BAY AREA CALENDAR JULY-AUG 2009

July 1 Wednesday

July 1-4 North American Bengali Conference 2009, features classical and fusion music by Ustad Shahid Parvez, Sounak Chattopadhayay, Suman Laha, Thankamani Kutty; a fashion show by Sarbari Dutta, fashion designer from India; real estate expo; jewelry by PC Chandra and Senco, and designer saris, and leather garments for sale; business forum; and a four-hour bay cruise for youth. July 1-4. San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose. (877) NET-NABC. info@nabc2009.com.  www.nabc2009.com.

July 1-4 Fiji American Festival 2009, features 2 All Day Mela and Soccer Contest and much more. 2 Day event features Booths, Stage porgam, parade Free Health Fair  Cal State university East Bay- Hayward  Carlos Bee Blvd. 510 938 3454  FANA 510 780 9696  www.fijifestival.com

July 1-4 Nepali American national Convention 2009,National COnvention, Over 10000 expected. Oakland Convention center


July 5 Sunday

RECEPTION Cong I leaders from AP  at ICC Milpitas 515 Los Coches Blvd, Milpitas
JULY 5 11 AM  ICC Milpitas

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Ruta Patel, student of Priya Ramadoss, artistic director of Srishti. 3:30 p.m. Gary Soren Smith Center, Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont. Free. (510) 489-6330.


July 8 Wednesday

Pakistan: A Nation in Turmoil? Lecture by Jon Summers of the Asia Foundation.  Dr. Jon Summers, an Asia Foundation expert based in Islamabad until last month, and in Kabul, prior to that, joins the Council to discuss the current situation in Pakistan. Organized by the World Affairs Council. 5:30 registration; 6-7 p.m. lecture. 312 Sutter St., Second Floor, San Francisco. $15 general; $5 student; members free. (415) 293-4600. www.itsyourworld.org.

July 11 Saturday
Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Adya Sinha and Shantel Shah, students of Bindu S. Shankar, artistic director of Vrindavan Indian Dance Academy. 4-6 p.m. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon. Free. (925) 556-9433, (925) 833-7424.

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Nadya Agrawal, student of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by musicians from India. 2 p.m. Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. www.shrikrupa.org.

Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak  Hindi Play (From Dusk Until Dawn), a play in Hindi with English subtitles. Directed by Vinita Sud Belani. In the 10th century, King Okkaak is the most the powerful ruler in the region, but the clouds of invasion and war are gathering. With live vocals and dance. July 11-12, NOHSpace, 2840 Mariposa St., San Francisco. Mature content; children under 12 not admitted. $20. (408) 425-2647. tickets@naatak.com. www.naatak.com.


Arts and Crafts Bazaar featuring local designers, artisans. Participants can find eco-friendly products and support local talent. Also features face painting for children. Organized by Amrithika. July 11 and 25, 4:15-9 p.m. 248 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. free. (650) 462-1980. info@amrithika.com.


July 12 Sunday
Women in Islam, lecture by Kirk Templeton. Kirk is a scholar of Islamic religion, history, and culture, and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Religion and Comparative Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. 11 a.m. Cultural Integration Fellowship, 2650 Fulton St., San Francisco. (415) 68-1559. culturalfellowship@sbcglobal.net. www.culturalintegrationfellowship.org.

 Light Tamil Music Concert with S.P.B. Organized by Kalalaya. 4:25 p.m. Chabot College Peforming Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. $20, $25, $35, $50, $100. Tickets: (408) 733-7400, (510) 794-8400, (510) 796-5252; www.sulekha.com.
CANCEL

Hum-Tum, a Hindi musical, combining live vocals, dance, comedy, and drama for the first time in the Bay Area. All proceeds support Asha for Education, Berkeley. Organized by JASHN. 5-7 p.m. McAfee Theater, Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave., Saratoga. $15, $20 advanced; $20, $25 at door. www.ejashn.org.  (See story.)

 July 15 Wednesday
Work an Hour (WAH), Asha for Education’s global online fundraising event.
Every year thousands of donors from all over the world  come together and contribute towards the empowerment of underprivileged children in India with education. Participants in the event symbolically work an hour toward the cause by donating an hour’s worth of their salary or more to the organization. Asha’s goal is to raise $200,000 toward improving the quality of education through different projects spanning throughout the country. The funds raised in this campaign will help to improve study materials and build infrastructure, train teachers, and create a consciousness about health and hygiene in underprivileged communities in India. Organized by Asha for Education. The 12th annual Work an Hour campaign begins July 15 and concludes on Sept. 15. Donate: www.ashanet.org/workanhour/2009.



July 16 Thursday

Divine Expressions: Poetry Night, hosted by poet, jazz musician Jym Marks.
Are you an amateur poet, guitarist, or new at some musical instrument and are looking for an audience and places to express your talent? Come and share your poems, stories, or anything that needs to be expressed! Organized by Amrithika. 7 p.m. 248 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. Free. (650) 462-1980. info@amrithika.com.

 July 18 Saturday

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Alpa Sanghavi and Nhiarika Sanghavi, students of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by musicians from India. 4 p.m. McAfee Theater, Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave., Saratoga. www.shrikrupa.org.

 Jazz Concert by Jym Marks Trio. Marks, a poet, writer, and gifted jazz musician, will be accompanied by Matthew Radisch (piano) and Charlie Channel (bass). Organized by Amrithika. 6:30 p.m. 248 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. $15. (650) 462-1980. info@amrithika.com.


July 21 Tuesday

Leaving India: My Family’s Journey from Five Villages to Five Continents, a book reading with author Minal Hajratwala. Hajratwala weaves the story of her family’s migration into the larger fabric of international economic and immigration policies and practices. The result is a unique portrait of the Indian diaspora making connections between personal choice and the forces of history. 12:30-2 p.m. Women of Color Resource Center, 1611 Telegraph Ave., Suite 303, Oakland. Free. (510) 444-2700, Ext. 304.


July 25 Saturday

Kitchen Khiladi, second annual cooking competition. Come, judge, watch, and taste. Indian cookery single competition and group competition. Organized by the Cancer Institute Foundation. July 25, 3 p.m., audition round; Aug. 8, 3 p.m., final round. Cubberley Auditorium, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. (408) 768-0525. Register: www.cifwia.org.


Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Hansaa Gopalakrishnan and Ilakya Palanisamy, students of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by musicians from India. 4 p.m. McAfee Theater, Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave., Saratoga. www.shrikrupa.org.

Arts and Crafts Bazaar featuring local designers, artisans. Participants can find eco-friendly products and support local talent. Also features face painting for children. Organized by Amrithika. 4:15-9 p.m. 248 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. Free. (650) 462-1980. info@amrithika.com.

Sarod Concert by Ranajit Sengupta, accompanied by Shubhajyoti Guha (tabla).  Organized by Basant Bahar. 5:30 p.m. Jain Bhawan Auditorium, 722 S. Main St., Milpitas. $20 general; $15 student/senior over 70. (510) 870-2244. contact@basantbahar.org.  www.basantbahar.org.

July 26 Sunday

Dance and Fashion Extravaganza, a fundraiser for the 300,000 Sri Lankan living in refugee camps who are in need of medical attention and nutrition. Organized by Reach out-Now USA. Location and time TBA. (510) 299-2907. www.reachout-now.org.


July 28 Tuesday

Immigration Workshop, covering issues such as driving, insurance, and domestic abuse. Organized by SevA. 6:30-8 p.m. SevA Offices, 46560 Fremont Blvd., Suite 205, Fremont. (510) 353-0102. www.anuattorney.com.  (See story.)

August 1 Saturday

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Natasha Bhat, student of Sundara Swaminathan, artistic director of Kala Vandana Dance Company. Bhat will be accompanied by musicians from India, Bhavani S. Kishore Kumar (vocal), Sakthivel Muruganandan (Mridangam), and Sunil Kumar (flute). 4 p.m. CET Theater, 701 Vine St., San Jose. Free. kalavandana@yahoo.com.  http://kalavandana.smartpick.com.

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Navya Palacherla, student of Suganda Sreenath, artistic director of Jayendra Kalakendra. 4 p.m. Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Ave., Palo Alto. Free. (408) 270-9295. sugandaiyer@sbcglobal.net.


August 2 Sunday

Bharatanatyam Dance Recital by Pooja Chirala, student of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by Shri Krupa Orchestra Teams from India: Vasudevan and Renuka Prasad (nattuvangam), Dhananjayan and V. Sridharacharya (mridangam), Murali Partha Sarthy and Swetha Prasad (vocal), Veeramani (violin), Sudhakar (veena), Pramod (flute), and Srikanth (percussion). 3 p.m. Sobrato High School Auditorium, Morgan Hill. Free. www.shrikrupa.org.


Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Smitha Machanickal, student of Sundara Swaminathan, artistic director of Kala Vandana Dance Company. Bhat will be accompanied by musicians from India, Bhavani S. Kishore Kumar (vocal), Sakthivel Muruganandan (Mridangam), and Sunil Kumar (flute). 4 p.m. CET Theater, 701 Vine St., San Jose. Free. kalavandana@yahoo.com.  http://kalavandana.smartpick.com.


August 8 Saturday

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Shreya Patel, student of Sundara Swaminathan, artistic director of Kala Vandana Dance Company. Bhat will be accompanied by musicians from India, Bhavani S. Kishore Kumar (vocal), Sakthivel Muruganandan (Mridangam), and Sunil Kumar (flute). 4 p.m. CET Theater, 701 Vine St., San Jose. Free. kalavandana@yahoo.com.  http://kalavandana.smartpick.com.

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Aditi and Anirudh Bommireddy, students of Suganda Sreenath, artistic director of Jayendra Kalakendra. 4 p.m. Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Ave., Palo Alto. Free. (408) 270-9295. sugandaiyer@sbcglobal.net.

Bharatanatyam Dance Performance by Yagnya, Yathra, Anu Ramachandran, Ramya Kuchibhatla, and Anjali Kuchibhatla, students of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by Shri Krupa Orchestra Teams from India: Vasudevan and Renuka Prasad (nattuvangam), Dhananjayan and V. Sridharacharya (mridangam), Murali Partha Sarthy and Swetha Prasad (vocal), Veeramani (violin), Sudhakar (veena), Pramod (flute), and Srikanth (percussion). 5 p.m. Mission City Center for Performing Arts, 3250 Monroe St., Santa Clara. Free. www.shrikrupa.org.

Triveni, a confluence of three distinct styles of odissi dance. Triveni brings together Odissi lineages from the three great odissi masters. Guest artists are Yudhishtir Nayak and Rahul Acharya from India, along with Vishnu Tattva Das and the Odissi Vilas Dance Company. Organized by Odissi Vilas Dance Company. 7 p.m. Marin Center Showcase Theater, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $20 in advance; $25 at door. (415) 499-6800. www.odissivilas.org.  (See story.)

Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chohan, performance. Organized by Mehta Entertainment. 8-11 p.m. Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. (925) 980-4449, (925) 301-6262. www.mehtaentertainment.com.


August 9 Sunday

Bharatanatyam Arangetram of Guari Patil, student of Vishal Ramani, artistic director of Shri Krupa Dance Company. Accompanied by musicians from India. 4 p.m. Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Ave., Palo Alto. www.shrikrupa.org.

Kalpana, dance concert based on student choreography. Kalpana is a forum created by Yuva Bharati to showcase the choreographic prowess of young artists. Kalpana is an annual event and offers a platform for presenting both solo and group choreographies of young artists. Presented by Yuva Bharati. 4-6:30 p.m. Mission City Center for Performing Arts, 3250 Monroe St., Santa Clara. $10 general; members free. (650) 565 - 8859. yuva_bharati@yahoo.com.  www.yuvabharati.org.

August 15 Saturday
 
Help Save Lives by registering at the drive hosted by Asian American Donor Program at the Festival of India in Fremont. Did you know that many blood cancer patients can be helped by a life-saving marrow/stem cell transplant? Since the matching process is based on race and ethnicity, South Asian patients need South Asian donors to help them. There is a critical shortage of South Asian donors on the National Registry of Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donors. Registering to be a potential donor is very easy—it’s just a simple cheek swab. Aug. 15-16, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.aadp.org.