Ananya Dance Theatre Stages World Premiere of WORK WOMEN DO

Internationally-recognized and Twin Cities-based Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT) will present the world premiere of Shaatranga: Women Weaving Worlds, a 90-minute dance without intermission, as part of Women of Substance at The O'Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Friday and Saturday, September 21-22 at 7:30pm. The work is the fifth in the company's five-year series on the theme "Work Women Do."

Shaatranga (which means "seven colors" in Bangla and is pronounced "SHA-trong-uh") asks the question, "How do we show up for each other?" and suggests that global women who engage in world-making are refusing to be seen in only blue/indigo - the pain, sorrow, and defeat that has historically framed them. Instead, they share their multifaceted stories that express not only their pain, but their joys, laughter, and the work they do, that goes largely unrecognized, to create positive force in their communities and the world.

Choreographer Ananya Chatterjea uses two primary metaphors to explore relationships among global south communities linked by Indian Ocean trade routes that pre-existed colonization and slavery: Indigo, an important export/import on these trade routes across Asia and Africa, and blue jeans, whose ubiquitous presence in global commerce falls differently on our skin, mediated through histories of denim and indigo.

Shaatranga is Ananya Dance Theatre's sixth production and collaboration with The O'Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University. Executive Director Kathleen Spehar and Production Manager Kevin A. Jones are key partners in the detailed planning that leads to the production's mix of interactive and concert elements. "Work Women Do" concludes with this production exploring women's work with indigo and cotton, commissioned by The O'Shaughnessy with support from a Joyce Foundation Award.

Chatterjea's choreography combines metaphor and poetry in Contemporary Indian Dance. Yorchha - the company's remix of Classical Odissi, Chhau martial art, and Vinyasa Yoga - is a movement practice anchored by social justice as it invokes the spirit of Dakini, traditionally embodied by destruction, chaos, and ultimately transformation. Dakini lives in the possibilities of audiences' and performers' discomfort and insists that the role of women's rage and their spiritual ecstasy be seen in the arc towards equity. This tumult resolves through the choreography that weaves ritualistic performance and dances of the gentle warrior.

ADT's dancers and collaborators represent a range of ethnic, cultural, immigrant, and of color communities: South, South east, and East Asian, African American, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and mixed race. The ensemble's composition as "women of color" is crucial, yet nuanced, including queer men of color and trans women of color.

Project collaborators are celebrated artists, including behavioral artist/collaborating director Marcus Young, composer Dameun Strange, composer/lyricist Queen Drea/Andrea Reynolds, scenic designer Chelsea Warren, media designer Darren Johnson, costume designer Annie Cady, and lighting designer Kevin A. Jones.

Tickets for Shaatranga: Women Weaving Worlds are $19-$29. There are discounts for groups, students, seniors, MPR and TPT members, and military. For more information and tickets, contact The O'Shaughnessy Ticket Office at 651-690-6700; summer business hours (through Sept. 1) are Mon.-Fri. 12-4pm; ticket office is located on the main campus of St. Catherine University at 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. Tickets can be purchased online at theoshaughnessy.com.

Residencies and performances of Shaatranga will be presented at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 26-27, 2018; Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Feb. 1-2, 2019; Dance Place, Washington, DC, Mar. 30-31, 2019; John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Apr. 11, 2019; and Kelley-Strayhorn Theatre, Pittsburgh, May 10-11, 2019.

ABOUT ANANYA DANCE THEATRE (ADT)

Celebrating 14 years of linking dance and social action, Ananya Dance Theatre is a contemporary Indian dance company composed of artists of color who create performances about the lives and dreams of women around the world: People Powered Dances of Transformation™ at the intersection of artistic excellence and social justice. Dancers and collaborators represent many cultural communities in Minnesota: South Asian, Chinese, Hmong, African American, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and mixed race. The company premieres one major work annually, and offers touring performances, classes, workshops, and dialogues. In June 2018, ADT took up residence in its new facility, a women of color-centered space of embodied practice, located at 1197 University Ave. W. in Saint Paul. www.ananyadancetheatre.org

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