The Southern Presents Ragamala Dance: World Premiere Ff STHREE 4/30-5/3

Drawing from the exquisite Pandanallur tradition of Bharatanatyam, the South Indian classical dance form of southern India, Ragamala's Artistic Directors Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy bring to their audience a synthesis of the philosophy, mythology and spirituality of their Indian heritage.

Inspired by Ilanko Adigal's Cilappatikaram (The Anklet), the national epic of the Tamil people of southeastern India, Sthree's chorus of women brings to the present the beauty of the bygone era of the Sangam Period of literature. Written and directed by master storyteller Zaraawar Mistry and set to an original score by Dr. L. Subramaniam, one of India's greatest classical violinists, Sthree is a haunting, contemporary adaptation that explores the underlying tension between the principles of karma and dharma, the basis of Hindu philosophy.
From Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy:

"As immigrants from Tamil Nadu (located in the southeastern region of India), we were drawn to this epic, The Anklet, as it is the powerful story, both physical and emotional, of an immigrant journey. Set in the Sangam period-an era of great cultural renaissance when art, literature, music and drama flourished, and which boasted an unparalleled religious tolerance-The Anklet portrays this civilization through the linking of the fortunes of a family with the destinies of kingdoms. Our vision for this production is a contemporary dance-theater piece, told by a chorus of seven women, that brings to Western audiences the dramatic story of The Anklet and its conflict of characters and situations that are relevant even today."

From Zaraawar Mistry:

"Ranee and I have been talking about doing this project for the past eight years. We took a stab at doing a few scenes from an existing adaptation several years ago, but after that experience it became evident to us that we would need to write our own adaptation, specifically suited to the art form of Bharatanatyam and to the skills and talents of the Ragamala company. The Cilappatikaram (The Epic of the Anklet) by Ilanko Adigal is a complex narrative from nearly two thousand years ago. But its story of a troubled family, and its themes of justice, equality and karma (fate), are as resonant as ever."

Show times: April 30-May 3, 2009
Thurs. at 7:30pm, Fri. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 7:30pm
Tickets: $29
Gala dinner and performance: Saturday, May 2, 2009
Performance at the Southern Theater, 5:30pm
Dinner at Weisman Art Museum, 8pm
Tickets: $80 in advance, $85 at the door

Patron tickets: $100.00
Southern Theater box office: 612.340.1725, www.southerntheater.org

1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454

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