March Mini-Festival of Indian Dance
Kalanidhi Fine Arts of Canada will present a mini-festival of contemporary, kathak and bharatanatyam dance in March 2010 on three consecutive weekends starting Friday March 12 & 13, followed by Saturday March 20 and Sunday March 21, and ending on Saturday March 27 and Sunday March 28. Contemporary Dance Weekend with Daksha Sheth Dance Company ? March 12 and 13, 2010, 8pm.
“Sarpagati” is a powerful dance-theatre work that has become a landmark in contemporary Indian dance. Inspired by the significance of snake worship in Indian culture, Sarpagati draws upon rituals, myth and symbolism associated with the snake. In terms of choreography, Daksha has continued in “Sarpagati” to look beyond classical dance idioms. Elements derived from the martial art of Kalaripayattu and the physical discipline of Mallakhamb (aerial dance), as well as from Yoga and gymnastics, have strongly influenced the choreography of “Sarpagati”. Add to this Daksha's own, very individual approach to rhythmic expression, which has its origins in her years as a Kathak dancer but which has now been radically transformed into a new and vibrant body language.
“Sarpagati” will feature seven dancers including Artistic Director Daksha Sheth and her daughter Isha Sharvani who has become well-known in recent years for her Bollywood film roles as well as her career in dance. Three musicians will perform live on stage. The music for “Sarpagati” is the creation of Divissaro who is the husband of Daksha Sheth and the father of their two children Isha and Tao Issaro who is a trained musician. In keeping with the austere and unornamented lines of the choreography, the music explores elemental sound sources. The eclectic array of instruments used in “Sarpagati” include the didjeridoo, an aboriginal wind pipe from Australia, the Indian bamboo flute or bansuri, the "rain stick" from south America, "tibetan" bowls for rubbing and striking, and an assortment of percussion - wood blocks, bamboo blocks, clapping sticks, and drums, including the duff from north India and the mrinow from Kerala.
Contemporary Dance Symposium: Sunday March 14 – 10 am to 1pm & 2pm to 5 pm – Location tbd.
The Sunday symposium is intended as continuance of the discussion on contemporary dance began in Kalanidhi’s “Contemporary Choreography in Indian Dance Conference” held in January 2009. Daksha Sheth, Divissaro, and Isha Sharvani – Will discuss the previous night’s performance, Daksha’s journey from a traditional Kathak dancer to Chhau, Kalariapayattu and finally Mallakamb (aerial) to become India’s foremost contemporary dancer/choreographer. Divissaro will discuss developing a music base for contemporary Indian dance. Afternoon sessions will involve three presentations on Contemporary Dance within a culturally diverse context.
Daksha Sheth Residency: Monday March 15 – Friday March 19, 2010 – Location Menaka Thakkar Dance Studio. Information 905-764-7028, ext. 22 or www.kalanidhifinearts.org
Canadian Kathak Performers –Saturday March 20 and March 21 – Venue: MTDC Studio Theatre – Tickets $20 - $15 – Box Office – 905-763-6083
Bageshree Vaze – Toronto – with live music (2 musicians) - Bageshree Vaze is a versatile and multi-talented Indo-Canadian artist. As a dancer and choreographer, she strives to create and present work that reflects her cultural influences. She was initially trained in the style of Bharatanatyam in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and also trained in Hindustani (North Indian) classical vocal music with her father, Dr. Damodar Vaze. After completing her Arangetram (graduation) in Bharatha Natyam, Bageshree received a fellowship from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute to further her studies in India with the late Guru T.K. Mahalingam Pillai. After moving to Ontario in 1996, Bageshree began to create dance works which combined her knowledge of South Indian dance and North Indian music, and she explored collaborations between Indian dance and Western forms, such as ballet, modern and West African dance. In 2001, Bageshree also began training with renowned vocalist Veena Sahasrabuddhe, and she released a debut album, Bageshree, which combined Indian classical aesthetics with modern pop music and electronica. Bageshree was named ‘ubbharta sitara’ (rising star) by MTV India in February 2004, and the video for her single ‘Deewana’ won the 2004 Annecy, France film festival award and the 2006 ReelWorld film festival award for Outstanding Canadian Music video. The track ‘Oh Meherabaan’ was picked up for airplay on BBC radio, and her track ‘Bhakti’ was included on a compilation by the Japanese label Dakini records. Songs from Bageshree continue to be played on CBC national radio, and her video airs regularly on MuchMoreMusic. Bageshree strives to preserve the integrity of traditional dance and music, but to create new work that is reflective of her second-generation experience. Her performances attempt to fuse music and dance into one genre, according to principles of Indian aesthetics, rather than seeing them as separate genres, which has been the case in the modern art world. Tabla is an integral component of Kathak dance, and much of her current work is done in collaboration with her husband and tabla artist Vineet Vyas. Website: www.bageshree.com
Sudeshna – Montreal - Sudeshna , 3 musicians – Live Music
A kathak practitioner is one of the most promising Indian Classical dancer in Canada today. Endowed with an electrifying presence and total involvement in dance, her performances always speak of a rare intensity & authority. Her dance mastery in Kathak technique training under Pt Chitresh Das began at the age of seven. She continued her training from Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi and later at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi under the guidance of Kathak legend Padmabhibhushan Birju maharaj. For the last few years she had been a part of Kadambs performing unit (Padmashri Kumidini Lakhias Dance company) where she has learned the finer nuances of choreography. She is a graded artist in Delhi Doordarshan (National Television) and has performed in C.P.C. (Central production centre) in different dances choreographed by Guru Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji, Kumudini lakhia and Aditi Mangal Das. Currently she resides in Montreal, Canada and continuing her Dance career through collaboration, performance and teaching in Canada. Website: www.sudeshna.org
Canadian Bharatanatyam Performers –Saturday March 27 and Sunday March 28 – Venue: MTDC Studio Theatre Tickets $20 - $15 – Box Office – 905-763-6083
Anusha Fernando – Vancouver – Anusha Fernando is a performer and teacher of Bharatanatyam, and the Artistic Director of Shakti Dance. Through her performances, group classes and private training, Anusha has contributed much to British Columbia and Vancouver. Her most recent productions include Body of Dance, (a work which utilized video, live music and dance to illuminate Bharatanatyam's traditional vocabulary), and two solo recitals, Krishna Plays and The Moods Of Love. Anusha began studying Bharatanatyam in 1990 and graduated from the Jai Govinda Dance Academy in 1995. Upon graduation, Anusha continued training with Jai Govinda and began teaching and performing as a soloist and ensemble member. She was Assistant Teacher at Mandala Arts and Culture until 2003. To deepen her dance practice, Anusha traveled to India in 1997 and began studying with Jayalakshmi Eshwar of New Delhi, India, who is her current teacher. Website: www.shaktidancesociety.com
Neena Jayarajan – Toronto – Neena Jayarajan is the Assistant Artistic Director, Rehearsal Director and a lead dancer with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. She is a graduate of Nrytakala – The Canadian Academy of Indian dance where she studied Bharatanatyam under Dr. Menaka Thakkar for 25 years. As a leading dancer for Canada’s Menaka Thakkar Dance Company Neena has been trained in Odissi dance through Nrtytakala by Sujata Mohapatra and has been a part of summer intensives in Kalariapayattu with Shaji John, Body Conditioning with Natasha Bakht, Butoh with Jay Hirabayashi, Modern with Eddie Kastrau, Pantomime with Deb Kumar Paul, and Yoga for dancers with Navtej Johar. Her repertoire consists of traditional and contemporary works by Menaka Thakkar, Natasha Bakht, Chandralekha, and Kelucharan Mohaptra. She has toured internationally with MTDC for the past 10 years in such performances as Gita Govinda, Chitrangada, Moving to Rhythm, Riaz, and Voyage of Awakening. Website: www.menakathakkardance.org
Sajilal Narayanan – Toronto/India – Sajilal Narayan is a graduate of the famous Kalakshetra School in Chenna, India. He has performed all over India and abroad with Kalakshetra and other senior dancers of Chennai. In 2008, he was honored by Bharat Kalachar wit the title of Yuvakalabharathi for his all round talen in bharatanatauaym, nattuvankam ad choreography. Sajilal is currently performing with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and is a full-time teacher with Nrtyakala School of Indian Dance. www.menakathakkardance.org
Prabha Raghavan – Is the Artistic Director of the Sanskriti Dance Academy in Mississauga. Trained under Guru Shri Mahalingam Pillai and Guru Kalyanasundaram Pillai, she has been pursuing and performing Bharatanatyam for over three decades now. A trained Carnatic vocalist, Prabha received lessons from Gurus Smt. Shakuntala Narasimhan and Smt. Raji Gopal. Along with this, Prabha also learnt and played the veena for over seven years, under the guidance and tutoring of Guru Smt. Mangalam Muthuswamy. Prabha has performed as a soloist and in several group recitals in India, Bahrain and Canada. Associated with Sampradaya Dance Academy for eleven years, she played a vital role in the company’s growth. A driving force for students from intermediate to senior levels and a mentor to numerous students, Prabha has not only been a dedicated and integral part of the academy through its arangetrams, stage recitals and performances, but she has been its principal soloist as well. www.sanskritidance.com
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