Board 1: ABHA - PERSPECTIVE
Drawing inspiration from various versions of the Ramayana, this innovative creation delves into character perspectives, questioning choices and revealing problematic aspects. From Ayodhya's inception during Deepavali, Abha unfolds with dynamic dance segments like Jathiswaram and a poignant Varnam conversation between Sita and Lakshmana. It reimagines Margam as a storytelling concept, seamlessly traversing past and future, while the narration engages audiences with thought-provoking exchanges. Abha's transformative power has stunned both rural and metropolitan audiences in India and is one of the most talked about productions of the last few years in the bharatanatyam world.
Board 2: KNOW THE ARTIST
Adithya PV: Artistic Director, Upadhye School of Dance
He, a dynamic young dancer, trained by Guru Smt Latha Edavalath, is now guided by Dr Sudharani Raghupathy. Known for strong Talam, abhinaya, and technical excellence. Diploma in Bharathanatyam from IKSV, Chattisgarh. A graded artiste of Doordarshan performed worldwide with leading dancers.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Parshwanath Upadhye: Artistic Director, Upadhye School of Dance
He is a versatile Indian classical dancer, trained under Guru Ravindra Sharma, guided by Prof. SudhaRani Raghupati. Natya Mayura awardee, the renowned male dancer in India. Winner of national awards, including Sangeet Natak Academy's Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Top-graded artist of Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra. Founder of Punyah dance company and Upadhye School of Dance. Building Gurukulam for dance education.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Smt. Shruti Gopal Artistic Director, Upadhye School of Dance
She is a disciple of Smt. Padmini Ramachandran and trained under Shri Mavin Khoo. Head of Upadhye School of Dance. A graded artist of Doordarshan. Performed in prestigious festivals with the 'Natyapriya' team. Indian delegation to China. Conferred "Aarsha Kala Choodamani" title by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Worked with Sankhya Dance Company.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Keerthikumar: Lighting designer
Keerthikumar is a sought-after Lighting Designer who works with several renowned dance companies, dancers, musicians and theatre groups across India and Singapore. His design works with STEM Dance Kampni, Punyah Dance Company, Narthaki.com, Omkar Arts Singapore and others have been critically acclaimed. He has presented talks on Lighting & Multimedia Design at important art seminars. Keerthi Kumar is a Kathak and Indian contemporary dance artiste.
Full bio (for qr code): www.keerthikumar.design
He, a dynamic young dancer, trained by Guru Smt Latha Edavalath, is now guided by Dr Sudharani Raghupathy. Known for strong Talam, abhinaya, and technical excellence. Diploma in Bharathanatyam from IKSV, Chattisgarh. A graded artiste of Doordarshan performed worldwide with leading dancers.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Parshwanath Upadhye: Artistic Director, Upadhye School of Dance
He is a versatile Indian classical dancer, trained under Guru Ravindra Sharma, guided by Prof. SudhaRani Raghupati. Natya Mayura awardee, the renowned male dancer in India. Winner of national awards, including Sangeet Natak Academy's Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Top-graded artist of Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra. Founder of Punyah dance company and Upadhye School of Dance. Building Gurukulam for dance education.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Smt. Shruti Gopal Artistic Director, Upadhye School of Dance
She is a disciple of Smt. Padmini Ramachandran and trained under Shri Mavin Khoo. Head of Upadhye School of Dance. A graded artist of Doordarshan. Performed in prestigious festivals with the 'Natyapriya' team. Indian delegation to China. Conferred "Aarsha Kala Choodamani" title by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Worked with Sankhya Dance Company.
Full bio (for qr code): https://www.punyahdancecompany.com/team-more
Keerthikumar: Lighting designer
Keerthikumar is a sought-after Lighting Designer who works with several renowned dance companies, dancers, musicians and theatre groups across India and Singapore. His design works with STEM Dance Kampni, Punyah Dance Company, Narthaki.com, Omkar Arts Singapore and others have been critically acclaimed. He has presented talks on Lighting & Multimedia Design at important art seminars. Keerthi Kumar is a Kathak and Indian contemporary dance artiste.
Full bio (for qr code): www.keerthikumar.design
Board 3: Why we are excited:
The artistic direction of this piece re-envisions an age old tale for many Indian who know the story of the Ramayana well, bringing out questions we have all wondered and giving us new perspectives to think on.
Punyah Dance Company is a stellar dance company well known across India and this will be its first premiere in NYC! While we hope they will continue to tour the US, it is unknown if this will continue to happen in the years to come, so this may be a one time joy for us all.
The research of the tale is thorough and beautifully thought through, and comes across in the lighting creations as well.
This has been, through personal experience, one of the most talked about productions in India and has been related to the curators several times as one of the best dance productions they have ever seen and could be watched again several times over. What more is there to say?
Punyah Dance Company is a stellar dance company well known across India and this will be its first premiere in NYC! While we hope they will continue to tour the US, it is unknown if this will continue to happen in the years to come, so this may be a one time joy for us all.
The research of the tale is thorough and beautifully thought through, and comes across in the lighting creations as well.
This has been, through personal experience, one of the most talked about productions in India and has been related to the curators several times as one of the best dance productions they have ever seen and could be watched again several times over. What more is there to say?
Board 4: About Navatman
Navatman DanceLed by artistic director Sahasra Sambamoorthi, is a bharatanatyam and kathak dance company based in New York City whose mission is to connect our individual experiences through the mediums of the traditional stories and dance styles of India. With every show, we emphasize the audience-performer connection to create a special experience that stays with the viewer for years to come.
Sahasra Sambamoorthi's passion aligns accordingly with Sridhar's; to reignite the fire of the South Asian performing arts within the US. Sahasra's knowledge started from her carnatic violin training at 5 under Smt Ranjini Swamy and Bharatanatyam training at the late age of nine – she debuted with her arangetram only four short years later and performing in India at prestigious venues such as the Krishna Gana Sabha and the Kartik Fine Arts in Madras 2 short years after that under the smart and able guidance of guru Smt. Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan.
Sridhar Shanmugam's passion has always been to create awareness and a truly appreciative audience of this unique and rich classical tradition; working ceaselessly towards placing Indian Classical dance and music forms on the world pedestal. This idea started from his exacting and intense training at the Kalakshetra school of dance (one of the most prestigious school of dance from India), and his later training in Rangoli painting, modern and post-modern dance, acting, choreography, stage lighting theatre & stage technique have only served to further this goal.
Sahasra Sambamoorthi's passion aligns accordingly with Sridhar's; to reignite the fire of the South Asian performing arts within the US. Sahasra's knowledge started from her carnatic violin training at 5 under Smt Ranjini Swamy and Bharatanatyam training at the late age of nine – she debuted with her arangetram only four short years later and performing in India at prestigious venues such as the Krishna Gana Sabha and the Kartik Fine Arts in Madras 2 short years after that under the smart and able guidance of guru Smt. Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan.
Sridhar Shanmugam's passion has always been to create awareness and a truly appreciative audience of this unique and rich classical tradition; working ceaselessly towards placing Indian Classical dance and music forms on the world pedestal. This idea started from his exacting and intense training at the Kalakshetra school of dance (one of the most prestigious school of dance from India), and his later training in Rangoli painting, modern and post-modern dance, acting, choreography, stage lighting theatre & stage technique have only served to further this goal.
Program Info:
Abha
A retelling of the Ramayana
Abha is a choreographic work of Punyah dance company staged in 2018 and has been staged more than 100 times across the globe.
The work is set in the Margam format of Bharatanatyam.
Abha draws inspiration from ‘Sita’
a book written by Shri Devadatt Patnaik, which is a compilation of various regional variations of the Ramayana across India.
Taulanika mimamse or a holistic perspective has been the base of our understanding of spirituality in India.
This helps us look at a story or a situation from various perspectives and gauge what the creator is guiding us towards rather than judging the actions of the characters.
Abha starts from Rama lakshmana and Sita returning from Lanka after killing demon king Ravana.
The story of abha revolves around
Uttara Ramayana
(Post coronation of King Rama)
1. Ram Bhajan and Mallari
Raga Des | Taala Malike
2. Varnam
Raga Kaapi | Adi Taala
3.Ninda stuti
Raga Malike | Adi tala
4. Tillana
Raga Bhatiyar | Adi Tala
5.Mangalam
Raga Malike | Tala Malike
**Malike refers to the combination of more than one raga or Tala.
A retelling of the Ramayana
Abha is a choreographic work of Punyah dance company staged in 2018 and has been staged more than 100 times across the globe.
The work is set in the Margam format of Bharatanatyam.
Abha draws inspiration from ‘Sita’
a book written by Shri Devadatt Patnaik, which is a compilation of various regional variations of the Ramayana across India.
Taulanika mimamse or a holistic perspective has been the base of our understanding of spirituality in India.
This helps us look at a story or a situation from various perspectives and gauge what the creator is guiding us towards rather than judging the actions of the characters.
Abha starts from Rama lakshmana and Sita returning from Lanka after killing demon king Ravana.
The story of abha revolves around
Uttara Ramayana
(Post coronation of King Rama)
1. Ram Bhajan and Mallari
Raga Des | Taala Malike
2. Varnam
Raga Kaapi | Adi Taala
3.Ninda stuti
Raga Malike | Adi tala
4. Tillana
Raga Bhatiyar | Adi Tala
5.Mangalam
Raga Malike | Tala Malike
**Malike refers to the combination of more than one raga or Tala.