MARION D'CRUZ began dancing before she could walk. She graduated with a BA in Performing Arts and an MA in Dance from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang in 1979. She has studied Ballet, Malay and Indian dance in Malaysia; Javanese and Balinese dance in Indonesia; Modem and Contemporary dance as well as Choreography in New York City.

In 1983 she formed her own dance company, Marion D'Cruz and Dancers, which has performed all over Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Amsterdam and Vienna. Madon has done solo performances in London, New York, Sydney, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.

In recent years, Marion has collaborated with visual/performance artists to create multi-ditnensional dance theatre performances. She also does choreography for theatre and is a founder member of Five Arts Centre - a theatre company doing theatre, dance, children's theatre, music and visual arts.

Marion's focus as a dancer and a choreographer is two-fold - to create a contemporary Malaysian identity in dance and to create works that speak of issues which she is passionate about. She does this by constantly breaking the rules, by redefining dance.

SHAKTI DANCES is one of the first few independent contemporary dance companies in Malaysia. Since its formation in 1994, members of the company are actively promoting and developing dance appreciation at the National Arts Academy (Akademi Seni Kebangsaan) and other dance and performing arts organisations throughout Malaysia.

SHAKTI DANCES draws its inspiration from the Malay and Sanskrit concept of "sakti", the cosmic powers emerging from the feminine force propelling the male force into action. Through symbolic and expressive power of traditional movement and ritualistic images deconstructed in a contemporary discipline, SHAKTI DANCES aims to explore the complexity of life as its aesthetic philosophy. It believes in the power of "sakti" in dance that engages the spirit of the performers and audiences in sharing creative meanings of everyday experiences.

SHAKTI DANCES is also known for their site-specificity, wherein members of the company explore from direct contact with natural environment and construct the dance in the actual space. These includes The Story of the Lotus Flower Dancing on Water (Pool-site, Concorde Hotel, K.L.), Beneath the Surface (Kapitan's Club), Kotak-Kotak (Garden-site, Wan Gallery), Pilgrimage: Akar (Pool-site, Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam), Pasang-Surut, Tunjang and Hijrah (Beach-Radisson Hotel, Tanjung Rhu).

SHAKTI DANCES has been actively performing as a company that strives to promote social conscience and awareness of human rights in events held by All Women's Action Society, Festival of Rights - Bar Council of Malaysia, The APA APA Artist Pro Activ Festival, Asia Pacific Peoples Assembly - Human Rights and Women's Conference on APEC. In 1996, SHAKTI DANCES presented the production of ... Beyond words, a charity event in aid of Women's Aid Organization (WAO).

Works by the members of the company have been performed at National and International Dance Festivals. These include: Kuala Lumpur Tari 94 and Tari 1996, 1994 Indonesia Dance Festival held in. Jakarta, 1997 Hong Kong International Dance Festival, 1998 Philippines International Dance Festival, Connecticut College International Dance Festival and Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Dance Festival in 1998.

SHAKTI DANCES most recent work was seen in Salam Benua-Tribute to Usman Awang (Actors Studio Theatre), and "Dances of the World", Family Fun Days, with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Dewan Fitharmonik Patroness)

SHAKTI DANCES as a new generation company, also aims to explore and re-interpret the multi-ethnic facets of Malaysian Culture and Art, hoping to forge a new vocabulary and identity in Malaysian contemporary dance; provide a platform for the meeting of local and international performers and choreographers to work together, encourage the creation of new works by young Malaysian choreographers and performers; promote and develop traditional training into creative explorations of contemporary dance in Malaysia and correct the prejudice and bias in traditional beliefs that contemporary dance and performance lead to moral and ethical decay of the Malaysian culture.

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AIDA REDZA is the Artistic Director of Shakti Dances and an active choreographer, performer and facilitator in promoting dance programs in Malaysia. Trained in traditional and contemporary dance, Aida has toured the United States of America, France, Korea, Jakarta, Japan, Hong Kong, Perth, Singapore and Malaysia with the John Gamble/Jan Van Dyke Dance Co. and Blue Skidd Dance Co., TheatreWorks and the Peoples Association Dance Co., Japan Foundation - Asia Centre, Tokyo and with the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan Dance Co.

Many of her works have been performed at festivals around the region. These include the Indonesian Dance Festival in Jakarta, WUDAO Dance Festival in Beijing, KIDE 95 in Korea, Hong Kong Dance Festival, Tari 94 and 96, Commonwealth 98 Dance Festival, Malaysia Fest and the Kuala Lumpur Arts Festival. Most recently, Aida was invited as an International Choreographer-in-Residence at the Connecticut College 1997 International Dance Festival.

Since 1996, Aida has been interested in studying the process of reconstructing a contemporary dance methodology that strives to bridge a fusion between traditional disciplines and contemporary training to reaffirm her identity in performance. Her participation at the 1996 and 1998 Flying Circus Project - Southeast Asia Lab produced by TheatreWorks, Singapore and sponsored by the Japan Foundation-Asia Centre in Tokyo introduced her to the Southeast Asian traditional dance and theatre forms such as Randai, Silat Minang dance, Javanese Singing, Thai Masks and Thai Martial and Weapon dance, Thai Classical Court dance, Vietnamese Hat Cheo Theatre, Shaolin Martial Arts, Tai-chi and Qi Gong, Noh Theatre, Burmese Puppetry, Korean traditional dance and the Indian classical Kuttiyatum Theatrer, Kathakali dance, Chao dance and Manipurian Theatre.

Influenced by the philosophy and aesthetics of traditional disciplines, her current work demonstrates the basic principles of 'Never forget the beginner's mind' which connects the consciousness of will and technique to the power of chance-discovery and being in the moment as the core of her creative presence.

The Flying Circus Project fostered the production tour of a Cross-Cultural Theatre "Lear" commissioned by The Japan Foundation. Aida played the role of the Mother's Shadow and Choreographer for Earth Mothers in "Lear"'s Japan Tour ( Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka) in 1997 and the Asia Tour ( Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta and Perth) early this year.

As an artist that draws her inspiration from direct contact with the natural environment, Aida enjoys collaborating with members of Shakti Dances in constructing works in site-specific projects. Currently pregnant and not affected by her changing shape, hormonal and emotional shifts, Aida tries to see herself as feminine and as creative as ever until the expected date of delivery, at the end of July.

ANNE JAMES trained in theatre at the Universiti Sains Malaysia and Northwestern University, USA. She has worked with various directors such as Krishen Jit, Joe Hasham and Kee Thuan Chye (Malaysia), Ong Keng Sen (Singapore) and Richard Schechner (New York). She has received notable acclaim for her performance as Santha in K. S. Maniam's The Sandpit, Kali in K. S. Maniam's The Cord, Tybalt in Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet, Dudard in Eugene lonesco's Rhinoceros and as Veni in K. S. Maniam's Skin Trilogy. Anne was last seen on the Kuala Lumpur stage in Five Arts Centre's Family.

She made her directorial debut with Edward Dorall's The Hour of the Dog (1995). Anne trained as a dancer with Marion D'Cruz and has performed with the company in Urn Piece, Maria Zaiton, Sook Ching, Woman A I Point Zero, Immigrant and Dance Tonpu. She teaches voice at Akademi Senj Kebangsaan (National Arts Academy).

He has travelled far and wide to places such as Europe, India, Japan, New York, Paris, Hong Kong and the Philippines to perform and to learn more of other cultures and to exchange ideas and views on Performing Arts.

Guna is the artistic director of Khazana Stage Creations which was formed in 1997.

Judimar has performed in National/International Dance Festivals in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Venezuela, and Malaysia. Residing in Malaysia, she has been involved as Choreographer/Dancer in several dance productions throughout the country, worked with The Actors Studio, the RiverGrass Dance Theatre, Khazana Stage Creations and Kualiworks and is Co-founder and Artistic Director of Shakti Dances Dance Company (Malaysia).

She is currently a modern dance lecturer at the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan (National Arts Academy), as well as a contemporary dance teacher at The Actors Studio Academy and at the RiverGrass Dance School, where she also teaches jazz dance.

Judimar's interest in dance was brought out from an early age. Her passion for dance and music was always beyond boundaries and limitations. The feeling of freedom, the urgency to communicate and to explore the inner self is the satisfaction of her dance. Her philosophy is to believe in whatever you do, love for the arts and feel the dance from inside. She enjoys the opportunity to work and collaborate with artists from different backgrounds and cultures, moreover she defines her style as an experience of everyday life.

Michael received training at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Washington, Seattle. His works were performed recently in Australia and France.

Michael had won five choreographic awards in Colorado, a best performer award in the American College Dance Festival at Seattle with the inclusion of three yearly listings in the National American Universities' "Who's Who" honours. Credits include diversified American state productions of A Chorus Line, Snoopy, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Amadeus, Cinderella and numerous dance and multi-media works.

After an absence of seven years, Michael reappeared locally in the World Premiere of Clive Duncan's theatre-in-education play Bodyguards and his first Malaysian Dance Solo in nine years at Skoob Books. His appearances included Marina Mahathir's Birthday Party at Chow Kit Street, solos in Sydney, Underwater Movement for Michael Loh's KLCC premiere exhibition, Cafe
Teh or Buto for Taro Dance Theatre with Instant Cafe Theatre, Scintillations for Ramli Ibrahim/Michael Veerapen/Michael Loh, Storyteller for Dramalab, KL/KO for Kualiworks, Hip Hopera - the by Straits Theatre Company, Chicken Parts V at the Actors Studio Theatre and Dances of the World at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.

Vernon was last seen in a monologue in the Artis Pro Activ-produced You Have 10 Minutes in the APA APA Art Fest in October, 1998. He is currently collaborating with actor/writer/poet Charlene Rajendran (of Mangosteen Crumble fame) in a devised performance called Shrimp Warrior, scheduled for late 1999/early 2000.

Elaine has also been seen on stage in several dance performances ranging from traditional Malay dance, ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz to hip hop.

She is currently teaching two different mediums of communication - dance and the English Language.

His most recent work, as choreographer, dancer and actor, was in Hamlet (The Actors Studio).

She continued her dance studies in the University of Nebraska and the University of Kansas, USA where she danced for a local art/dance foundation group, the Wagon Train, and worked with the Cohen & Suzue Duet Company.

Since her return to Malaysia, she has been working extensively with various local choreographers and has performed in several local performances such as The Actors Studio's Salam Benua - A Tribute to Usman Awang and in Dances of the World in the Family Fun Days with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Dewan Filharmonik Petronas).

For her, dancing makes her life colourful and meaningful.

She now teaches writing and literature at a private college and little by little is making her rounds in life through a wide variety of art forms, falling (and staying) in love with each -- music, literature, and now dance. She has been a musician in Trees (The Actors Studio), an immigrant in Immigrant in Bangsar (Five Arts Centre), a parallel text writer for Family (Five Arts Centre), and a front of house manager for everyone.

Briana suspects her final marriage will be to clay. however, the love affair is a new one and she's having difficulty making the necessary commitment. In the meantime, she is extremely excited and honoured to be dancing with Marion D'Cruz and Shakti Dances - many thanks for the opportunity.