Mask Makers Web

Malang mask dance is an inherited traditional theatncal art performance. What is interesting about the mask dance is that all the dancers representing some characters wear masks.

Added on: Dec 28, 2000 | Hits: 5895

Riddu Riddu Festival 2000 - Troms?,Norway 9 photos from a stageperformance..The festival as a whole is unique.

Added on: Jan 07, 2001 | Hits: 5837

This dance was known by the Cree as the "Wihtikokansimoowin" or the Wintigo-like dance. The Wintigo, cannibalistic character of Cree stories, was portrayed in satire by the dancers. The dance was to have originated with a dream of a young Assiniboine man. It was to be performed, whenever there was a camp for the enjoyment of the people. The Crees, who later attained it, frequently held the dance on the last day of their Sundance ceremonies. The man who led the dance had to obtain the right to hold it through a vision or the right could be inherited.

Added on: Mar 27, 2003 | Hits: 5811

The Chhau dance is indigenous to the eastern part of India. It originated as a martial art and contains vigourous movements and leaps. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many of the princely rulers of the Orissa region took a keen interest in the development of this art. They maintained troupes that performed on special occasions and festivals.

Added on: Feb 01, 2001 | Hits: 5738

The Cote d'Ivoire Mask Tradition from the Viewpoint of Dance Ethnology: Dancing the Gap between Spirit and Human Worlds By Juliana Azoubel Mentor: Joan Frosch College of Fine Arts

Added on: May 11, 2002 | Hits: 5632

photo

Added on: Jan 08, 2001 | Hits: 5589

IT ISN'T MUSIC AND IT HAS NO RHYTHM. Amplified by the dear mountain air, the cacophony of sound is deafening. Conversation becomes impossible and all attention turns to the temple entrance, whence a procession of solemn faced monks is emerging. Dressed in orange silk robes, and with yellow crescent shaped hats perched precariously on their heads, they carry an assortment of instruments including bugles made from human bones, giant conch shells and long, brass horns. These horns, known locally as dun chen, issue the deep, hoarse notes that herald the unforgettable Mani Rimdu Festival. Every year, in the Khumbu region of Nepal, this Buddhist Dance Drama is enacted by the monks of Tengboche Monastery. The site of this high altitude entertainment is the temple, or gompa, within the monastery itself.

Added on: May 11, 2002 | Hits: 5469

from Korea Maskdance festival

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 5381

Iwahmi Kagura is comprised of 48 stories handed down for generations. It is not a one full story but compilation of various genres. So the performance may vary depending on the time and location of the performance. Daisha, the dance of snake, is a story of Mikoto who saved Hime who is the only left daughter to her old parents. A snake with eight heads, eight tales and eight valley long body, has eaten Hime's eight sisters one every year and Hime may be endangered from the same threat. But Mikoto turned Hime into a comb and prepared eight jars of whiskey for the snake. When the snake was drunk and fell asleep, Makoto killed the snake and later married to Hime as it was arranged.

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 5366

This performance is based on the myths, historical biographies and follk stories in the Tibet area. Tibetan performance art and drama use masks. Because they believe that mask with its clear expressions of good and evil helps spectators to understand the charactors of the roles of the actors and actors to communicate the message at ease. They use musical instruments like drum and cymbals and the music for drama is simple but religous.

Added on: Jul 20, 2002 | Hits: 5363

This photograph by Tolstoy is published in Tibet: The Sacred Realm (p. 101) where it is captioned: Dancers in Cham dance, 1943." It also appears inTolstoy's National Geographic article, where the caption mentions that it was taken at Gyantse. Presumably, the other photgraphs of masked and unmasked dancers were also taken at Gyantse.

Added on: May 11, 2002 | Hits: 5317

The lion dance used to be performed to celebrate special occasions like the day of greeting new year or wedding party in China. The motions of lion dance are so soft as well as dynamic. That??s why those motions suggest the actions of ??Kung fu??. They play the dance with unique music which is based on various percussion instruments and has vigorous rhythms.

Added on: Oct 11, 2002 | Hits: 5315

The deer dancer wears a tall mask / headpiece with large antlers, and the movements of the graceful and noble deer are beautiful and poignant in the expression of freedom. With elegant jumps, turns of the head, and proud body movement, the life of the deer is recounted; traveling through the forest, jumping into the air, grazing in the meadows and meeting the hunter.

Added on: Jun 18, 2002 | Hits: 5205

The Bassari are an ethnic minority who live in the Eastern region of Senegal. They are characterized by self-withdrawal in refusing to the modern world. The still live according to ancestral traditions, attempting to save them and pass them on in their true from. The other charcteristic of the Bassari is found in the beauty of the sites.Villages, melody of their language and especially in the art and decoration.In Barrari country, all mask dances are sacerd. They are performed according to a calendar which is strictly followed.It doesn't matter of involves popular dance or a dance for rejoicing: it must be supported by the ancient guardians and protectors of the tradition. For the Bassari, the drum is sacred and the maskds are made without the momen. Knowing and without their prescence. The masks are with vires and plm leaves. The beads which decorate the masks are also used by women to add decoration to their long black skirts- used as a costume in the dances The Bassari are an ethnic minority who live in the Eastern region of Senegal. They are characterized by self-withdrawal in refusing to the modern world. The still live according to ancestral traditions, attempting to save them and pass them on in their true from. The other charcteristic of the Bassari is found in the beauty of the sites.Villages, melody of their language and especially in the art and decoration.In Barrari country, all mask dances are sacerd. They are performed according to a calendar which is strictly followed.It doesn't matter of involves popular dance or a dance for rejoicing: it must be supported by the ancient guardians and protectors of the tradition. For the Bassari, the drum is sacred and the maskds are made without the momen. Knowing and without their prescence. The masks are with vires and plm leaves. The beads which decorate the masks are also used by women to add decoration to their long black skirts- used as a costume in the dances

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 5175

by Joseph Houseal (Dancers in the Cham Ceremony ) Tibetan Buddhism, as it is commonly known in the West, is in strange times. It is disemboweled in Tibet, diluted in Sikkim, in exile in India, under wraps in Bhutan, trendy in America, and existing with some freedom and authenticity especially in Ladakh, a semi-autonomous region of Himalayan India. Perhaps its greatest threat today is unbridled western commercialism, the most pervasive force for the destruction of cultures in Asia.

Added on: Jun 17, 2002 | Hits: 5156

by Ellie Kuykendall

Added on: Nov 17, 2002 | Hits: 5110

The traditional dances of Sri Lanka have their origin in rites and rituals associated with folk beliefs. There are three distinct dance forms known as Kandyan dancing in the highlands, low country dancing in the coastal region and Sabaragamuwa dancing in the Province of Sabaragamuwa.

Added on: Nov 17, 2002 | Hits: 5035

Unique maskart ! Workshops, performance. "Movement - Using movement and simple and delightful paper sculptures the participants build themselves, they charge and magnify whichever part of the body chosen to come alive and perform. The body becomes its own sculpture that we can watch magically grow in any direction possible! Mask-making - Participants learn traditional costume construction and the techniques for masks and textiles used in Sha Sha's work. The masks are made musical and are brought to play at performances."

Added on: May 19, 2002 | Hits: 4965

8 photos

Added on: Jan 08, 2001 | Hits: 4961

Story and photos by Fr. Brad Reynolds, SJ, who has published countless photos and stories in publications across the country, including National Geographic. He works as formation director for the Oregon Province.

Added on: Jul 02, 2002 | Hits: 4947

Site not quite working - but looks interesting...Under construction?

Added on: Nov 17, 2002 | Hits: 4759

Une compagnie de danse et d'art dramatique, cr??e en 1980 ? (Version in french) Abidjan (C?te d'Ivoire) par Diallo Ticoua? Vincent. Percussions, chants, th??tre, danses, jeux de masques, acrobaties puis?s dans le r?pertoire de la pure tradition africaine associ?s ? des cr?ations, donnent une vision du spectacle mi-moderne mi-traditionnelle.

Added on: Jan 03, 2001 | Hits: 4704

Photogallery. Photos can be downloaded and used.

Added on: Jun 06, 2002 | Hits: 4685

Wonderful photocollection of maskdancers. German website

Added on: Jul 01, 2002 | Hits: 4680

Video Clip of Chuna McIntrye and the Nunamta Dancers performing at the opening ceremonies of the Agayuliyararput Exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian on March 31, 1997

Added on: Feb 21, 2001 | Hits: 4670