ကူညီမဲ့သူေတြရွိရင္..

Subject: 48 Hours for Burma Dance/Music Benefit Concert

Dear Friends and Family,

For those of you who don't already know, on September 6-7, 2008, I am planning an event called 48 Hours for Burma. 48 Hours for Burma is dance/music performance fundraiser for the victims of Burma's Cyclone Nargis. 100% of proceeds will go to the Foundation for the People of Burma. A panel discussion will precede the concert at 6:30 p.m. with Artistic Director of Battery Dance Company, Jonathan Hollander and singer/songwriter, Maya Azucena, sitting on the panel, both of whom recently performed in Burma with their respective companies/musicians. The performance will commence at 7:45 p.m. Performers include Martha Graham Dance Company, Battery Dance Company, CityDance Ensemble and musical guest, Maya Azucena who will perform selections from her critically acclaimed CD release, Junkyard Jewel.

I have recruited these artists based on their connections to Burma specifically. The Martha Graham Dance Company performed in Burma 1954 and again in 1974 as one of the few Western companies invited to travel there at the time. Graham herself was in Rangoon on both occasions and felt a deep connection with the Burmese people. Members of the Martha Graham Dance Company will present Graham's Conversation of Lovers from 1981 and Satyric Festival Song from 1932. These works celebrate universal human necessities—love and joy.


New York City-based Battery Dance Company, directed by Washington-area native Jonathan Hollander, is one of the State Department's most active cultural diplomats. The Company performed and taught in Burma in April 2008 as part of its third pan-Asian tour. Battery Dance will perform Shell Games choreographed by Hollander to an original musical score by Frank Carlberg, which was the centerpiece of its two performances in Rangoon.



Maya Azucena has toured the US world and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Stephen Marley, Roy Ayers, John Legend, Lupe Fiasco and Roberta Flack, among others. Most recently, she and her band toured Asia (Burma, China, Philippines and Sri Lanka) on the US State Department-sponsored program, The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. The goal of the tour was to promote cultural exchange within countries that have limited interaction with Americans.


To date, over $25,000 worth of performances have been donated for 48 Hours for Burma.

The Lansburgh Theatre has generously allowed us to rent the venue at a significantly lowered "partner rate".

CityDance Center at Strathmore is sponsoring the master class series of hip-hop, modern and Burmese dance classes and is offering to support the event, provide the venue and assist with marketing and logistics absolutely free of charge.

Culture Shock DC has forgone their rehearsal space on Sunday, September 7, 2008 for our event.

But in order to make this event a success, we still need your help. These are some of our costs:

* Theatre Rental: $1,750
* Martha Graham Dance Company Administrative Costs: $200
* Hotel accommodations for approximately 20 performers for two nights: $2,000
* Round-trip train fare from NYC to DC for approximately 20 performers: $2,000
* MIE (meals and incidental expenses) for approximately 20 performers for two days/two nights ($200 per person/per day): $8,000
* Fliers & posters: $200
* Tech and stage management costs: TBD
* Supporting me in this endeavor and showing that you care about the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma through your tax deductible contribution: PRICELESS.

We expect to raise at least $45,000 in ticket sales, which will go directly to FPB's cyclone relief efforts in Burma.

To donate, please visit www.foundationburma.org and click DONATE NOW and write "48 Hours for Burma" in the box labeled "I'd like to make this donation on behalf of". I invite you to enter my e-mail address in the box, "Please send acknowledgment of this gift to", so that I can keep track of these contributions.

No contribution is too small. $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, as well as larger gifts, in-kind donations of any sort (for food for our out-of-town artists, for example), hotel and transportation accommodations will also be welcomed.

Please contact me for further information.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please keep Burma in your hearts and continue to give generously. Attached is the flyer (front and back) for the event, as well as the press release. The FPB website, www.foundationburma.org , will soon have links to ticket sales and registration for the dance workshops on September 7, 2008.

With metta,

Simone