Labyrinth Dance Theater Presents NOOR

as NORTON – presents – BACKSTAGE “ABSORBING… – ROSE HARTMAN IT’S A MUST SEE!” GRIPPING STORY… A TREAT FOR THE MIND… Felicia Norton Felicia AN EXTRAORDINARY DANCER…” “AMAZING DANCE THEATER PIECE. DRAMATIC, TOUCHING, HEARTBREAKING. LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER THEATER DANCE LABYRINTH WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY SASHA SPIELVOGEL CHOREOGRAPHY FELICIA NORTON & SASHA SPIELVOGEL MUSIC DAVID MAJZLIN

Labyrinth Dance Theater Noor (718) 805(718) - 2107 As a universal Sufi, Noor understood the importance of human rights and respect for all religions. She was a pacifist – not the stuff that spies are made of – but become proactive to save Jews and all victims of Nazi oppression. Volunteering for Britain’s Special Operations Executive, (SOE), code named Madeleine, she was the first woman wireless operator infiltrated into Nazi occupied France, eventually Labyrinth Dance Theater Dance Labyrinth Artistic Director Sasha Spielvogel , a highly charged theater-dance tells the incredible true story of Noor-un-nisa www.labyrinthdance.org • [email protected] Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944). A citizen of the world, born in Moscow to an American mother and an Indian father, the classical Hindustani musician and renowned Sufi master, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor wasstunningly beautiful, kind and loving. She translated and published “The Twenty Jataka Buddhist Tales,” fables for children where animals perform feats of bravery and sacrifice which ironically foreshadowed Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan NOOR PERFORMANCENOOR HISTORY Rudolf Steiner Theatre, London, England Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland Bryant Park, New York, NY Shambhala Institute, Colorado Boulder, Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance, New York, NY The Nehru Centre, London, UK with introduction by Shrabani Basu, author of Fazal Manzil, Noor’s family home, Suresnes, France Angel Orensanz Synagogue/Center for the Arts, New York, NY Arts atThe Abode, New Lebanon, NY Premiere April 2008 18, Sarasota, Florida, Performing Arts Center at Rising Tide becoming one of the last communication links between London and Paris. Though the Gestapo had a full description she of evaded her, them through the summer of 1943 even as her spy ring collapsed around her. She would havegotten out of Paris had she not been betrayed to the Gestapo by a ‘friend.’ She made two daring escape attempts from Nazi headquarters at84 Avenue Foch, which branded her “a most dangerous person.” Noor was then sent to prison in Germany where she was chained in solitary confinement for eleven months. During her capture, interrogation and torture, she never betrayed anyone or revealed any secrets. On September 1944 13, she was taken to Dachau and shot, only months before the camp was liberated. Her last word was “Liberté!” She was posthumously awarded the George Cross, and the Croix de Guerre, England and France’s highest honors to a civilian. The piece weaves Noor’s poems, musical compositions, her translation of “The Elephant interspersing Tale” them with Morse code, political speeches, voices, letters, and music of the era into a lush and dramatic score Majzlin. by Mr. Felicia Norton expresses Noor’s journey with delight, strength and dignity. Noor’s compassion for victims of Nazi oppression, and her courageous effort which cost her life is a moving and relevant story that Ms. Spielvogel believes needs to be told. her owndestiny. She played the harpand vina, and studied music with Nadia Boulanger at the Sorbonne in Paris, until her family fled to London when the Nazis invaded1940. in

Labyrinth Dance Theater Noor As a universal Sufi, Noor understood the importance of human rights and respect for all religions. She was a pacifist – not the stuff that spies are made of – but become proactive to save Jews and all victims of Nazi oppression. Volunteering for Britain’s Special Operations Executive, (SOE), code named Madeleine, she was the first woman wireless operator infiltrated into Nazi occupied France, eventually , a highly charged theater-dance tells the incredible true story of Noor-un-nisa Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944). citizen A of theworld, born in Moscow to an American mother and an Indian father, the classical Hindustani musician and renowned Sufi master, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor was stunningly beautiful, kind and loving. She translated and published “The Twenty Jataka Buddhist Tales,” fables for children where animals perform feats of bravery and sacrifice which ironically foreshadowed her own destiny. She played the harp and vina, and studied music with Nadia Boulanger at the Sorbonne in Paris, until her family fled to London when the Nazis invaded1940. in becoming one of the last communication links between London and Paris. Though the Gestapo had a full description she of evaded her, them through the summer of 1943 even as her spy ring collapsed around her. She would have gotten out of Paris had she not been betrayed to the Gestapo by a ‘friend.’ She made two daring escape attempts from Nazi headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch, which branded her “a most dangerous person.” Noor was then sent to prison in Germany where she was chained in solitary confinement for eleven months. During her capture, interrogation and torture, she never betrayed anyone or revealed any secrets. On September 1944 13, she was taken to Dachau and shot, only months before the camp was liberated. Her last word was “Liberté!” She was posthumously awarded the George Cross, and the Croix de Guerre, England and France’s highest honors to a civilian. The piece weaves Noor’s poems, musical compositions, her translation of “The Elephant interspersing Tale” them with Morse code, political speeches, voices,letters, and music of the era into a lush and dramatic score Majzlin. by Mr. Felicia Norton expresses Noor’s journey with delight, strength and dignity. Noor’s compassion for victims of Nazi oppression, and her courageous effort which cost her life is a moving and relevant story that Ms. Spielvogel believes needs to be told. “Labyrinth Dance Theater’s production based on the life of Noor Inayat Khan is an incredibly riveting and inspiring story. I saw NOOR at the New York premiere and what was so amazing was the palpable FELICIA NORTON has toured internationally with her solo repertory, created for her sense of connection between the audience and Felicia Norton, who by several dance luminaries and is featured in the book, DANCERS by Philip Traeger. Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times described her as ‘an extraordinary dancer’ gives a 35-minute tour de force as Noor. I cannot praise this piece and John Percival in The London Times wrote ‘she was the single best dancer in the enough.” festival, performing with a display of extraordinary sensual intensity’ and was deemed the – Ellen McKey, Director, Foreign Fulbright Student Programs discovery of the evening at the Third International Festival of Dance in Brussels. Felicia’s “The highlight of the show was Labyrinth Dance Theater’s ‘NOOR’. collaborations with Bessie Award winning violinist Leroy Jenkins were called ‘magical’ by Jack Anderson. She traveled to Finland with Ms. Spielvogel to perform in Sasha’s Performer Felicia Norton’s outstanding physical storytelling told the Sacred & Blue, and appears in her film, Dark Angel. Ms. Norton studied with true life story of a brave woman who worked in occupied France as a Noor’s brother, Pir Vilayat Khan who taught Sufism in the West until his death in 2004. spy for the Allies during the Second World War until her execution in Dachau.” DAVID MAJZLIN Film credits include Stille, (Winner Best Score Avignon Film Festival), – [al], Three Weeks, Edinburgh Festival review the multi-award-winning documentary, Herb and Dorothy, The Loving Story “Felicia Norton’s dancing in NOOR by Labyrinth Dance Theater was (HBO Films), Youth Knows No Pain (HBO Films), and Sins Of My Father, Emmy Nominee Best Score (HBO Films). He also wrote additional music for Sunshine “nuanced and subtle.” Cleaning, starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin, and source music for The – Amiel Clarke, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine Ghost Writer (dir., Roman Polanski, starring Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor), “Noor Inayat’s life and her heroic death are an inspiration for all the All Good Things (dir., Andrew Jarecki, starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst), and The Joneses (starring Demi Moore and David Duchovny). In addition to scoring people who have been influenced by the writings of her father, Hazrat Ms. Spielvogel’s No Way Out But Through and Dark Angel, David has also Inayat Khan. Her legacy is expressed in sacred aesthetic and artistry worked with choreographer, Laura Gorenstein Miller (Helios Dance Company) and artist in the dance theater piece NOOR. I hope you watch it and in your Lou Reed, composer Paul Cantelon, and violinist Daisy Jopling (Triology). imagination, dance along so that you might feel her presence in your heart.” SASHA SPIELVOGEL is the Artistic Director of Labyrinth Dance Theater, a classically – Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi trained modern dance company in New York. The company has used puppets, stilt walkers “Felicia Norton captures the spirit of Noor Inayat Khan and tells her and musicians on stage and often commissions new dance scores. Ms. Spielvogel is pleased to work with artists who possess a seamless blend of dramatic intensity moving story with passion and intensity in a stunning work of dance and technical excellence and is deeply gratified when the audience is moved by the theatre.” company’s work. Critics from the New York Times to Attitude Magazine have described – Shrabani Basu, author of Spy Princess, The life of Noor Inayat Khan Ms. Spielvogel’s work as, “Totally mesmerizing,” “Striking!,’ “A powerful achievement performed superbly” and “Raises the art form to where it should always be: Towering!” “We came back …and Labyrinth Dance Theater continued its Among her internationally performed repertory, which runs the gamut from the deeply excellent work.” serious to the sexy and comedic are: Waltz for a Shattered World, Goya and – Charles Rutherford The Sleep of Reason, Passing, Les Espaces Du Sommeil, Auditioning for the Celestial Follies and a series of tangos, Entres Nosotros. NOOR, “Some brilliant stuff especially Labyrinth Dance - genuinely inspiring.” with Felicia Norton, received standing ovations in London, Paris and New York. Dark – Kay Leeds Angel, a dance film featuring Hannu Hyttinen, was screened in New York City and at “Fabulous! The work was so haunting it was painful to watch.” the LOIKKA Dance Film Festival in Helsinki in 2009. Labyrinth appeared with NOOR – Shelly Rochdale at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, and at the Rudolf Steiner Theater in London, August 2011. “It is wonderful that you are spreading the message of Noor’s life through your art. I am sure that Noor will be with you in spirit. I shall certainly be sending my thoughts and prayers.” – Pir Zia (Noor Inayat Khan’s nephew) LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER

presents NOOR

About the Project

Created in a surreal stream of conscious style dance/theater NOOR traces an amazing life: raised in a household filled with music, poetry and idealism, Noor found the strength to become a spy, choosing to do so because she would not have to kill anyone . Noor's compassion for victims of Nazi oppression and her courageous effort which cost her life , is a moving, inspiring and relevant story. The production has broad audience appeal with an easy to follow story-line and direct emotional access. Audiences come away with a deeper understanding that, rather than turning their backs on their neighbors or friends, it is imperative to save the life of someone persecuted only for their religious beliefs.

After years of working together, Felicia Norton who studied Sufism with Noor's brother came to Sasha Spielvogel with this story. After researching Noor's history Sasha was immediately sold on the idea for the project, believing that this was something that needed to be told to a younger generation .

Additional to the performance

* Educational Outreach Talk Back audiences engage in discussion regarding Noor Inayat Khan’s noble sacrifice during this dark period of history; works well for all ages particularly school children.

* Artistic Talk Back discussion of the creation of NOOR and the decisions that went into choosing the theatrical and musical elements.

* 12 minutes DVD commentary with historic photographs of Noor's family, her times and her recruitment into Britain's SOE.

* Interactive installation in a separate room using large historic photographs hung on the walls and/or in the space accompanied by physical objects/props and sound accompaniment as the audience walks through tracing Noor's story from childhood to death at Dachau.

* Potential to share the program with Musicians as we did at The Rudolph Steiner Theatre, London.

LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER

presents NOOR

Video

• Four-minute excerpt from NOOR is on youtube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_hm9RcBYY4

• A DVDDVDDVD of the New York performance with SPECIAL FEATURESFEATURES,FEATURES including the

comprehensive slide show of Noor's life and history, is available upon request.

Technical specs

• NOOR requires a minimum of 25x25 ft. space -- 8x8 meters, on a sprung wood or Marley floor. • Uses minimal amount of props with a quick set up and strike, requires two chairs. • Ms. Norton does not exit stage during the entire performance. • Can be seen with background slide projections and/or theatrical lighting. • Works quite well in outdoor spaces, but needs suitable dance floor. • Uses recorded sound on CD.

Contract terms

Catering / payment of expenses for 3 people (Artistic Director, performer and plastician artist). Depending on the number of shows and options (Interactive installation, musicians…). Please contact us: [email protected] LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER

presents NOOR

Labyrinth Dance Theater www.LabyrinthDanceTheater.org 141- 60 84th Road #4C Briarwood, New York 11435

Sasha Spielvogel/Artistic Director [email protected]

Europe booking ::: +33(0)6 60 63 43 41 [email protected]