Baila Society x Navatman
Winter Soiree
With Live music by People of Earth
About the Show
Songs of Resistance: 3 - 3:40PM
This world premiere is a work on the reflections of what it is it to live in this society at large where safety feels largely compromised on a day to day basis.
Featuring newly composed music by Taniya Panda and choreography by Sahasra Sambamoorthi, based on the poem by Zehra Nigar:
Amma…I’ve been saved -
The henna of your blood has dyed every pore of my almost being
Had I been allowed to form, each feature would have still filled with blood
Had light come to my eyes they would have been lined with the kohl of acid
I would have been bartered in satta-watta or been useful for an honour killing
Had I grown even a little, my father would have diminished in stature
Had my scarf slipped just a little, my brother’s proud turban would have tumbled
Before I could hear your lullaby, I went into my own unborn sleep
I came from an unknown land, Mother I am lost in an unknown land
I’ve been saved Mother, Mother I’ve been saved
Featuring newly composed music by Taniya Panda and choreography by Sahasra Sambamoorthi, based on the poem by Zehra Nigar:
Amma…I’ve been saved -
The henna of your blood has dyed every pore of my almost being
Had I been allowed to form, each feature would have still filled with blood
Had light come to my eyes they would have been lined with the kohl of acid
I would have been bartered in satta-watta or been useful for an honour killing
Had I grown even a little, my father would have diminished in stature
Had my scarf slipped just a little, my brother’s proud turban would have tumbled
Before I could hear your lullaby, I went into my own unborn sleep
I came from an unknown land, Mother I am lost in an unknown land
I’ve been saved Mother, Mother I’ve been saved
Shared future vision with Baila Society and reflections from Navatman students: 3:40 - 4PM
In 2024, Navatman and Baila Society joined forces for a uniquely New York City experience: a place where two women-led arts organizations based on cultural traditions of the Afro-Cuban arts (salsa) and Indian arts (Bharatanatyam, kathak, hindustani and Carnatic music) come together.
The two spaces share how the force of artists and students working together can promote, define, and create a shared sense of stability, strength, safety, joy, and love within communities at large - particularly through artistic expression and endeavors.
Past Navatman alumni come back as well to share how this space has impacted their lives!
The two spaces share how the force of artists and students working together can promote, define, and create a shared sense of stability, strength, safety, joy, and love within communities at large - particularly through artistic expression and endeavors.
Past Navatman alumni come back as well to share how this space has impacted their lives!
Songs of Freedom: 4 - 4:40PM
What is it to find peace in a world that always feels like it's taking a turn for the worst? This short, joyful set of choreographies explores how we can see our spaces differently day to day.
Salsa class with an Indian twist: 5 - 6PM
Baila Society teacher in training Ronniel Munoz Betances takes charge of this class alongside Sahasra Sambamoorthi in exploring how the two styles of kathak and salsa can come in conversation with each other.
Salsa party featuring live music by People of Earth: 6 - 9PM
Two sets of incredible live music by People of Earth, an afro cuban salsa band that is emerging as one of the United State’s most exciting latin and tropical bands, with an explosive blend of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and beyond. We get a subset of the band tonight but the 13 musicians comprising this supergroup represent a cross-section of the world, boasting an array of some of the best musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Canada, Switzerland, Haiti, Greece and more. Formed in 2017, the band has performed at acclaimed venues including Disney Hall in LA, The Kennedy Center in D.C., The Kimmel Center and Mann Center in Philadelphia, and The New World Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Don’t miss this incredible journey of tradition, rhythm, and empowerment!
Join us for "Songs of Resistance & Freedom" – a full-day celebration of art, culture, and empowerment! Experience the magic of Indian classical dance and the vibrancy of salsa together at Navatman.
Leaders Sahasra Sambamoorthi and Ahtoy Juliana have been working in their fields for 30+ years, gathering experience and knowledge from the best of the best around the world with the hope that communities like Navatman and Baila Society can help create greater impact and change together than apart. Sahasra Sambamoorthi has been noted as a "young trailblazer...on the crest of the wave leading us towards a new understanding of South Asian arts in the United States", and Ahtoy Juliana holds multiple world championship titles under her belt and is responsible for helping shape the salsa scene in NYC for the last 15+ years.
Join us for "Songs of Resistance & Freedom" – a full-day celebration of art, culture, and empowerment! Experience the magic of Indian classical dance and the vibrancy of salsa together at Navatman.
Leaders Sahasra Sambamoorthi and Ahtoy Juliana have been working in their fields for 30+ years, gathering experience and knowledge from the best of the best around the world with the hope that communities like Navatman and Baila Society can help create greater impact and change together than apart. Sahasra Sambamoorthi has been noted as a "young trailblazer...on the crest of the wave leading us towards a new understanding of South Asian arts in the United States", and Ahtoy Juliana holds multiple world championship titles under her belt and is responsible for helping shape the salsa scene in NYC for the last 15+ years.
Meet the Artists
Sahasra Sambamoorthi
Sahasra Sambamoorthi's unique approach to bharatanatyam comes from the combination of her Vazhoor style training from Smt. Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan and many years of training in ballet and gymnastics. Her approach to the body becomes one based on muscle alignment and strength that come through from her gymnastics, precision and exacting physics of the body from ballet, and an individual technical approach from bharatanatyam. She has been teaching since she was 15, first at the Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance, then with individual students through her early 20s and college, helping her dance troupe Columbia Taal train, and finally, at Navatman. She continues to train under Bijayini Satpathy, Pavithra Reddy and Surupa Sen at Nrityagram in Odissi, Kishore Mosalikanti in Kuchipudi, and Kathak under Prashant Shah.
Ahtoy Juliana
Ahtoy Juliana is the Artistic Director of BAILA Society (BASo), a dynamic Latin dance and theater company celebrating Latin dance and music heritage through performances, an online dance academy, live classes, and community events. A professional dancer and choreographer, her work spans international dance festivals, musical revues, TV, and film, including In the Heights.
Ahtoy’s early training began in classical ballet with the Houston and San Francisco Ballet Companies, later transitioning to salsa with Santo Rico Dance Company before co-founding BASo in 2006. She has performed globally with esteemed groups like Team Fajardo, The Hustle Collective, and The New York Movement, and partners Billy Fajardo and Edwin Tolentino. Ahtoy is a World Latin Hustle Champion, a Rising Star Champion in DanceSport Theater Arts, and a founding judge of the World Salsa Summit. She recently joined Do the Hustle, featured at Jacob’s Pillow and the Guggenheim Museum.
A Columbia University graduate student and aspiring psychiatric epidemiologist, Ahtoy has conducted national research, published scholarly articles, and remains active in both the academic and dance worlds. Alongside BASo co-founders Daniel Enskat and Joseph Rivera, Ahtoy has performed and taught at salsa congresses, cruises, and prestigious events, sharing stages with icons like Frankie Martinez and Eddie Torres. Their work promotes the artistry and sophistication of salsa on global and domestic stages.
Ahtoy’s early training began in classical ballet with the Houston and San Francisco Ballet Companies, later transitioning to salsa with Santo Rico Dance Company before co-founding BASo in 2006. She has performed globally with esteemed groups like Team Fajardo, The Hustle Collective, and The New York Movement, and partners Billy Fajardo and Edwin Tolentino. Ahtoy is a World Latin Hustle Champion, a Rising Star Champion in DanceSport Theater Arts, and a founding judge of the World Salsa Summit. She recently joined Do the Hustle, featured at Jacob’s Pillow and the Guggenheim Museum.
A Columbia University graduate student and aspiring psychiatric epidemiologist, Ahtoy has conducted national research, published scholarly articles, and remains active in both the academic and dance worlds. Alongside BASo co-founders Daniel Enskat and Joseph Rivera, Ahtoy has performed and taught at salsa congresses, cruises, and prestigious events, sharing stages with icons like Frankie Martinez and Eddie Torres. Their work promotes the artistry and sophistication of salsa on global and domestic stages.
Edwin Tolentino
Taniya Panda (singer, main composer)
Puneet Panda (nattuvangam)
Sai (flute)
Sanjay Natesan (mrdangam, tabla)
Sanjay Natesan is currently under the tutelage of Kalaimamani Sri. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan. Sanjay has performed in several music and dance ensembles, and arangetram recitals, and frequently accompanies musicians from around the world. Sanjay has won many competitions including 1st place in the Senior Percussion Competition organized by CMANA in 2019. He also performs regularly for the Chennai December Music Season. Sanjay is the recipient of the 2019 Dutchess County Executive Arts Award for “The Student with Exceptional Promise in the Arts”. In addition to Mridangam, he is trained in Carnatic Vocal, Carnatic Flute, and other Indian percussion instruments such as Kanjira and Tabla. Sanjay is a rising Junior at Columbia University and is pursuing a degree in computer science and economics.
People of Earth
People of Earth is emerging as one of the United State’s most exciting latin and tropical bands, with an explosive blend of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and beyond. We get a subset of the band tonight but the 13 musicians comprising this supergroup represent a cross-section of the world, boasting an array of some of the best musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Canada, Switzerland, Haiti, Greece and more. Formed in 2017, the band has performed at acclaimed venues including Disney Hall in LA, The Kennedy Center in D.C., The Kimmel Center and Mann Center in Philadelphia, and The New World Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Special thanks to:
Literally, everyone!
This night is truly one that brings the concept of community together. While solos can feature a singular person's name, this work required at least 20 people to come together filled with late nights, rehearsals gone over, redoing of snippets of work again and again, various perspectives, subbed classes and more. Work like this takes a huge amount of goodwill and care to do, and almost everyone in the space tonight has had some kind of hand in bringing it together.
Literally, everyone!
This night is truly one that brings the concept of community together. While solos can feature a singular person's name, this work required at least 20 people to come together filled with late nights, rehearsals gone over, redoing of snippets of work again and again, various perspectives, subbed classes and more. Work like this takes a huge amount of goodwill and care to do, and almost everyone in the space tonight has had some kind of hand in bringing it together.