Labyrinth Dance Theater Theater Dance Labyrinth Labyrinth Dance Theater Theater Dance Labyrinth Noor, a highly charged theater-dance tells the incredible true story of Noor-un-nisa Noor, a highly charged theater-dance tells the incredible true story of Noor-un-nisa LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER Inayat Khan (1914-1944). A citizen of the world, born in Moscow to an American LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER 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 presents mother and an Indian father, the classical Hindustani musician and renowned Sufi presents master, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor was stunningly beautiful, kind and loving. She master, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor was stunningly beautiful, kind and loving. She translated and published “The Twenty Jataka Tales,” Buddhist fables for children translated and published “The Twenty Jataka Tales,” Buddhist fables for children where animals perform feats of bravery and sacrifice which ironically foreshadowed 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 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 invaded in 1940. Felicia Norton Paris, until her family fled to London when the Nazis invaded in 1940. Felicia Norton As a universal Sufi, Noor understood the importance of human rights as As a universal Sufi, Noor understood the importance of human rights as and respect for all religions. She was a pacifist – not the stuff that 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 spies are made of – but become proactive to save Jews and all victims Executive, (SOE), code named Madeleine, she was the first woman of Nazi oppression. Volunteering for Britain’s Special Operations wireless operator infiltrated into Nazi occupied France, eventually Executive, (SOE), code named Madeleine, she was the first woman becoming one of the last communication links between London and Paris. Though the Gestapo had a full wireless operator infiltrated into Nazi occupied France, eventually description of her, she evaded them through the summer of 1943 even as her spy ring collapsed around her. Noor becoming one of the last communication links between London and Paris. Though the Gestapo had a full She would have gotten out of Paris had she not been betrayed to the Gestapo by a ‘friend.’ She made two description of her, she evaded them through the summer of 1943 even as her spy ring collapsed around her. daring escape attempts from Nazi headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch, which branded her “a most dangerous She would have gotten out of Paris had she not been betrayed to the Gestapo by a ‘friend.’ She made two Noor person.” Noor was then sent to prison in Germany where she was chained in solitary confinement for eleven daring escape attempts from Nazi headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch, which branded her “a most dangerous months. During her capture, interrogation and torture, she never betrayed anyone or revealed any secrets. On September 13, 1944 she was taken to Dachau and shot, only months before the camp was liberated. person.” Noor was then sent to prison in Germany where she was chained in solitary confinement for eleven Her last word was “Liberté!” She was posthumously awarded the George Cross, and the Croix de Guerre, months. During her capture, interrogation and torture, she never betrayed anyone or revealed any secrets. England and France’s highest honors to a civilian. On September 13, 1944 she was taken to Dachau and shot, only months before the camp was liberated. The piece weaves Noor’s poems, musical compositions, her translation of “The Elephant Tale” interspersing Her last word was “Liberté!” She was posthumously awarded the George Cross, and the Croix de Guerre, them with Morse code, political speeches, voices, letters, and music of the era into a lush and dramatic England and France’s highest honors to a civilian. score by Mr. Majzlin. The piece weaves Noor’s poems, musical compositions, her translation of “The Elephant Tale” interspersing Felicia Norton expresses Noor’s journey with delight, strength and dignity. Noor’s compassion for victims them with Morse code, political speeches, voices, letters, and music of the era into a lush and dramatic of Nazi oppression, and her courageous effort which cost her life is a moving and relevant story that Ms. score by Mr. Majzlin. Spielvogel believes needs to be told. 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. NOOR PERFORMANCE HISTORY Spielvogel believes needs to be told. “ABSORBING… Rudolf Steiner Theatre, London, England GRIPPING STORY… Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland A TREAT FOR THE MIND… NORTON – Bryant Park, New York, NY AN EXTRAORDINARY DANCER…” “ABSORBING… Shambhala Institute, Boulder, Colorado – BACKSTAGE GRIPPING STORY… Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance, New York, NY “AMAZING DANCE THEATER PIECE. A TREAT FOR THE MIND… DRAMATIC, TOUCHING, HEARTBREAKING. NORTON – The Nehru Centre, London, UK with introduction by Shrabani Basu, author of IT’S A MUST SEE!” AN EXTRAORDINARY DANCER…” Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan – ROSE HARTMAN – BACKSTAGE Fazal Manzil, Noor’s family home, Suresnes, France “AMAZING DANCE THEATER PIECE. Angel Orensanz Synagogue/Center for the Arts, New York, NY CHOREOGRAPHY FELICIA NORTON & SASHA SPIELVOGEL MUSIC DAVID MAJZLIN DRAMATIC, TOUCHING, HEARTBREAKING. Arts at The Abode, New Lebanon, NY IT’S A MUST SEE!” Premiere April 18, 2008 Sarasota, Florida, Performing Arts Center at Rising Tide WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY SASHA SPIELVOGEL – ROSE HARTMAN Labyrinth Dance Theater CHOREOGRAPHY FELICIA NORTON & SASHA SPIELVOGEL MUSIC DAVID MAJZLIN Artistic Director Sasha Spielvogel www.labyrinthdance.org • [email protected] WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY SASHA SPIELVOGEL (718) 805 - 2107 “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.