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Sheetal Gandhi |
The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) and Asia Society are proud to present the third annual "Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance 2010":
Indian - and India inspired - dance in an array of forms, old and new: Two evening concerts feature performances traditional and experimental, classical and post-modern, highlighting both dramatic and non-narrative dance. Day sessions of panels, workshops, and demonstrations explore aspects of Indian dance across genres. |
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Performances
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Navtej Johar; Photo by Anshuman Sen
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Concert I
Friday June 4 at 8 pm
The opening night concert features an array of dance performances - the seductive grace of Shipra Mehrotra's classical Odissi, the brilliance of Parul Shah Dance Company's Kathak choreography, the post-modern take on Kathak by Cynthia Lee, the meditative and yogic Navtej Johar's Bharatanatyam, the electrifying Wanted Ashiqz.
Tickets: $20 general; $18 students/seniors; $16 members. |
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Mythili Prakash; Photo by Jorge Vismara |
Concert II
Saturday June 5 at 8 pm
The second evening concert features an eclectic mix of dance performances - the elegance of Mythili Prakash's Bharatanatyam, the passion in Mesma Belsare's interpretation of 12th century Sanskrit poetry, the lyricism of Parul Shah Dance Company's thumri, the narrative and humorous dance theater work of Sheetal Gandhi, the percussive fast-paced work of Ailey II inspired by Indian rhythms.
Tickets: $20 general; $18 students/seniors; $16 members. |
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Prerana Deshpande |
June 6, 2010
4 - 6 pm
Kutcheri-Mehfil: Cushion Conversations
At the heart of Indian dance lies Abhinaya, in which a dancer conveys poetic, philosophic, imagistic meanings suggested by the accompanying lyrics. Senior artists of Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Bharatanatyam will present their approaches to art in an informal cushion concert.
Moderators: Chitra Sundaram, Prachi Dalal
Presenters: Anuradha Nehru(Kuchipudi), Prerana Deshpande (Kathak), Rachna Sarang (Kathak), Ramya Ramnarayan (Bharatanatyam)
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members. |
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Special Offer: Free with purchase of 3 panels |
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Panels
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| *Special Offer: Buy tickets to all 3 panels; attend “Kutcheri-Mehfil: Cushion Conversations” for FREE* |
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Sheetal Gandhi; Photo by Cedar Bough T. Saeji |
June 5, 2010
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Panel: Vachika: Talking Dance
One of the most exciting elements of Indian dance is how it incorporates chanted poems and vocalized rhythmic syllables. Dancers demonstrate how, and discuss why, they use spoken sound and word in current work.
Moderator: Elise Thoron
Presenters: Cynthia Lee, Rajika Puri, Reena Shah, Sheetal Gandhi
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members |
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June 5, 2010
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Panel: Mathematics of Rhythm II
How do mathematics and rhythm intersect? A fascinating discussion and demonstration of the Indian systems of rhythms, Carnatic and Hindustani, and the mathematical process of composition.
Moderator: Prachi Dalal
Presenters: Bala Skandan (Carnatic percussion), Smruti Patel Jani (Choreographer and Mathematics Professor), Prerana Deshpande (Kathak)
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members.
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Parul Shah; Photo by Micheal Toolan |
June 6, 2010
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Panel: Moving Traditions
Dance traditions connect us to the past and move us into the future. As traditions transform, how have changes in patronage, transmission and globalization affected dance and choreography? A thought-provoking discussion with leading dancers, choreographers and scholars who will share their insights into the changing world of Indian dance.
Moderator: Purnima Shah
Keynote Panelist: Richard Schechner (TBC)
Panelists: Anita Ratnam, Chitra Sundaram, Navtej Johar
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members. |
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| Workshop |
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Mesma Balsare; Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe |
June 5, 2010
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Comparative Workshop: Angika: The Dance Body
Experience and explore the body position and usage of feet, hands, eyes, neck in three classical movement forms: Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kalaripayattu (a martial art form).
Led by: Mesma S. Belsare (Bharatanatyam), Shipra Mehrotra (Odissi), Sridhar Shanmugam (Kalarippayattu)
Limited space available. Open to all
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members.
Limited Space available.
June 6, 2010
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Workshop: Rasa Boxes
Rasaboxes, brings the practice of abhinaya into American performer training techniques for the theatre. Rasaboxes was developed by Richard Schechner over his long engagement with performer training techniques of avant garde theatre, Kathakali and the Naatyashaastra, a Sanskrit text dealing with theatre, dance, and music. Rasaboxes trains participants to physically access and express eight key emotions. It integrates ancient theory with contemporary emotion research, neuroscience, and performance theory. Rasaboxes integrates rather than separates acting, movement, and voice. It engages the whole performer in a single, powerful, and learnable approach. Led by Paula Murray Cole (Assistant Professor, Department of Theater Arts, Ithaca College)
Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors; $5 members.
Limited Space available. |
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Concert I, Friday June 4 at 8 pm
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Shipra Mehrotra (Regeti’s Photography) |
Shipra Mehrotra
Navtej Johar
Parul Shah Dance Company
Cynthia Lee
Wanted Ashiqz
A pair of sinuous dances- one rhythmic, one a love poem - by Shipra Mehrota, an exponent of the seductive dance form originating in the temple rituals of Orissa, India.
In his Meenakshi, dedicated to the fish-eyed goddess, Bharatanatyam and yoga exponent Navtej Johar celebrates the feminine principle through meditative and ritualized movement.
The New York-based Parul Shah Dance Company's abstract work
Samanvay reflects an expansive and innovative view of the quintessential North Indian dance form Kathak. |
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Wanted Ashiqz (www.SamayStudio.com) |
Indian rhythm becomes a talking point for Cynthia Lee in Ruddha ('Rude, huh?').
An explosive blend of hip-hop, disco and Bhangra, performed by the group Wanted Ashiqz -catapult audiences into the energy-filled world of Bollywood dance and music. |
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Concert II,
Saturday June 5 at 8 pm
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Mythili Prakash (Jorge Vismara) |
Mythili Prakash
Mesma S. Belsare
Parul Shah Dance Company
Sheetal Gandhi
Ailey II
A favorite on NBC's Superstars of Dance, Mythili Prakash combines Sufi poetry of Rumi with verses on the Vedic sun god, Surya, in her suite of Bharatanatyam dances.
Two US premieres, one inspired by a folio of Indian paintings, the other a stark minimalist work by Mesma S. Belsare, known for her innovative Bharatanatyam choreography.
Lyrical love poems on Krishna are brought to life in the narrative work by the New York-based Parul Shah Dance Company, evoking images from Indian miniature paintings while reflecting an innovative view of the quintessential North Indian dance form Kathak. |
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Ailey II's Jarvis McKinley (Eduardo Patino NYC) |
Excerpts from Bahu-Beti-Biwi (Daughter-in-law, Daughter, Wife), a soloist tour-de-force combining dance, stirring vocalization and percussive text by Sheetal Gandhi.
Ailey II performs Takademe, choreographed by Robert Battle and set to Indian rhythms - an exuberant example of the spreading influence of Indian dance and music.
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