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Dynamic Kathakali troupe from India performs classical dance-drama outdoors
For the first time in New York City

New York, NY – August 5, 2010) The Indo-American Arts Council’s Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance proudly presents a FREE outdoor Kathakali performance, courtesy of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), in collaboration with the Battery Dance Company’s 29th Downtown Dance Festival on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at noon at One New York Plaza. Guru Radha Mohanan and his Kathakali dance troupe from India, as well as Kuchipudi dancer Shobha Korambil and Odissi dancer Leena Mohanty, will wow New York audiences with their skill, technique, and passion for some of India’s most notable dance styles. Of last year’s outdoor festival, The New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay said, “Just try to pass by without being stunned.”

Kathakali is a classical Indian dance-drama form noted for its color-saturated make-up and elaborate costumes. Episodes from ancient stories of love and war from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata (Indian holy texts) are re-lived and intensely excavated for their emotional and philosophical meanings. Based on performance traditions that trace back to the 16th century in what is now known as India’s southern state of Kerala, Katha (story) and Kali (play) speaks to us through its language of sounds, colors, enlarged facial and hand gestures and action.

Tuesday, August 17 at Noon at One New York Plaza:  Kiratham
This episode from the Mahabharata combines humor with a subtle philosophical message of humility and overcoming ego. While in exile, Arjuna, the third of the Pandava brothers and an expert archer, is performing penance to Lord Shiva to obtain the divine arrow ‘Pasupata.’ Pleased with Arjuna’s worship, Shiva disguises himself as a hunter (Kirata), along with his consort Parvati, disguised as a huntress, to test Arjuna’s skill and to subdue his pride.

For more information about the dancers, musicians, and other artists involved in this performance, please visit . Opportunities to interview the artists will be made available post-performance.

About The Indo-American Arts Council: The Indo-American Arts Council is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, secular service and resource arts organization charged with the mission of promoting and building the awareness, creation, production, exhibition, publication and performance of Indian and cross-cultural art forms in North America. It is passionate about showcasing, celebrating and building an awareness of artists and artistic disciplines of Indian origin in the performing, literary, visual and folk arts.  For further information please visit .