It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
— Allen Cohen
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14th Fall Festival of South Asian Arts
Hold the dates for Dakshina's Annual Fall Festival of South Asian Arts. This year's invited guests include local and international dancers and musicians. Our overarching theme will be pioneering women choreographers of India with Parijat Desai, Mallika Sarabhai, Rama Vaidyanathan, and Leela Samson featured in the festival.
Dakshina presents its 14th Annual Fall Festival of South Asian Arts. Use coupon code "daksub" to get 25% off tickets till September 30. Tickets available starting 9/13/2017 at www.dakshina.org. We are grateful to Mrs and Mr Trehan for their sponsorship of the Fall Festival.
Mallika Sarabhai and Company, Thursday October 12th 7:30 PM
Parijat Desai in O.O.F on Friday October 13th at 6:00 PM
Rama Vaidyanathan and Company, Friday October 13th 7:30 PM
Leela Samson and Spanda Dance Company, Saturday October 14th 7:30 PM
1333 H St NE
DANCE IN THE ROUND AND OOF
In Dance In The Round: Circle As Sanctuary, dancer and choreographer Parijat Desai teaches Garba and Raas—circle dances that originate in Gujarat, India, and that are played across the South Asian diaspora. O.O.F. is an evolving movement practice in which Parijat attempts to cultivate an alternative emotional state to the anxiety of the curent political moment and to her individual fear. She asks, what rituals can I create to invoke new energies? O.O.F. was first performed live with Minneapolis-based avant garde composer Manjunan Gnanaratnam. Together and separately they have been exploring macro and micro cycles in our human experience. Parijat Desai is an India-born, U.S.-raised choreographer who strives to cross boundaries of culture, identity, and nation through dance performance. She draws on contemporary dance, bharata natyam, theater, and other forms to create hybrid movement languages. Parijat also interfaces with architectural site and public space to explore human experience and social issues through the performing body.
CLASSIC TO CONTEMPORARY:
Mallika Sarabhai and her company Darpana present an evening spanning the classical to contemporary in form and theme. Sarabhai is known for re-examining Indian myths and contemporary social constructs through a feminist lens–always connecting social justice to dance. In this production, topics range from global warming, relationships, and even intriguing thoughts such as an aethist's relationship to the goddess. Known for constantly championing the underserved through dance, Sarabhai frames art as the most important tool for social critique. She writes, "You have treated the arts as the cherry on the cake. It needs to be the yeast."
MAD AND DIVINE:
Rama Vaidyanathan presents an evening of dance, music, and poetry based on the lives of Janabai from Maharashtra and Lal Ded from Kashmir, India. Both were female mystic poets who went through tremendous hardships before earning recognition for their spiritual awakenings. They shattered multitudinous social boundaries to fearlessly express their love for the supreme. Vaidyanathan is one of the leading soloists and choreographers of Bharata Natyam in India, known for creating a signature movement style. In this production, she highlights the composite nature of South Asian traditions where poetry, music, and dance are layered, supporting and further developing each form.
NADI:
Leela Samson and her company Spanda present an evening of dance drawing on the myths and symbolism surrounding the images of the rivers in our lives (Nadi means river in Tamil). Drawing on multiple regional texts, Samson has created a nuanced and poignant dance production that journeys through the complexity of India. Nadi seeks to explore the love and longing, the physical changes, and the deep philosophy that the river inspired through the centuries-old voices of India's poets. Samson is a renowned Bharata Natyam dancer and choreographer known for her approach to updating the form's repertoire while maintaining its traditions.
More details on the local artists who will be showcased along with details on Dakshina's premiere of Chakra will be updated this summer. Please hold the date and check back in August for full details.