10th American Natya Festival Announces June 8-17 Schedule
By: Julie Musbach May. 08, 2018
A city rich in history and diversity, St. Louis is also becoming the "capital" of Indian classical dance. From June 8-17, the city will once again host Indian dancers from around the world at the 10th American Natya Festival, June 8-17.
This 10-day dance festival will include a week of dance workshops at Just Dancing Studios (235 Old Meramec Station Road) and culminates in the festival itself June 15-17 at Rockwood Summit High School (17780 Hawkins Road, Fenton). The organizer - Soorya Performing Arts - will commemorate the 10-year anniversary by focusing on education, performance, and recognition. Other highlights of the Festival are Natya Idol, a national classical dance competition June 16-17; presentation of lifetime achievement awards; and 18 mesmerizing performances from groups across the country.
This festival is the first and only Indian Classical Dance Drama Festival in the country. The annual platform to create, discuss, present works, and showcase new ideas is part of a multi-pronged task of to preserve and promote this age-old dance style. This year, more than 150 artists will entertain the growing international audience who flock to this yearly event that provides a rare opportunity for dance enthusiasts to enjoy the prestigious Indian American Classical Dance companies rarely seen in St. Louis. The festival's director, Guru Prasanna Kasthuri, enjoys seeing his dream of making St. Louis an Indian classical dance hub unfold. "It's a beautiful amalgamation of Indian tradition with a creative American mind...Many artists bring out the most beautiful dance projects which many could not even imagine. St. Louis' art loving community always comes and enjoys these beautiful art forms. We won't fail them this year, because it will be a treat of dances."
For the first time in St. Louis, a weeklong master dance workshop focusing on dance music compositions called "Nritya Gurukula" will be led by the great Masters of Indian classical dance from June 8-14. The famous Gurus from India include: Guru Praveen Kumar on Bharatanatyam, Guru Sriradha Paul on Odissi dance forms, Guru Prajakta Raj Atre on Kathak, and Guru Pulikeshi Kasthuri and Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. Final performances and an award ceremony for workshop participants will be held on Friday, June 15 in the Festival venue.
On Saturday, June 16, the festival will honor Guru Hema Sharma with the 2018 Life Time Achievement award for her selfless service of Indian performing arts and cultural representation in Greater Kansas City area for over forty years. The award includes a cash prize of $1000, a plaque, shawl and the presentation will include a performance by her students.
Another exciting aspect for students is an opportunity to participate in "American Natya Idol," a national level dance competition held only here in St. Louis. This competition provides a platform for students to showcase their skills and receive constructive feedback on various aspects of dance forms: abhinaya (expressions), dance complexity, clarity in poses, and choice of music.
The 10th anniversary schedule blends together solo, duet and group performances:
Friday, June 15, 6pm
- Performances and award ceremony for Nritya Gurukula Workshop recipients
- Kathak performance by Anurekha Ghosh
- Shakaara - Solo Dance by Pulikeshi Kasthuri
- Varunapuri Kuravanji - by Nritya Dance Company from Houston
Saturday, June 16, 4pm
- Visions of Padma - By Rudram Dance Company, Tampa, Florida
- Rukmini Kalyanam - a solo dance drama by - Sushma Mohan
- Shaalivaahana - Dance drama of King Shaalivaahana - Soorya Dance Company
- Stories from Bible - Soorya Dance School - Chicago
- AMERICAN NATYA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Bestowed on Guru Hema Sharma of Kansas City, Kansas.
- Kali and Krishna - Kathak dance performance by - Nupur Academy LA
Sunday June 17, 3pm
- American Natya Idol Award Ceremony
- Kathak Performance by Prajakta Atre from Poona India
- Children Dance Drama - "Four Foolish Scholars"
- Odissi Performance by SriRadha Paul from Kolkata, India
- Children Dance Drama - "Tiger and Merchant"
- Bharathanatyam Performance by Praveen Kumar from Bengaluru , India
- A story and Song - by Navarasa Dance Theater
Tickets for the three-day festival can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets, at Seema Enterprises in Manchester and Bombay Bazaar in Chesterfield. More details on the festival can be found at www.natya.org
This festival is supported by parents of Soorya Dance and Music School; Missouri Arts Commission, Bright Way Insurance, US Wide Financials, Stone Land Granite and Marbles, and support from other corporations and art patrons.
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