The Beijinger
(August 13th, 2008)

Just as the Games are meant to rise above politics, Kaplan intends that her Booking Dance Festival will "bridge political gaps through cultural connections," much the way the New York Philarmonica's recent North korean visit chipped away at that country's self-imposed isolation.

As a gesture of good will, Kaplan said that any proceeds from the performances wil be donated to Chinese earthquake victims.

She explained that kim Robards Dance and the Salt Lake City- based Odyssey Dance Theatre were picked from her stable of 28 international troupes for specific reasons. "Kim's company has a very American, contemporary aesthetic, offering beautiful modern dance."

Odyssey includes hip-hop and funk in its repertory - styles that have become increasingly popular in China.

After Kaplan and Alison Friedman, her co-producer in Beijing, came up with the festival concept and selected the American dancers, they had to jump through numerous bureacratic hoops to make it happen.

The planning and execution of the festival began in January - allowing precious little time to navigate the maze of Chinese agencies. Various permits were hastily requested and submitted, and every stumbling block and patiently overcome.

"I felt that we were climbing a hill a lot," Kaplan noted. "But I'm not a masochist. I'm an optimist."

Not everything fell neatly into place. Plans for a post-Olympics mini-tour into China's rual regions had to be scrapped, through KRD has been invited to return to China for such a tour next year through the country's Gateway to Music program. And this year's brief visit wil be packed with activities, anyway.

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