Experience the Movement! Dakshina Features Renowned Indian Dance Companies In DC Oct 25-26

WASHINGTON,DC(RUSHPRNEWS)10/15/08-Dakshina wins two Metro DC Dance Awards at the Kennedy Center.Dakshina was a finalist in two categories for the 2008 Metro DC Dance Awards and won both of them: Emerging Group and Excellence in Costume Design (shared with Roxann Morgan).

As many of you know, Dakshina was given the Founder's Award for Innovation in Dance in 2007--and this year we've continued the tradition of presenting excellent work. We received both the awards for our new work Bell Song. Melissa Liu Greco and Stephanie Yezek performed Lullaby as part of the awards ceremony and looked stunning in the piece. Please join me in congratulating them as well.

The awards were presented as part of the Metro DC Dance Awards at the Kennedy Center last night and recognize Dakshina’s path breaking work in creating a vision of dance that is multi-cultural, collaborative, and socially relevant. As many of you know, Dakshina was given the Founder's Award for Innovation in Dance in 2007. For this year's award, Singh selected Aysha Upchurch for the Founder's Award for Innovation in Dance. Cheles Rhynes presented the award to Aysha Upchurch.

October 25, 7:00 pm
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d guests The Dhananjayans and Padmarani Rasiah Cantu perform in Bhakthi Margam: highlights of their Bharata Natyam repertoire. Watch video clips and get more performance information. Buy Tickets Now--tickets are more expensive at the door. Online sales end on 10-22-08. Read More.

Legendary dancers the Dhananjayans and Padmarani Rasiah Cantu will perform several gems showcasing the age old dance form of Bharata Natyam with a live orchestra from India. This is the swansong tour for the Dhanajayans and they will be offering a selection of choreography that is considered the highlights of their career. Ms Cantu is one of their senior dancers in the US and is delighted to be able to share the stage with them. Unlike western dance forms that prize youth, senior artists in Indian dance are celebrated for the knowledge, depth and soul they bring to dance. The structure of Bharata Natyam is particularly well suited for this as it allows the dancers to imbibe their life experiences into the narrative aspects of the dance, while the technical sections shows their mastery of gestures, rhythm, and space. Bharata Natyam takes decades to master, and this is a rare opportunity for the DC area to experience the rich art form during the farewell tour of the Dhananjayans.

Performance also includes a company premiere by visiting artist Aniruddh Vasudevan.
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October 26, 4:00 pm
Featured guest Mallika Sarabhai performs her dance theater masterpiece In Search of the Goddess. Watch video clips and get more performance information. Buy Tickets Now--tickets are more expensive at the door. Online sales end on 10-22-08. Read More.

Mallika Sarabhai, one of the most renowned Kuchipudi and Bharata Natyam dancers in India today, will take the stage on October 26. Sarabhai has won India’s highest dance accolades, while also laying claim to prestigious awards in France, including the L'Etoile D'Or for best solo artist. In recognition of Sarabhai’s efforts to promote social justice through the arts, she was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the 1,000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize campaign. Sarabhai will be presenting her dance-theater adaptation of In Search of the Goddess.

The work looks at how women are stereotyped into Goddesses or minions and easily pigeonholed in society. The highlight of the work is Sarabhai’s closing signature of Chitra Natyam, where she paints a figure with her feet while maintaining a complicated rhythm in a dynamic movement sequence. Sarabhai has done enormous work in resurrecting dying folk and traditional dance forms in India, and this is a rare opportunity to see her mastery in Chitra Natyam at work.

Performance also includes a company premiere by visiting artist Aniruddh Vasudevan.
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October 27-29
Attend an intimate workshop with Master Teachers the Dhananjayans, register early to avoid disappointment. Read More.



Bharata Natyam and Abhinaya Workshop with Srimathi Shanta and Sri VP Dhananjayan. Considered the living legends of India, they have an impeccable style that is known for its dynamic movement and intricate rhythms. Advanced Bharata Natyam students will learn a Padam and a Tillana during the day times, and all classical Indian dancers are invited to the Abhinaya workshop in the evenings. The workshop has limited slots available to ensure that each student gets to work one-on-one with both these wonderful teachers. Be sure to register early to avoid disappointment. Email Minakshi AT dakshina DOT org for more details. Click here for the Registration Form.
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Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company
1816 New Hampshire Avenue., NW Suite 109
Washington, DC 20009
www.dakshina.org

Photo by Robert Visser