The Flying Apsaras are Kaeshi Chai and Lale Sayoko.

What is an Apsara?

An Apsara (अप्सराः Sanskrit), also known as Fei Tian (飛天 Chinese),
is a flying female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
English translations of the word "Apsara" include "celestial goddess."
Apsaras are powerful yet gentle women who dance to the music
made by their husbands, Gandharvas, the court servants of Indra.
They entertain the gods in heavenly palaces.

Artwork and stone bas-reliefs of Apsaras can be found in the Dunhuang caves in Western China, and at the temples of Cambodia, Thailand, Bali and Java.

The Flying Apsaras are available for museum/art gallery/educational programs,
and special events

Educational Program (Approx. 1 hour)
15-20 minute dance performance (Thai brass nails, candles, fans, veils)
15 minute Mudra workshop about symbolic and ritual gesture.
30 minute powerpoint Dunhuang Lecture by Nancy Eder, art history professor (FIT, Met Museum) and specialist in Buddhist/Hindu Iconography.

Special Events
Hire the Flying Apsaras to bless and entertain your guests with
flower offerings, dance (Thai brass nails, candles, fans, veils) and live music.
Live musicians include Pete List on Shahi Baaja (royal instrument),
BradMack on percussion and Kenji Williams on violin.

Listen to a sample of Flying Apsaras music, "Flutterby" by Pete List.

Please e-mail info@flyingapsaras.com for more details.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, June 18th, 2011, 2pm
Live music yoga class @ Jivamukti Yoga Center,
841 Broadway between 13th and 14th Sts. NYC Pete List and BradMack will be playing live music for a yoga class taught by Sangeeta Vallabhan. The class is open level, the music is drumming, shahi baaja, beatboxing, and other sweet sounds... for more info on Jivamukti: http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com

Saturday, June 18th, 8pm and 9.30pm
Kenji William's BELLA GAIA Ensemble (Yumi Kurosawa (Koto), Deep Singh (Tabla, Percussion), Shanir Blumenkranz (Bass, Oud), Amir El Saffar (Trumpet), Kristin Hoffman (Voice) Kenji Williams (Violin) will be performing live at the Vanderbilt Planetarium, www.bellagaia.com

Thursday, June 23rd, 8.00pm-11pm
Red Moon Dragon Show. Kaeshi and Jie Yang with Jerry Bezdikian's music ensemble.

Saturday, July 9th, 9pm
Flying Apsaras perform at the Theatrical Bellydance Conference, DNA Theater, 280 Broadway, 2nd Floor (entrance on Chambers), NYC

Photos by Lina Jang. Costumes by Diana Susanto (top and panel) and Sandralis Gines (pants and sleeves).