Page 24 - The Indian EYE 121622

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 16, 2022 | The Indian Eye 24

Nritya Darpan is a Unique

Dance Festival to celebrate emerging

contemporary and classical artists

OUR BUREAU periences. IMGE is a performance
company based in dance, film, and
Brunswick, NJ
music that uses cross-cultural vocab-
ndian Heritage & Cultural Associ- ularies to share global stories with
ation-NJ a nonprofit organization artists of diverse backgrounds and
Ibased in New Jersey, USA has an- their work is influenced by Indian
nounced a unique dance festival Nri- to Western classical, folk, street, and
tya Darpan, on December 10, 2022, at contemporary movement vocabular-
New Brunswick Performing Arts Cen- ies used to navigate social, cultural,
ter in New Brunswick, NJ, celebrating and environmental constructs.
emerging contemporary and classi- Dr. Krishnakali Dasgupta brings
cal artists from the Indian diaspora. to the stage more than 30 years of
involved training, performing &
This is IHCA-NJ’s first ever dance choreography work in Classical Ma-

festival where six multi-talent- nipuri and will be presenting ‘The
Wild Swans’, a concise dramatization
ed US based dance companies of Hans Christian Anderson’s -The
will be performing high quali- Wild Swans. The story is an allegory
on ostracization based on blind prej-
ty dance dramas using various udices and victory of determination

Indian classical dance forms to break that cycle.
Shila Mehta, a celebrated Kath-
such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam, ak exponent specializing in the
Manipuri and Odissi along with Lucknow gharana, known for her
well-rounded command of the form,
Western dance styles. the performance will include emo-
tive storytelling layered within Kath-
The concept of Nritya Darpan ak dance movements in their purest
is developed by the Founder and the form, will present the choreography
President of IHCA-NJ, Dr. Ashok of ‘Nimitta’ aims to give a voice to the
Chaudhary, to promote exception- issue of gender bias existing all over
ally talented local artists and dance the world. It is also to challenge the
groups and to bring communities to- section of the society that is preju-
gether to discuss various social issues diced against gender preferences.
through performing arts. The danc- Bharathi Penneswaran is the
ers and choreographers who are ex- Artistic Director and Co-Founder of
pert in any of Indian classical dance were selected by very talented cura- lightning. Aalokam. A trained dancer, chore-
forms and trying to sustain our rich tors Maya Kulkarni-Chheda and Kar- Sonali Skandan, a passionate ographer, and teacher based in New
heritage and culture in US by adopt- en Greenspan by painstaking task of dancer, choreographer and the Ar- York City will be presenting Aval
ing various dance forms including selecting the best entries among the tistic Director of Jiva Dance will be Kali. Kali represents the most un-
western dance styles, have been cho- large pool of entries across the USA. presenting compelling works based bridled form of nature and the fem-
sen to participate at Nritya Darpan. They also have Odissi soloist, on Bharatanatyam titled ‘Elements’. inine. As both mother and destroyer,
Nritya Darpan, through a variety Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar, an assistant pro- Elements explores the concept of the her very existence is beyond human
of dance dramas, gives the opportuni- fessor, accomplished Odissi dancer, ‘Pancha Maha Bhoota’, or the five ideas of morality.
ty for our intelligent audience to see teacher and writer on Indian clas- primordial elements, as the impact of There is no limitation of dance
spectacular dance dramas through sical dances will present along with climate change and human destruc- styles, music or languages. The per-
amalgamation of many dance styles her group ‘DanceNCommunity’ En- tion shift the balance of nature. forming groups can depict any dance
where it showcases teamwork, talent semble two items Sama: Equanim- Ishita Mili Bengali American drama in any form of dance styles
and community spirit to make a posi- ity and Equity Sama: Equality nur- director and choreographer, trained giving complete freedom to artists to
tive contribution to our ever-evolving tures Equanimity is a meditation on extensively in Bharatanatyam, hip explore their creativity.
community to discuss various social spiritual humanism rallying against hop, street styles, and chhau, ven- This will be a unique experience
issues like women empowerment, casteist injustice. In 2nd part, she tured into creating and directing as for the audience, they will get to see
mental health, human trafficking, will be presenting a solo piece, ‘An a holistic multidisciplinary artist. In the amalgamation of high quality and
LGBTQ+ etc. Impossible Romance’, a spectacular 2017, she founded IMGE to reimag- diverse dance styles woven into a sto-
This year six short dance dramas love affair between the cloud and the ine how movement connects our ex- ry telling format.

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