pears has been on the dance scene for over 25 years and now brings that dance experience to her role as a high school teach-er of dance. Her background includes years of lyrical, jazz and acro. She was introduced to the Indian world of dance through bhangra and Bolly dancing.

Aarti Shah is a classical dancer and has been dancing for over 20 years. She has completed her bharata natyam arangetram and has for-mal training in Kathak. She has been involved with various Raas and Garba groups and has been dancing with FootEdge Dance Company since 2005.

Sumit Sura is a dynamic individual in his pro-fessional and personal life and spent his early years in New Delhi, India. Just like his colourful and cultural nation, he spends most of his free time in music, graphic arts, singing and danc-ing. Five years from now he visualizes working in the Animation Industry.

Kulveer Taggar is a dancer and actor, having recently made his debut in the sketch comedy series I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Chicken. He looks forward to getting his dance on tonight. He studied at Oxford and is from England.

Junita Thakorlal has been dancing since the age of three. Her background is in classical bharata natyam, traditional Gujarati folk, and new age Bolly. Known as a performer and choreographer, her passion and dedication to dancing have helped her win several com-petitions. She is currently working as the PR & Communications Manager for the Surrey Now Regional Newspaper.

Jason Vaisvila has tried many different jobs and career paths, but it was a dramatic scene he was working on that revealed his true passion to him: "It was the first time in my life I felt alive". When he’s not acting, Jason loves dancing, music, outdoor activity and spirituality.

The MusiciansNeelamjit Dhillon is equally versed in both Eastern and Western traditions. The tabla is Neelamjit's fi rst instrument and he stud-ies under the tutelage of world-renowned maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has had the distinction of working with some of India's fi nest musicians, including Louiz Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurassia and Taufi q Qureshi.

Sejal Lal started playing the violin 11 years ago, at the age of fi ve. She completed her Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 9 exam this past winter. She plays in the youth orchestra, Semiahmoo Strings, and for a contrast to her classical exposure, in the band 41st and Home.

Sabrina Saran is a local artist known for her clear vocals in both Indian and Western styles. Her foray into the Punjabi music scene as part of the United Bhangra team has been met with all-round accolades. Sabrina recently decided to re-venture into the music world while completing her graduate studies.

The BandVancouver’s premier bhangra band En Karma embodies a uniqueness that is rare amid the global bhangra scene. The boys of En Karma are all exceptional musicians in their own right. They write, record, and play everything as a collective and together they have created a sound that strikes the perfect balance between traditional bhangra and contemporary fusion, with elements of rock, reggae and R&B.

New WorksNew Works is an innovative platform for developing communities through art engagement. By presenting diverse dance styles and traditions to the public, and by supporting and mentoring locally-based dance artists, New Works promotes the inclusiveness and diversity of Vancouver itself. Through affordable programming, workshops, and educational activities for both artists and audiences, New Works provides dynamic performance experiences and programming that is accessible to all.

StaffBarb Clausen ProducerAndrea Hébert Artistic AdministratorDiana Lee Marketing and CommunicationsBeverly Walker Production Coordinator

Board of DirectorsBrent Belsher, Moira Chicilo, Scheherazaad Cooper, Mavis Dixon, Janet Miller, Joyce Rosario, Eng Sengsavang, Jessica Wadsworth

Founders’ CouncilJan Berman, Fran Brafman, Linda Gorrie, Daphne Harwood, Heather Howe, Janet Miller, Wendy Newman, Alix Sales, Gina Sufrin

South Asian Arts South Asian Arts Society has a commitment to artistic excellence through innovation and creativity. Its well-established relationships with South Asian artists have helped it become a proven leader in presenting a wide spectrum of South Asian art forms to diverse audiences. The society’s mandate is to create performance and educational opportunities for professional artists; to build artistic forums that act as a platform for building knowledge of South Asian culture; to create bridges with western culture and to highlight the similarities and differences via new projects, new ideas, and new collaborations.

StaffGurpreet Sian General ManagerRaakhi Sinha Artistic Director

Board of DirectorsDeepak Manhas, Kallol Mitra, Tristesse Seeliger, Mandeep Grewal, Gurdip Sandhu

Pacifi c National Exhibition The PNE strives to enrich the quality of life at Hastings Park through the sponsorship of arts, cultural and not-for-profi t events. By offering a wide range of family entertainment and events we invite our guests to celebrate Vancouver’s heritage, culture, and diverse communities within a vibrant urban public park. The sponsorship of Bollywood Wedding embraces a PNE tradition: being Vancouver’s favourite place to celebrate and proudly serve as the hub of social, community and cultural activities in the city.Mike MacSorley Vice President, OperationsJodie Becker Operations Coordinator

FootEdge Dance CompanyFootEdge is Vancouver’s premier South Asian dance squad. Formed in 2005, FootEdge is the brainchild of fi ve local women who had been dancing together for years. FootEdge choreography is the fusion of various dance forms including bharata natyam, bhangra, modern, kathak, ballet, tap, and bolly. The result is a distinctive style that is brimming with energy, full of blockbuster entertainment and heart-pounding excitement.

UBC Girlz Bhangra TeamThe University of British Columbia Girls Bhangra Team, otherwise known as The UBC Girlz, is a dynamic, high-energy team comprised of a talented group of dancers who never cease to amaze their audiences. This charismatic team has been an all female team from the very beginning, and be it a competition, a charity event or a culture show this team has more than stood its ground.

Thanks for the wedding gifts (received by July 9) from: Anonymous, Susanna Baeza, Ranjit Bains, Janice Black, Shannon Bradley, Fran Brafman, Gail Brown, Siony Capper, Cindy Cassavant, Barb Clausen, Karen Cooper, Hilary Davis, Arlene Fair, Susan Fussell, Maureen Gallimore, Kami Hothi, David Ingram, Steve Knowles, Dorothy Kuva, Susan Lesko, Beena Makhijani, Jan Miller, Wendy Newman, Karen Palak, Phiroozeh Petigara, Julie Poskitt, Dale Power, LeeAnne Ragan, Melanie Robson, Hilary Russell, Sue Sitter, Donia Sims, Catherine Steele, Gina Sufrin, jil weaving

And many many thanks to: Martin Kinch, Linda Gorrie, Dipali Parhar, Danita Noyes, Quote EndQuote Cross Cultural Strategy, Inc., Nik von Schulmann and Diane Buirs, Patrick Roberge Productions Inc., Mike MacSorley and Jodie Becker, Pacifi c National Exhibition, Jim DeCarle, Go Wireless Inc, Propellor Design, Proshow Audiovisual, Bhan, Hardika and Xhavin Sinha, Sian Family, Sonia Johal, Deepak Manhas and the Manhas Family, Anjana and Prashant Ohri, Kallol Mitra, Sabrina Saran, Shushma Datt & RJ1200 staff, Shah Family, Tarun Nayar, Sathish Bala and Desi Fest, Tristesse Seeliger, Mandeep Grewal, Gurdip Sandhu, Mo Dhaliwal, Shauna Pears, Preet Sandhu, Poonam Sandhu, FootEdge Dance Company, Entouraas, UBC Girlz, everyone at New Works, Bonnie Sun, The GSBC, Sheryl MacKay, Paolo Pietropaolo, Punjabi Vibes, Anita Majumdar, Sundeep and Ricky Thinda, Leave Out Violence (LOVE) BC, The Dance Centre, Vancouver Celebrates Diwali

Funders and sponsorsPacifi c National Exhibition, Playwrights Theatre Centre, City of Vancouver Offi ce of Cultural Affairs, BC Transmission Corporation, Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, BC Gaming Commission, The Hamber Foundation, Crossover Bollywood SE, Canadian Heritage, Georgia Straight, CTV, RJ1200, ITMB