Contemporary Visions in Indian Classical Dance
About the Show
How do artists explore new work and contemporary visions through their dance? Jayeeta Dutta (kathak) and Neha Mondal Chakravarty (bharatanatyam) are well known for their exemplary artists in deeply traditional dance forms. Yet, this show takes a twist: it is about how you can explore contemporary spaces in this art form, and each artist brings their own take on this vision:
Jayeeta Dutta performs excerpts of River flows in you, set to Western orchestral music. How does kathak come together with music built in a completely different style? You may see the age-old theme of Arjuna and Krishna, or perhaps excerpts of Alice in Wonderland in this concert, so the themes and music are the points in which "contemporary" comes into play, keeping the movements of kathak untouched.
Neha Mondal explores a different facet altogether: but uses traditional stories and ideas we are familiar with: the margam and feminine divine. But where she deviates is within the music, movements, and interpretations: how can the vocabulary and storytelling expand and change with the times?
2 artists, 2 wildly different interpretations of the contemporary vision of Indian classical dance.
On Friday, April 19 and Sunday, April 21, you can see both artists TOGETHER as a 1.5 hour double bill.
On Saturday, April 20, both artists will do separate 1 hour shows
Jayeeta Dutta performs excerpts of River flows in you, set to Western orchestral music. How does kathak come together with music built in a completely different style? You may see the age-old theme of Arjuna and Krishna, or perhaps excerpts of Alice in Wonderland in this concert, so the themes and music are the points in which "contemporary" comes into play, keeping the movements of kathak untouched.
Neha Mondal explores a different facet altogether: but uses traditional stories and ideas we are familiar with: the margam and feminine divine. But where she deviates is within the music, movements, and interpretations: how can the vocabulary and storytelling expand and change with the times?
2 artists, 2 wildly different interpretations of the contemporary vision of Indian classical dance.
On Friday, April 19 and Sunday, April 21, you can see both artists TOGETHER as a 1.5 hour double bill.
On Saturday, April 20, both artists will do separate 1 hour shows
Meet the Artists
Jayeeta Duta
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Jayeeta Dutta, (born 15 November 1976), is an exponent of the Lucknow gharana of Kathak dance in India.
She is a Kathak dancer, choreographer and teacher based out of Bangalore, India. A solo artist of Lucknow Gharana and founder of her kathak institute Nahabat at Bangalore, she has performed as well as taught kathak extensively across India, Europe and Russia. She holds a. ‘Visharad’ (Formal Degree) in Kathak and has received multiple artistry awards in the field of Kathak, including prestigious diploma and medal as preserver of cultural heritage in arts, from International Dance Council, UNESCO in April 2018. Jayeeta is a Doordarshan (India’s National Television) graded artiste. At New York Drive East 2020 hosted by Navatman, she presented her new thought work ‘Kalantar’ which explored the formless and non-manifested state of being, while travelling through ages with Kathak undergoing metamorphosis from temples to courts and later proscenium. At the Navatman Black Box Performances planned in April & May 2024, Jayeeta will be presenting “River Flows In You” which is an unique solo dance production, on an innovative concept of exploring the traditional classical Indian dance form of Kathak on a tapestry of western classical music vocabulary. |
Neha Mondal
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Neha received her first media review at the tender age of 13, so the initiation into Bharatanatyam came quite early for her. The strength has always been her family. However the journey that led her to Kalakshetra (2000-2006) was a tumultuous one. What shaped her to be a sensitive artist in due course of time, also inspired her to secure a first class in her post graduation. Her experience with kalakshetra’s repertory company, under the guidance of Leela Samson transformed her into a subtle and thinking dancer.
In 2007, She worked as an “A” grade artist with the Ministry Of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi. Her love for sharing and passing the artform to the next generation got her into teaching full time dance in reputed International Schools in New Delhi from 2008 to 2013. During this time, her inclination towards body awareness, also led her to train rigorously in jazz and contemporary dance. So an awareness of core, breathing techniques and its utilities, found a place in her teaching pedagogy. Junior and senior scholarships in Bharatanatyam from NCERT and Ministry Of Culture was bestowed upon her. She tied the knot to her soulmate in 2012. In 2014 Neha moved to Kuala Lumpur, with a strong will to impart quality training and expand the boundaries thinking beyond the cliche led her into creating works that gradually kept maturing. The first fruitioning came through when she premiered her first solo dance theatre production “The Unheard Plea” in New York to great critical acclaim. She got featured in The New York Times. Her teaching continued with Swara Community Arts Centre. Neha has performed extensively in South East Asia, USA, UK and Europe. She is now residing in Singapore, training serious practitioners of the artform while also performing and conducting insightful workshops. She calls herself a learner, seeking and exploring the nectar of bharatanatyam. She feels blessed to be able to DANCE, to be closer to the DIVINE and still yearn for that LIGHT of Divinity. |
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An exploration of identity in kathak: Kathak solo by Tanveer Alam with guest artists Barkha Patel and Sahasra Sambamoorthi
Show 1 | May 3rd | 7pm | NYC
Show 2 | May 4th | 3pm | NYC
More Information
Tanveer Alam’s exploration of nuanced themes in kathak begin with unique regional influences rich in both their confluence with history and his current modern identity. Grounded in influences of Bengali poetry, ghazals written by women, and material inspired by Islamic aesthetics and traditions, Tanveer invites us to understand varied concepts of identity by building inside and outside the traditional framework of kathak.
Guest artists Barkha Patel and Sahasra Sambamoorthi will join Tanveer for a final piece as well!
Guest artists Barkha Patel and Sahasra Sambamoorthi will join Tanveer for a final piece as well!