Black Box Baithak 2021 Events
Black Box Baithaks (B Cubed) are intimate studio showings with world class performers. Warm stage light and curtains transform our studios into the perfect space for Indian classical arts, allowing patrons to see the artists up close and personal, while the nuances of classical dance and music to shine through.
*Update: Many of our Black Box Baithak performances have been rescheduled and/or shifted to our At Home live Stream Series. Stay tuned with the most up to date announcements regarding the events below on our events page each month.
*Update: Many of our Black Box Baithak performances have been rescheduled and/or shifted to our At Home live Stream Series. Stay tuned with the most up to date announcements regarding the events below on our events page each month.
May 2021
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Navatman Dance: Kathak PremiereDate: May 15
Location: Online Broadcast Price: $25 Time: 7 - 8 PM EST More Info
Navatman Dance presents its first kathak showcase under the guidance of Prashant Shah. In his typical style of strong movements yet flowery grace, Prashant Shah passes down choreographies by Kumudini Lakhia amongst his own creations in teentaal. |
Postponed/Coming soon
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B Cubed with Samyukta Ranganthan: Carnatic & Hindustani Vocal Double BillDate: Postponed
Location: Navatman Studios Price: $22 online, $26 at the door Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm More Info
Samyukta’s sweet and clear voice lends itself equally well to both hindustani and carnatic music. Using her vast knowledge and technical understanding of voice Samyukta showcases her range and agility in both practices - an exceptionally rare find amongst classical vocalists of India. “Vocally, Samyukta excels with her beautiful and appealing tone, ever-expanding range, and wonderful musicality.” - Justin Stoney, President and Founder of New York Vocal Coaching, Inc. About Samyukta: Samyukta Ranganathan began her training under Sangita Kalacharya Bombay S. Ramachandran at age 8 and had begun singing in the South Indian music circuit by age 13. Just a few years later began solo performances at several historic venues across the region. Since then, her experience as a classical Indian singer has been bolstered by an active performance career that included many cities in South Africa and the United States. She received The Brinda Repertory Centenary award in 2015 for her work in Carnatic Music. She is now learning Hindustani vocals under Pt Sanjoy Banerjee of the Kirana Gharana. Currently, Samyukta is collaborating with the best musicians from around the world on her solo album “The Wandering Poet”(https://soundcloud.com/srnathan). The project arranges 12th century Sanskrit poetry (Ashtapadis) in several genres including Latin, jazz, electronica, hip-hop and pop. Available Now: Live Stream Option
At Navatman, we understand the concerns about attending public events during the recent spread of COVID-19. As a result, we are now beta testing live streaming offerings of our concerts. In accordance with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines, we ask that if you are experiencing symptoms, including a cough and fever, that you remain at home and take advantage of our latest live streaming options instead. Live ticket holders will receive an email with a link to the live stream. We ask for your patience and constructive feedback as we test our new processes and appreciate any donations as we try to provide a respite with arts programming to those sitting at home. |
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B Cubed with Sruthi Sarathy: Violin ConcertDate: POSTPONED
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd St, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm More Info
Named “Best Junior Violinist” from Madras Music Academy in 2018, Sruti Sarathy is a full-bright scholar who excels at cross genre violin techniques in Carnatic Music. About Sruti Sarathy Sruti Sarathy is a versatile artist in the South Indian classical violin tradition, trained in the Lalgudi style of Carnatic music under esteemed guru Anuradha Sridhar. She also studies under Hindustani violinist Kala Ramnath. Sruti has performed with top Indian classical musicians in festivals worldwide. She has taken the role of composer-performer for many dance and theater works. Blessed with an enchanting voice and having trained for over ten years in vocal music, Sruti often lends her voice and violin to collaborative projects. Sruti is the recipient of many accolades including "Best Violinist" from the Madras Music Academy. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of Stanford University. |
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B Cubed with Navatman Dance Company: Experiments in Dance (with Live Music)Date: Postponed
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd St, Suite #300 Price: $23 online, $28 at door Time: 6:00 - 7:00pm More Info
Navatman Dance will be presenting old favorites alongside a new Margam in their second Black Box Baithak of the year. About NDC: Navatman Dance Company, led by artistic director Sahasra Sambamoorthi, is an Indian classical dance company based in New York City whose mission is to bring extraordinary, boundary-pushing productions to the stage, making Indian classical dance more accessible to understand and experience without removing the beauties of tradition and history that the style has developed from. |
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B Cubed with Nitya Narasimhan: Bharatanatyam SoloDate: Postponed
Location: Navatman Studios Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 8:00 - 9:00pm More Info
From Chennai to California, Nitya Narasimhan is an artist whose experiences span the globe - both as a performer and dance influencer. In her one hour margam devoted to Srinivasa, god of protection, Nitya showcases traditional stories through a human lens, revealing that even omnipotent gods and other familiar, mythological characters yearn and reminisce about loved ones in times of separation. About Nitya Narasimhan: Nitya Narasimhan is a Bharatanatyam dancer and the artistic director of the Prayukti Academy for Indian Arts in California. She is under the tutelage of Guru Rukmini Vijayakumar, Bangalore and is a senior disciple/dancer in the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company. Nitya is a solo and freelance performer in the Bay Area and works with many reputed companies including Set Vidhya Subramanian's Ensemble and Nava Dance Theatre. She has also been a part of notable productions touring across the US including Ganga to Kaveri by Utsav Music, Life of Pi by Bharati Alliance, and Gandhi by Abhinaya Dance Company. She also extensively presents solo work and has been performing for the Chennai Marghazi kutcheris in various sabhas. |
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B Cubed with Sahasra Sambamoorthi: Bharatanatyam Concert with Live MusicDate: Postponed
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $24 online, $29 at door Time: 5:30-6:30PM More Info
Sahasra Sambamoorthi returns to the solo stage for the second time in 10 years for bharatanatyam. About Sahasra Sambamoorthi: Sahasra's passion is to re-ignite the fire of the South Asian performing arts within the US. Trained in bharatanatyam by Smt Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan, she has been called by reporters as a "young trailblazer...on the crest of the wave leading us towards a new understanding of South Asian arts in the United States." Co-Founder of Navatman, Inc and continues her studies under Prashant Shah (kathak) and Bijayini Satpathy (odissi) along with bharatanatyam under Ramya Ramnarayan. |
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B Cubed with Kalamandir Dance Company: Contemporary Indian ConcertDate: Postponed
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 7:30 - 8:30pm More Info
Leading the charge for #indiancontemporary dance, Brinda Guha and her dance company Kalamandir derives expression from kathak to create work in the social justice realm of dance. About Brinda Guha & Kalamandir: Brinda Guha has primarily trained in Indian Classical Kathak, as well as Manipuri and Flamenco, and has now developed her own movement vocabulary entitled Contemporary Indian dance. She teaches, choreographs and performs with her ensemble Kalamandir Dance Co. She has choreographed for the NABC opening ceremony at MSG, is represented by CESD Talent Agency, and self-produced her full-length production which earned her the Artist in Residence position at Dixon Place for 2018 and now the 2019 Dancewave Residency. |
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B Cubed with Aparna Shankar: Bharatanatyam Solo with Live MusicDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd St, Suite #300 Price: $22 online, $27 at door Time: 7:00 - 8:00pm More Info
A dynamic power based dancer, Aparna is a principal of Navatman Dance Company and will be presenting her first professional solo. About Aparna Shankar: Aparna Shankar trained in the Vazhuvoor style of bharatanatyam under guru Smt. Ramya Ramnarayan in New Jersey for 11 years. Since joining Navatman Dance Company in 2017, Aparna has performed along with the company at two Drive East festivals and played the role of Lakshmana in Navatman's Ramayana production and the role of Karna in Navatman's Mahabharata Part 1: Of Vengeance and Promises production. As a freelancer, Aparna performed as an ensemble member in The Affair, Sri Thina's production based off the Gita Govindam. Aparna finds immense joy in dance and deeply enjoys sharing and cultivating this joy in others. |
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B Cubed with NADAM: Kathak ConcertDate:TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $22 online, $27 at door Time: 7-8pm, followed by an audience discussion More Info
NADAM brings the brilliance of kathak and musicality together in dynamic and powerful group productions. Touring only once every few years, this is a company you don't want to miss! More about NADAM: “NADAM” –an acronym for Narthan Academy of Dance and Music, was formally launched by Smt.Nandini Mehta ji & Shri K Murali Mohan ji in 1999 for promoting and propagating Indian Classical Dance and Music. The academy imparts intensive training in the fields of Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Classical Music. Apart from training, the company has its own performing unit which specializes in Classical and Folk Forms of India. Nadam also holds an Annual Music and Dance Festival every year during December called “KALA-NADAM” a spectacular event that showcases talent from India and abroad.Since its inception, it has witnessed a rise in leaps and bounds.They have performed extensively in many prestigious festivals in India, US, Canada, France,Switzerland and Middle –east. Sowmya Ravi, Vidhya Chakravarthy, Malavika Sreepad, Harshini Vasu, Jinal Rupani, Thanvi Upadhay are the company dancers who form the foundation of the NADAM ensemble. Nandini and Murali were recently awarded the title-“GUNA NIDHI”, for their contribution to Kathak. |
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B Cubed with Kassiyet Adilkhankyzy: Bharatanatyan SoloDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd St, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 7:00 - 8:00pm More Info
Born in Kazakhstan and having performed all over Europe, Kassiyet brings a unique international flavor to her training and one of the lowest aramandes (half sits) we have ever seen. More about Kassiyet Adilkhankyzy: Kassiyet Adilkhankyzy is a young Bharatanatyam dancer from Kazakhstan. Trained under Gurus Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan and Rama Vaidyanathan at Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi. Kassiyet has performed extensively in India and abroad for several prestigious dance festivals for solo and group performances. |
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B Cubed with Aishwarya Balasubramniam: Bharatanatyam ConcertDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $21 online, $26 at door Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm More Info
“Among the several dancers new to me, one of the most admirable was Aishwarya Narayanaswamy Balasubramanian. This young dancer was another cause for delight, showing biting musical precision.” - By ALASTAIR MACAULAY / The New York Times Aishwarya combines technicality with grace and returns from New Hampshire to Navatman’s Black Box Baithak. About Aishwarya Balasubramanian: Aishwarya Balasubramanian is one of Chennai’s most popular Bharathnatyam dancers and the senior most student of renowned Guru Acharya Choodamani Smt. Anitha Guha. Over the years, with intense training, inherent commitment and a rigorous discipline, Aishwarya has evolved into a much sought after performing artist, presenting across cultural organizations in India and overseas at premier dance festivals and prominent sabhas.Titles like “Singar Mani”, “Kala ratna”, “Natya Chudar” that have been bestowed on Aishwarya are not just a reflection of her astonishing potential and promise but an acknowledgement of a dancer who leads her generation by setting exacting standards. |
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B Cubed with Rasika Kumar: Bharatanatyam ConcertDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $23 online, $28 at door Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm More Info
Hailed as “among the best of this second generation of Indian dancers,” (San Jose Mercury News) Rasika Kumar is a Bharatanatyam performer and choreographer steeped in tradition but with contemporary sensibilities About Rasika Kumar: Rasika Kumar is an accomplished Bharatanatyam performer and choreographer, steeped in tradition but with contemporary sensibilities. She has been the Associate Artistic Director of the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose (ADC), having studied under her mother Mythili Kumar, Artistic Director of ADC, and other renowned teachers from Chennai, India. Since 2005, Rasika has been a featured soloist, principal dancer, and choreographer for all of ADC’s performance seasons, and her choreography has been featured in several venues including the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and SF International Arts Festival. |
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B Cubed with Barkha Patel: Kathak ConcertDate:TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 7:30-8:30pm More Info
“In Ms. Patel’s case, the changing composure of her features made a wonderful contrast to the rapidity and skill of her turns and footwork...The turn of her head over a shoulder, the opening of her eyes, the proud calm of her smile: ravishing.” - Alastair MacCaulay, NY Times About Barkha Patel: Barkha Patel is a kathak dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Barkha Dance Company (BDC).For two decades, Barkha has trained under great Guru Rachna Sarang and has experienced workshop intensives with other Kathak masters such as Birju Maharaj and Rajendra Gangani. Currently, Barkha trains in Hindustani musical rhythm with Pandit Divyang Vakil. Barkha performs around the U.S and India, has been commissioned to create works on immigrant experiences and recently completed a choreographic fellowship at the NJPAC. Barkha also teaches kathak to young and adult students to gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the art form. |
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B Cubed with Chitra Kalyandurg: Kuchipudi ConcertDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 5:00- 6:00pm More Info
Chitra Kalyandurg, a Kuchipudi artist hailing from the DC Area, has received multiple grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and is the recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Dance Honoraria for her artistic excellence in Kuchipudi. Catch the first kuchipudi Black Box Baithak with Chitra! About Chitra Kalyandurg: Chitra Kalyandurg is a performer and choreographer based in the Washington metro region. Her artistic inspiration comes from sharing Kuchipudi through a multi-disciplinary, lens; creating collaborative work that connects diverse audiences to the themes present in Indian classical dance. Trained under Anuradha Nehru, Chitra has performed extensively with the Kalanidhi Dance Company and recently served as assistant choreographer. Notable choreographies include Kennedy Center LDCP commission Bhoomi (2018-19), The Enchanted Forest (2018), The Poetry of Love (2017), and Why We Dance (2016). Chitra’s original choreography includes The Nayika Project, and Leela: Play of the Divine. She has received multiple grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County in support of her work and was awarded the prestigious Princess Grace Dance Honoraria for her artistic excellence in Kuchipudi. When she’s not dancing, Chitra works as a Consulting Analyst for TRG Arts. |
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B Cubed with the Basavaraj Brothers: Sitar and Violin Instrumental Jugalbandhi DuetDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 7-8pm More Info
Carnatic violin and Hindustani sitar come together for a creative duet seen rarely outside of India by the critically acclaimed Basavaraj Brothers. About the Basavaraj Brothers: The Basavaraj Brothers hail from a family of musicians. They have established themselves as one of the most popular Indian classical music presenters for their mind captivating jugalbandi performances. They have won the hearts of many listeners globally through their performances and masterclasses in hindustani & Carnatic classical music, creative music & collaborative world music. |
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B Cubed with Sri Thina Subramaniam: Odissi ConcertDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 7:00 - 8:00pm More Info
Our only odissi Black Box Baithak of the year, Navatman Dance principal Sri Thina shows us the grace of this classical dance hailing from Orissa. About Sri Thina Subramaniam Sri Thina Subramaniam has danced Bharatanatyam and Odissi professionally as a soloist and collaborator for over 20 years. Her initial training was at the Temple of Fine Arts, an institution known for fostering various dance styles under one roof. Sri Thina has worked with international choreographers in the field. To name a few, Mavin Khoo, currently the rehearsal director at Akram Khan Company (UK) and Shobana Jeyasingh known for her creating enigmatic and dynamic dance work in the UK. Sri Thina has spent most of her professional career performing in Malaysia, Singapore, India, the United Kingdom and presently here in America. Her performance were in venues including the Lincoln Center(USA), Royal Opera House, and Buckingham Palace (UK). |
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B Cubed with Chitra Ramaswamy & Sophia Salingaros: Bharatanatyam Double BillDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $20 online, $25 at door Time: 8PM - 9PM (Each artist receives 30 minutes) More Info
Watch two local bharatanatyam artists with vastly different styles in this double bill. About Chitra Ramaswamy and Sophia Salingaros: Chitra Ramaswamy is a Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher and a choreographer. She was introduced to the classical dance form at the age of nine and began her education in the Kalakshetra style under the able guidance of her Guru Padmashree Adyar.K.Lakshmanan of Chennai. She also trains regularly with leading dancers Jayanthi Subramaniam and Bragha Bessell. Sophia Salingaros was born in San Antonio, Texas. Sophia studied Bharatanatyam with Guru Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu from the age of nine. Since her debut recital – ‘Arangetram’ - in 2010, she has given numerous solo performances in the US and abroad. She is an ICCR Empaneled Artist, a 2013 YoungArts Finalist, and a 2017-2018 IndianRaga Fellow. In 2018, she was invited by the UAE Prime Minister to perform at the World Government Summit in Dubai for Indian Prime Minister Modi. Sophia also studies intensively with Kalaimamani Rama Vaidyanathan in Delhi, and performed in her 2018 and 2019 US/India tours of ‘Vivartana’. She recently graduated from Columbia University with a degree in chemistry, and passionately continues her pursuit of dance. |
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B Cubed with Sahasra Sambamoorthi: Kathak Concert with Live MusicDate: TBD
Location: Navatman Studios, 38 West 32nd Street, Suite #300 Price: $24 online, $29 at door Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm More Info
Under the guidance of Prashant Shah, Sahasra Sambamoorthi returns for her an annual kathak solo at our Black Box Baithaks. About Sahasra Sambamoorthi: Sahasra's passion is to re-ignite the fire of the South Asian performing arts within the US. Trained in bharatanatyam by Smt Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan, she has been called by reporters as a "young trailblazer...on the crest of the wave leading us towards a new understanding of South Asian arts in the United States." Co-Founder of Navatman, Inc and continues her studies under Prashant Shah (kathak) and Bijayini Satpathy (odissi) along with bharatanatyam under Ramya Ramnarayan. |
