Ringling International Art Festival
Thurs., Oct. 15 through Sun., Oct. 18. The Ringling Museum of Art. 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, ringling.org. General performance tickets: $30, $35. Student with ID: $10. Members: $27, $31.50. 941-360-7399. See below for schedule of events. 

Visit the Pacific Rim without the expense. With first-rate artists and performers from around the world headlining this year’s Ringling International Art Festival, you can experience an array of Far East performance traditions at one of Sarasota’s most picturesque cultural destinations. The lively four-day event blends traditional and contemporary music, theater and dance with a focus on Asia.  You can expect nothing less than unique beauty and artistry from these talented performers. Free admission to the Ringling galleries, Jazz Sunsets on the Bay, and Gatehouse Gatherings are also included in the ticket purchase to pack your day with arts and entertainment. 

With musical performances that Jen Shyu calls “rituals,” this American-born Timorese-Taiwanese artist incorporates her Western upbringing into works that explore her Eastern heritage. She grew up taking ballet and piano lessons, which explains how beautifully and seamlessly Shyu blends dance, song, music, and her whole body into the performance she will be presenting at the Ringling, “Solo Rites: Seven Breaths.”

Usually the master behind the puppet is hidden, but in Tom Lee’s “Shank's Mare,” the puppeteers further act out the wooden marionette’s movements in a powerful performance incorporating video projection and live music. Through the traditional form of Kuruma Ningyo puppetry, Tom Lee works closely with Japanese Master Koryu Nishikawa V to narrate the exploration of life, death, and the power of tradition.

Handstands aren’t for the weak, but shooting a bow with your feet while in a handstand takes things to a whole new level. Where rock band meets Cirque de Soleil, Phare: The Cambodian Circus wows audiences with their performance “Khmer Metal.” This energetic story-performance takes place in a Cambodian rock bar, where these strong, flexible performers balance on each other all while drinking beer and taking tequila shots.

Other performances include Orkes Sinten Remen, a group of Indonesian musicians who have been characterized as “rowdy,” “old fashioned,” and even “crazy”–but their music will make you want to sing along (if you only knew what they were singing). TAO Dance Theater will be performing “Weight X 3,” featuring two duet performances and a solo act featuring synchronized movements, repetition, speed, and constant movement. Paired with music that resembles the ceaselessness of a ticking clock, these performances are both mesmerizing and edgy. Ronnarong Khampha in “My Names is Ong” contorts his body while performing traditional dances of Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan in a more modern manner during his solo stage appearance. Lastly, Peni Candra Rini preserves the musical heritage of her home country through expressive vocals and melodic traditional musical instruments, softly transporting the audience to Indonesia.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Thurs., Oct. 15
Opening Night Event Choose between three spectacular opening night performances: Phare the Cambodian Circus’s “Khmer Metal,” Tom Lee’s “Shank’s Mare,” or Ronnarong Khampha’s “My Name is Ong." Shows start at at 6 p.m. Following the performance of your choice, come to the Courtyard to enjoy DJ Prashant’s mix of Bollywood beats and dance the night away. Hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and soft drinks will be served during the dance party while you enjoy the RIAF fireworks display. General: $125. Members: $112.50. 941-358-3180.

Fri., Oct. 16
2 p.m. Phare: The Cambodian Circus, “Khmer Metal.” Mertz Theatre.
2 p.m. Peni Candra Rini. Cook Theatre.
5 p.m. Orkes Sinten Remen. Historic Asolo Theatre.
5 p.m. Ronnarong Khampha, “My Name is Ong.” Cook Theatre.
5-8 p.m. Jazz Sunset on the Bay. Bayfront Gardens.
8 p.m. Jen Shyu, “Solo Rites: Seven Breaths.” Cook Theatre.
8 p.m. Tom Lee, “Shank's Mare.” Historic Asolo Theater.
8 p.m. TAO Dance Theater, "Weight X 3." Mertz Theatre.

Sat., Oct. 17
2 p.m. Orkes Sinten Remen. Historic Asolo Theatre.
2 p.m. TAO Dance Theater, "Weight X 3." Mertz Theatre.
2 p.m. Ronnarong Khampha, “My Name is Ong.” Cook Theatre.
5 p.m. Jen Shyu, “Solo Rites: Seven Breaths.” Cook Theatre.
5 p.m. Tom Lee, “Shank's Mare.” Historic Asolo Theater.
5-8 p.m. Jazz Sunset on the Bay. Bayfront Gardens.
8 p.m. Orkes Sinten Remen. Historic Asolo Theatre.
8 p.m. Phare: The Cambodian Circus, “Khmer Metal.” Mertz Theatre.
8 p.m. Peni Candra Rini. Cook Theatre.

Sun., Oct. 18
2 p.m. Jen Shyu, “Solo Rites: Seven Breaths.” Cook Theatre.
2 p.m. Tom Lee, “Shank's Mare.” Historic Asolo Theater.
2 p.m. Phare: The Cambodian Circus, “Khmer Metal.” Mertz Theatre.
5 p.m. Orkes Sinten Remen. Historic Asolo Theatre.
5 p.m. TAO Dance Theater, "Weight X 3." Mertz Theatre.
5 p.m. Peni Candra Rini. Cook Theatre.

This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2015.