The Floating Lotus Magic Opera Company was a legendary Berkeley multimedia group in existence from 1966-1969. Originated by the Oakland poet Daniel Moore, it was a commune of poets, musicians, dancers, painters, and artists of all sorts. Moore wrote two terrific books of poetry published by City Lights Books of San Francisco, "Dawn Visions", and "Burnt Heart, an Ode to the War Dead."

They presented ritualistic theater pieces some of which were presented at Grace Cathedral and in the psychedelic ballrooms. A participant wrote a manuscript seen by Jim Horton in the early 70s that described the life of the group. She described how Terry Riley gave lessons and directions to the opera band which consisted mostly of bamboo flutes and metal percussion and how a guru from India experienced a bad LSD trip.

Jan Pusina borrowed percussion instruments from them.

Known members beside Daniel Moore included Angus MacLise and perhaps the dancer Kamala Cesar.

Moore accepted Islam in 1969, and as Abd al-Hayy Moore, traveled and lived in Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Nigeria, England and America.

downloaded sept 96 http://www.unibio.com/spirit/smp/ahmoore/home.html Sufi Poetry of `Abd al-Hayy Moore. Daniel Moore, born 1940 in Oakland, California. Two books of poetry published by City Lights Books of San Francisco, Dawn Visions, and Burnt Heart, an Ode to the War Dead. Originator of the Floating Lotus Magic Opera in Berkeley from 1966-1969, he accepted Islam in 1969, and as Abd al-Hayy Moore, traveled and lived in Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Nigeria, England and America. Zilzal Press has published two other book-length poems, The Desert is the Only Way Out, and Chronicles of Akhira. He is presently living with wife and two children in Philadelphia.

downloaded sept 96 http://moobird.com/maclise.html Angus MacLise Biography. Angus was a high priest of poetry. He lived as if under orders. As he himself once put it, he followed a curve through poems, calligraphy, music and journey, humming with as many beings as possible. As much a musician as a poet, he played with LaMonte Young, Terry Riley, and the Velvet Underground; he created his own music with others under group names like Dreamweapon, Joyous Lake, The Tribal Orchestra. In his poetry you can hear the rhythms of a great hand drummer. ... During the sixties he acted as a kind of hermetic messenger in a period of multimedia brilliance, working closely with many of the best artists of his time. He worked with Floating Lotus Opera Company in Berkeley and the Universal Mutant Repertory Company in New York City.

downloaded sept 96 http://www.arts-online.com/dance/lotus/lotus7.htm Kamala Cesar Kamala Cesar, a disciple of T. Balasraswati for 15 years, is the founder and Artistic Director of Lotus Fine Arts Productions Inc. and Lotus Music and Dance Studios, a center for multicultural traditional arts. She also co-founded and directed The Balasaraswati Institute of Music and Dance for four years. She studied Carnatic vocal music with T. Viswanathan and G. Subramaniam and Tla with T. Ranganathan. She is one of the few specialists of Balasaraswati's style in this country and has been teaching since 1978. She has performed in Europe, India, the Philippines and the U.S. Ms. Cesar is Filipino and Mohawk Indian and resides in New York City where she is available for teaching, master classes, lecture demonstrations and performances through Lotus Fine Arts Productions, Inc.