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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline AUGUST 20, 2021 | The Indian Eye 24

Iaac announces its annual erasing borders

dance festival with top artists

Ten artists trained in Indian dance forms from across the world will be brought

together in a virtual borderless festival

Our Bureau different locations in Rajasthan.
And Kalamandalam Adithyan
New York will perform Kathakali assisted

ndo-American Arts Coun- by his chuttikar (makeup artist),
cil (IAAC) has announced fellow dancers, and several mu-
Iits annual Erasing Borders sical accompanists, capturing
Dance Festival, September 22- Kathakali’s natural flavor from
26, 2021 at 8:30 P.M. ET. Now the southwestern state of Ker-
in its 14th year, the Erasing ala. Virtuality has allowed the
Borders Dance Festival will be festival many possibilities.”
all-virtual in its presentation. “The Erasing Borders Dance
Ten artists trained in Indian Festival is a five-day dance fes-
dance forms from across the tival that commemorates and
world will be brought together promotes the cultural vibran-
in a virtual borderless festival. cy and amalgamation of peo-
The dance festival is one among ple who call NYC home,” said
Indo-American Arts Council’s Suman Gollamudi, Executive
other flagship events featur- Director of the Indo-Ameri-
ing music, film, and literature, can Arts Council. “Immigrant
all dedicated to furthering the artists have always been essen-
knowledge and living practices tial to the creative landscape of
of the arts of the Indian sub-con- New York City. Across multiple
tinent. Register on Eventbrite disciplines, immigrants are key
here to receive Festival updates dan, Kalamandalam Adith- years back for local New York to the city’s global reputation
and livestream links. yan, Kaustavi Sarkar, Jyotsna audiences,” said Deepsikha for artistic excellence. The line-
Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, Chair- Vaidee, Vaishali Trivedi, Bindu Chatterjee, Erasing Borders up includes artists who are local
man IAAC stated, “This year’s Rajendren, and Meera Sre- Dance Director for IAAC. “It New York City residents and
Festival, celebrating the start of enarayanan. Performances has always been and will con- are from the Indian-American
the 75th anniversary of India’s highlight Bharatanatyam, con- tinue to be a transcontinental community.”
independence, will include four temporary, Rajasthani folk, festival given the focus on Indi- Each evening will include a
performance evenings and two Kathakali, Odissi, and Mohini- an dance, whose practitioners panel discussion with the per-
morning workshops. For this yattam forms of dance. New live all over the world. Offering formers led by moderators who
year, the curators selected dance to the festival this year will be the festival virtually allows Indi- are among the doyen of the
works that speak to these reflec- a documentary presentation an dance to be seen across the Indian dance community, ex-
tions on 75 years. Pondering on on September 23 by Kalbeliya world and in many of its original plained Senior Curator Uttara
the issues of old struggles, new World, an international solidary settings. In 2020 we were able to Coorlawala. Kumudini Lakhia,
ideas, hard won achievements, program that safeguards the feature a Purulia Chhau dance Arshiya Sethi, Sonal Mansingh,
renewed actions, and future art forms of women from tradi- company of 12 artists of Ash- and UK’s Chitra Sundaram will
facing resolutions, the Festival tional families of the Kalbeliya para Care Club performing in lead these vibrant panels.
curators selected works where community in Rajasthan. Two their village square. Krishnak- The Erasing Borders Dance
artists think of dance as their morning workshops will round shi Kashyap performed Sattri- Festival of the Indo-American
personal journey. They reflect out the festival on September ya, a 400-year-old living dance Arts Council (IAAC) invites
on how dance stimulates aware- 25 and 26 at 10:00 A.M. ET. The form in the temple complex, in dancers, dance companies and
ness and how dance may direct first is led by Dr. Krishnakali front of the deities as original- choreographers across the
a sustainable future. The artists Dasgupta and covers the Indian ly meant to be performed as a world to present works of ar-
proudly present their dance as classical dance style of Mani- devotional practice. This year, tistic excellence sharing move-
heritage and as part of the glob- puri and the second is a Rajas- similarly, we will feature Kal- ment, heritage, and inspiration
al world.” thani folk workshop conducted beliya World, a documentary from India. The festival is curat-
Participating artists in- by Aakansha Maheshwari. on 12 female Kalbeliya folk ed for the New York City public
clude Rukmini Vijayakumar, “The Erasing Borders Dance dancers and their drumming ac- and can now be viewed globally
Preethi Athreya, Sonali Skan- Festival was first imagined 14 companists distributed in three in its virtual edition.

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