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Interviews,Articles, Reviews, Events, News

 

June 14 - July 2, 2008    Vyjayanthi Kashi tours US to spread her passion for Kuchipudi through performances and lecture demonstrations from 14th of June to 2nd July 2008.  If you wish to have performance, workshops, learn items, private lesson or know more about Kuchipudi you can get in touch with me on futureofdance@hotmail.com.  www.schoolofkuchipudi.com

 

July 2, 2008 Birmingham  Town Hall, Birmingham supported by sampad present Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion, including the Dancing Drummers of Manipur. Global tabla supremo Zakir Hussain is a major force in world music, and favourite accompanist for the greatest Indian classical musicians and dancers. His outstanding collaborations include Shakti, Remember Shakti, The Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum and Masters of Percussion. Tonight he heads up a unique group of percussion masters on a variety of colourful instruments along with the amazing Dancing Drummers of Manipur, renowned for their athletic dancing, drumming and martial arts.  Venue: Town Hall, Birmingham, 7.30pm  e-mail: info@sampad.org.uk

 

July 2 - 6, 2008 Athens, Greece  22ND WORLD CONGRESS ON DANCE RESEARCH  This is the largest gathering of dance specialists world-wide, the best opportunity to showcase one's work to a wide audience of practitioners, dance teachers, choreographers, researchers, journalists and organizers.  700 specialists from 64 countries took part in 2006.  All forms of dance are represented. Strictly non-profit. Not to be confused with festivals, workshops, competitions or open conferences.  Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Municipality of Athens and the National UNESCO Commission.  The congress is organized by the Dora Stratou Dance Theater and the Greek  Section IOFA, in collaboration with the International Dance Council CID.  The program includes:  -  Presentation and discussion of original research reports (papers)  -  Classes, lecture-demonstrations, video projections  -  Performances by dance companies, duos or solos  -  Exhibitions and sale of books, records, pictures, costumes, accessories etc.  -  Visits to places of special interest, such as dance schools, museums,  sites etc.  -  Evenings where members can discuss in a relaxed setting.  president@cid-unesco.org / www.cid-unesco.org

 

July 4, 2008 Monroe, NY    Kathak Dance Concert by Pandit S N Charka & the East-West School of Dance. This dance concert in celebration of the Ashram's Anniversary features traditional and contemporary Kathak dance with live music, including rhythmic dialogues between musicians and dancer.  At the Blue Sky Center, Ananda Ashram, 13 Sapphire Road, Monroe, NY 10950, 8.30pm  Info: Ananda Ashram: 845-782-5525 / charkasn@yahoo.com

 

July 4, 2008 Delhi  India International Centre presents Odissi dance recital by Aadya Kaktikar and Madhushree Dasgupta, disciples of Guru Mayadhar Raut and Madhumita Raut  Main Auditorium, India Internatinal Centre, 6.30pm.  e-mail: madhumitaraut@yahoo.com

 

July 5, 2008 Nashville, TN    The14 member Odissi dance group, Rudraksha, led by Guru Bichitrananda Swain perform at Nashville.   For more information: rudrakshya2008@gmail.com

 

July 5 - 29, 2008 Bangalore  Schedule for Sai Venkatesh - Light and stage designing for July 2008   5th July - Guru Meenal Prabhu, Mudrika, production, Bangalore  10th July - Madhu Nataraj’s show, Bangalore  13th July - Sangeetya Aasthana, music show, M S Sheela and Praveen Godkhandi.  19th July - Praveen Kumar’s student - Bharatanatyam presentation.  20th July - Doctors conference.  21st July - Doctors meet - national conference on cardiology.  26th July - Guru Sridevi Unni, Mohiniattam production  29th July - Ananya presents Maha Shakti ballet at Chowdiah Hall.  e-mail: saivenkatesh@gmail.com / k.domaindlx.com/saiinternational/

 

July 6, 2008 Chennai  The “Mylapore Trio” & the Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation present monthly concert KALA POSHAKAM. The performers are: S. Akila - Bharatanatyam (Disciple of Hemalatha Ramachandran) Deepa Chakravarthy - Mohini Aattam (Disciple of Gopika Varma) Kuchipudi - Duet by Hemalatha Ramachandran & Kavitha Ramesh S Jayanthi - Carnatic Music Time: 5.30pm at Narada Gana Sabha, Mini Hall, T.T.K. Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 18. All are welcome in Traditional Attire.  For more details: 9382698811 / 9381038385 / +91-44-24935521 Email: sri_srmf@yahoo.com / srimylaporetrio@gmail.com Website: www.srimylaporetrio.in

 

July 6 - 27, 2008 Pärnu, Estonia  XXII PÄRNU INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL  International program July 6 - July 12. Award Ceremony on July 12 at late evening. Travelling program in different towns in Estonia from July 14 - July 25 Check the schedule: http://www.chaplin.ee/english/filmfestival/program2008.htm

 

July 7 & 8, 2008 London  Amici Dance Theatre Company and Indepen-dance present OPEN DOOR.  Amici’s ‘Liebestod’ from Wagner’s music of the same name, is a tribute to Peter Sim, former stage manager who was snatched away under tragic circumstances. He was a ballet dancer too. Amici Dance Theatre Company is a unique dance theatre company integrating able-bodied & disabled artists and performers. AMICI was founded in 1980. Since then its productions and workshops have had a major impact challenging conventional attitudes about disability and the arts.   Indepen-dance with Amici dancers present a 22-minute item titled FORECAST, a journey through weather reflecting personal feelings. The simple joy of sunshine, the refreshment brought my spring rain, the electric energy of storms and the peaceful calm of falling snow.    At the Hammersmith Lyric, King Street, London at 7.30pm.   e-mail: info@turtlekeyarts.org.uk

 

July 7 - 27, 2008 Mumbai, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai  attendance launches in: - 14 July: Mumbai at Nalanda, Kanak Sabha, released by Dr. Kanak Rele, 6 pm. - 16 July: Baroda, released by H.H. Ranjit Sinh Gaekwad ji; first copy recd by the Vice Chancellor, M S University. Org by Dr Parul Shah. - 17 July: Ahmedabad at Darpana, released by Guru Mrinalini Sarabhai, 6 pm. Darpana, Usmanpura. - 20 July: Hyderabad, ITC Kakaitya Hotel, released by Sect. Culture and Toursim, 6 pm. - 27 July: Chennai, Guru M K Saroja biography, Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall, 6 pm Dr Padma Subrahmanyam hosts and introduces author-historian Ashish Mohan Khokar.   Padma Subrahmanyam honours the guru; book released by N.Murali of the Hindu; first copy recd by Guru Narasimhachari and Director Kalakshetra, Leela Samson to felicitate. Anita Ratnam to give vote of thanks.  - All dance lovers in each city very welcome! Please bring cash to buy books  (attendance Rs. 500/- Guru Saroja biopic Rs.700/-) since no credit card facility. See www.attendance-india.com for book details... e-mail: khokar1960@gmail.com

 

July 1st week, 2008 Bhubaneswar  Samskritiki Shreyaskar Orissa Chapter presents SURYA, THE SUN GOD  At Rabindra Mandap.  e-mail: ranikarn@vsnl.net / www.ranikathak.com

 

July 9 - August 17, 2008 Israel, Egypt , Malta and Tunisia    Vyjayanthi Kashi, a dynamic force in Kuchipudi will be traveling to four counties to be part of the international festivals. She will present solo performances accompanied by musicians and also conduct workshops in Kuchipudi.   Israel: 9th July to 25th July 2008  Malta: 26th July to 30th July 2008  Tunisia: 31st July to 7th August 2008  Egypt:  8th August to 17th August 2008  email: futureofdance@hotmail.com, vyjayanthikashi@hotmail.com or danceindia@gmail.com   For details visit www.schoolofkuchipudi.com

 

July 10, 2008 Lichfield, UK  For years it’s been sitting in the archives of the British Film Institute. But now the classic 1928 silent film SHIRAZ has been dusted off and given a new lease of life as the renowned Sabri Ensemble create a specially commissioned score, to be performed live at this year’s LICHFIELD FESTIVAL.   Set in the Mughal Empire during the 17th century, Shiraz tells of the powerful romance which inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. One of several films produced by Indian solicitor Himansu Rai and directed by German Franz Osten in the 1920s, Shiraz was a unique collaboration aiming at audiences in both counties. The film was shot in India with an enormous cast and is remarkable for its extensive and evocative locations and its sumptuous photography. It is an epic story of love, mistaken identity and devotion that tells the tale of the Empress Mumtaz Mahal, her lover, the 17th century Mughal emperor, and her devoted brother, Shiraz, who designs the Taj Mahal. The film’s screening at Lichfield Festival will be accompanied by a specially commissioned score. Richard Hawley, Artistic Director of the Lichfield Festival, explains how the idea to bring Shiraz back to life came about:  “The idea of commissioning new music for silent film had been on the cards since 2006 when Chaplin short films with live orchestra were screened in Lichfield Cathedral.  The Shiraz project was conceived to mirror the original Rai/Osten collaboration, where ideas, in this case music, from different cultural backgrounds could fuse into something fundamentally new. It also became an opportunity also comment on issues of cultural identity, especially for British-born Asians, because the Taj Mahal is such an iconic building. Silent film is an increasingly important part of Britain’s cultural fabric, and while the UK leads the world in terms of the presentation of silent film, largely because of the work of the National Film and Television Archive, it remains important to tap into the British Film Institute archives and dust off films that deserve a wider appreciation. It was also key for me that this new Festival production utilised musicians from the West Midlands.  The wonderful Sabri Ensemble was a perfect choice.”  Led by composer and master tabla player Sarvar Sabri, the Sabri Ensemble draws upon the dynamic and creative energy released when the Indian classical tradition meets traditions from other parts of the world. Their specially commissioned score will be performed live in its world premier at the Lichfield Festival on Thursday 10 July.  Shiraz was commissioned by the Lichfield Festival in collaboration with sampad.   Shiraz – world premiere on Thursday 10 July, 7.15pm  Venue: Lichfield Garrick, Castle Dyke, Lichfield  Tickets: £16.50, £10 (under 18s half price, students on the door £5)  Ticket Office: 01543 412121 or visit www.lichfieldfestival.org  The Lichfield Festival is from July 3 - 13

 

July 10, 2008 Pärnu, Estonia  THE NINE MOVEMENTS OF THE EYELID - A creative documentary by Rajele Jain 104 min., HDV, 2008 produced by Francisco Camacho and Rajele Jain The film will have its world premiere in the XII. Documentary Festival Pärnu: "While traditional thought conceptualizes the human body as a unique centre, a centre of the universe, expanding outwards into the cosmos, industrial society converts the body into the prime target of attack: as citizen, attacked by the political system; as consumer, attacked by the economic system; as individual, bombarded by the media, denied contact with nature, incapable of self-renewal, suffocated by poisons in air and water, isolated and deprived of directions for change. The question then arises: What role can dance play in such a society? Can it recuperate energies? Can it initiate a living flow between individual and community? Can it integrate human perspectives? Can it infuse people with joy for life, radical optimism, hope, courage, and vision to negate all that is ugly, unjust and hurtful? If our life is alienated, can our dances and arts help to transcend that alienation?" (Chandralekha in: new directions in Indian dance, ed. by Sunil Kothari, Marg Publications 2003) with: Anita Ratnam, Anjali Sriram, Prof. C. V. Chandrasekhar, Chandralekha, Chitra Viswanathan, Clara Games, Debarati Natarajan, Sri Gopalakrishnan Pillai, Indu Varma, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Kalpana Raghuraman, Kamakshi Jarayanan, Madhavi Mandira, Manjari Chandrasekhar, Meenaskhi Chitaranjan, Nalini Chettur, Prasanna Oommen, Rani Ottermann, Shyamala, Sunil Kothari, Mrs. Suryakala, Tarika Valli Narrator: Prof. T V Gopalkrishnan, Director of Photography: Gerd Peun Audioscapes: ORANGOTANGO, Special Effects: Vipulamati: AI Association Main program of the festival is from July 6 to July 12! The festival centre locates in the Museum of New Art in Pärnu, 10, Esplanaadi St. e-mail: raj@rajele.net http://www.chaplin.ee/english/filmfestival/program2008.htm

 

July 11, 2008 Mumbai  Ileana Citaristi performs Odissi dance in URJA, 2 days festival showcasing the brilliance in music and dance. The program will be held at Godrej Dance Academy Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, at 6.30pm.  e-mail: ileana5@hotmail.com / www.artvisionindia.com

 

July 12, 2008  Santa Monica, CA, USA  Saturday @ 7pm - Double Bill!  RANGOLI FESTIVAL OF SOLOS presents an evening of Bharatanatyam dances including time honored classics and premieres.  Featured Dancers: Hema Iyer & Karisma Nagarkatti  Malathi Iyengar - Dance Conductor  Musicians from India: Nandakumar U - Vocal, Gurumurthy G - Percussion, and Vivek V - Flute.  At: The Edye Second Space, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310, 11th Street Santa Monica, CA.  Phone: (310) 434-3414 / www.smc.edu/madison  Tickets & Reservation: hemaiyer@sbcglobal.net / 818 577 8434  nagarkatti@hotmail.com / 805 493 0540  Admission: $15  www.rangoli.org

 

July 12, 2008 Irvine, CA    Ramya Harishankar and Arpana Dance Company present ANNAMACHARYA, a special presentation at Irvine, CA  e-mail: info@arpanadancecompany.org / www.arpanadancecompany.org

 

July 12, 2008 Bangalore    Prateeksha Kashi, disciple of Vyjayanthi Kashi presents KUCHIPUDI TRADITIONS as part of ANKURA FESTIVAL.   At: Yavanika, 7.30pm to 8.30pm  e-mail: futureofdance@hotmail.com   For details visit www.schoolofkuchipudi.com

 

July 12 - August 2, 2008 Australia  Dance historian, scholar, author, critic 's itinerary for the month of July 2008  July 12 till 18 - Brisbane   World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific Conference  Six day seminar, parallel sessions of lectures, workshops, choreo-lab, Annual General Meeting  Global Assembly, meetings of WDA AMERICAS, EUROPE and ASIA PACIFIC ballets in the evening, showcase etc, etc  July 19 till 25 - Sydney  Illustrated talk on New Directions In Indian Dance  At Critical Path studio at 5pm on 25th July  In collaboration with Lingalayam Dance Company of Anandavalli  July 26 till August 2 - Melbourne  July 28 - Illustrated Talk on New Directions In Indian dance   At Monash University, 2.30pm  Discussion regarding Louise Lightfoot, Australian dancer's visits to India  July 29 - Talk on my recent favourite book in English literature  University of Melbourne (orgnized by Indian Consulate)  July 30 - Recent developments in Indian dance  Lecture at Tara Raj Kumar's Academy of Mohini Attam, 5pm  August 2: New Delhi  e-mail: sunilkothari1933@gmail.com      website: www.sunilkothari.com

 

July 13, 2008 Santa Monica, CA, USA  Sunday @ 6pm - Double Bill!  RANGOLI FESTIVAL OF SOLOS presents an evening of Bharatanatyam dances including time honored classics and premieres.  Featured Dancer: Lakshmi Iyengar  Malathi Iyengar – Dance Conductor  Musician from India: Nandakumar U - Vocal, Gurumurthy G - Percussion, and Vivek V - Flute.  Guest Dancer: Navia Natarajan  At: The Edye Second Space, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310, 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA,   Phone: (310) 434-3414 / www.smc.edu/madison   Tickets & Reservation: lakshmiyengar@gmail.com, malathisiyengar@gmail.com / 818 788 6860  Admission: $15  www.rangoli.org

 

July 13, 2008 New Delhi    Worlds first - historic first: BHARATANATYAM ON WHEELS performed by artistes with disabilities under the direction of Syed Sallaudin Pasha. The performance will open doors to every interested disabled artiste to practice Bharatanatyam.  A new 'Natya Shastra for the differently abled' will emerge in the horizons of Indian classical dance. This 60 minutes performance is first of its kind in the world. Performance opens with Purwarangam (pre-presentational rituals as per the fifth chapter of Natya Shastra) and continues with  'Dasha Disha' ritualistic dance performance that describes ten cosmic directions performed with beejakshara mantra of each god and 'Dasha Roopa' describes ten incarnations of Vishnu, both works entirely performed on wheel chairs.  At: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi   Time: 6.30pm  Tickets: Rs.500, 300, 200 and 100  e-mail for booking: abilityunlimited@gmail.com  Call for booking, Sonu Gupta: 09211532494 / 09873989660  Website: www.abilityunlimited.com

 

July 14, 2008, New Delhi    P Praveen kumar will be performing Bharatanatyam @ India International Center (IIC), @ 6.30pm.   Contact: 94498 15114/ praveendance@hotmail.com

 

July 15 - 19, 2008 Seoul, South Korea  Padmaja Suresh has been invited by the International Federation of Theater Research, Chung Ang University, Seoul, South Korea between 15th and 19th July, to present her paper- HINDUISM AND BHARATANATYAM in the Scholar's Forum. Her paper won a scholars runner up prize and besides this, she will also perform a dance recital during the conference.  e-mail: padmajasuresh@hotmail.com

 

July 18, 2008 Bangalore    The prestigious Lalitha Kala Parishad (Bangalore) presents a Kathakali dance recital by Probal Gupta, senior disciple of Guru Kalamandalam Govindan Kutty and Fact Padmanabhan.   Venue: National College Auditorium, Jayanagar 7th Block, 6:30pm  The program is open to all.  e-mail: probs_gupta12@yahoo.co.in

 

July 19, 2008 Monroe, NY  RAMAYANA dance drama by the East-West School of Dance, directed by Pandit S N Charka, featuring dramatic scenes from the great epic of ancient India, which portrays the eternal battle between good and evil - the story of our mind. The Ramayana production, created with the efforts of both American and Indian dancers, actors and technical staff, is presented as a spectacular multimedia pageant at the lakeside amphitheater (location weather permitting). Bring blankets and appropriate clothing for outdoor performance.  At the Blue Sky Center, Ananda Ashram, 13 Sapphire Road, Monroe, NY 10950, 8.30pm  Info: 845-782-5525 / charkasn@yahoo.com

 

July 19, 2008 New Delhi  Aadyantara presents RANG - COLOURS OF DEVOTION by Swati Subodh Siddhartha  In this production by Aadyantara, various facets of devotion as conceived and penned by some of the very well known poets like Kalidas, Amir Khusrau, Kabir and Meera spanning different eras will be depicted. Using the grammar of kathak, this presentation depicts the colors of devotion in a language which emerges out of an amalgamation of the poets' imagination and the artists' own interpretation.  Venue: Triveni Kala Sangam, 6.30pm    e-mail: aadyantara@gmail.com

 

July 19, 2008 Chennai    Pooja Kumar, disciple of A Lakshman and Savithri Jagannatha Rao, performs  For Natyarangam at Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall, at 6pm.   e-mail: poojadance@gmail.com

 

July 19 & 20, 2008 Washington, DC  Vijay Palaparty will perform as part of the NEW RELEASES CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE at Dance Place in Washington, DC. The program is Dance Place's annual adjudicated showcase of new works by established and emerging choreographers.   Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 8pm, Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 7pm  At: Dance Place, 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017  For tickets and more information, visit www.danceplace.org or call 202-269-1600

 

July 20, 2008 NYC  Mala's School of Odissi Dance & Dakshina Palli, Inc. presents GURUTATTVA (Element of the Guru), celebrating Gurpurab. Presenting the classical dance of South and East India with Jaan R Freeman (Bharatanatyam) &  Mala Desai (Odissi)  Jaan and Mala will perform dances from their traditional repertoire.  Featuring a new collaborative work JATI-PALL fusing the music from the Bharatanatyam, Jatiswaram and the Odissi, Pallavi.  ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! At 2pm    At City Center Studios, 130 West 56th street, 3rd floor, NYC  General Admission: $20 (children/seniors: $15)  For Tickets or more info, email or call: info@dakshinapalli.org / 212-946-5348  (seating limited)   www.dakshinapalli.org

 

July 20, 2008 Baltimore, MD    Janaki Rangarajan performs solo Bharatanatyam for Artscape at 2:30pm.  Lyric Opera House  140 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21201  For more information, please visit www.nrityaniketan.com

 

July 20, 2008 Singapore  Apsaras Arts Ltd presents LOCAL HEROES staged in conjuction with the Heritage Festival. Apsaras will be presenting a dance drama on three heroes who have made their imprint on the rudiments of the Republic to date. The presentation is in English.  The 3 heroes are: S Rajaratnam - 1st Foreign Affairs Minister, P Govindasamy Pillai, entrepreneur, S L Perumal, Philanthropist.  Venue: Suntec City, Singapore  e-mail: apsaras_arts@pacific.net.sg

 

July 20 - 26, 2008 Manchester, UK  A rare and unique feast of Indian dance unlike any other! FESTIVAL OF DANCE INDIA every evening   At: The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ at 7pm  Sunday 20th July: Aditi Mangaldas and Manjari Chandrasekhar  Monday 21st July: Priyadarshini Govind and Prashant Shah  Tuesday 22nd July: Sujata Mohapatra and Sushmita Ghosh  Wednesday 23rd July: Northwest Dance Alliance and Gauri Sharma Tripathi   Thursday 24th July: Prof. CV Chandrasekhar and Sonia Sabri  Friday 25th July: In conversation with Kumudini Lakhia  Saturday 26th July: In conversation with Kalanidhi Narayanan  e-mail: info@milapfest.com / www.milapfest.com

 

July 21 - August 14, 2008 MO, KS  Program schedule for Hemavathi Sharma for July 2008  July 21 - 27: KC Fringe Festival, KC, MO  July 31 - August 14: Performing & Multiarts Workshop, Overland Park, Kansas   e-mail: hemavathisharma2001@yahoo.com / www.nritya.org

 

July 24, 2008 Chennai    Anuradha Vikranth presents solo Bharatanatyam recital at the Maharaja Swati Tirunal Dance Festival at Sri Padmanabha Temple, Adyar, at 7pm.   Website: anu.drishtimag.com / e-mail: info@drishtimag.com

 

July 26, 2008 Washington DC  Dakshina performs at the FRINGE FESTIVAL - SONGS OF MY LIFE at 8:30 pm  9:30 Club,  815 V St. NW.  For this performance Dakshina presents three programs in one night in one of the hottest night clubs in the East Coast. The program begins with Songs of My Life, and will follow with their collaboration with WIT Going against the Flow and close with an open performance. Songs of My Life links a series of choreographed vignettes - each of which represents a snapshot of certain relationship or situation that might happen in a club. Between the vignettes, a DJ spins live mixes of songs while audience and cast members alike are invited to dance. e-mail: info@dakshina.org

 

July 29, 2008 Bangalore    Suparna Venkatesh performs MAHA SHAKTI with 5 blind boys   At Chowdiah Memorial Hall for the Ananya Arogya Dara.  e-mail: saivenkatesh@gmail.com