Choreographer Janaki Patrik and her Kathak Ensemble once again communicate the richness of Indian culture through its arts, along with Patrik's innovative use of music by composers Mozart, John Adams and Samuel Barber, and poetry by W.H. Auden.
Her 16-member ensemble will appear in the World Premiere of "Taal Se Taal" (Match Your Rhythm to Mine), July 28 & 29 at 3 PM, at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue, presented by the PAM (Performing Arts Marathon) Festival presented by IATI: Theater Todo Vanguardia.
JANAKI PATRIK PRESENTS HER KATHAK ENSEMBLE IN THE PREMIERE OF 'TAAL SE TAAL" (Match Your Rhythm to Mine)
Performed in four sections:
"Mozartayana," to music by Mozart
"Flashpoint," music by John Adams and Samuel Barber, inspired by Auden's poem "Lullaby"
"Bollywood Goes Classical," Hindustani North Indian and film music
"Ghungroo," music provided by brass finger cymbals
Choreography Janaki Patrik
- Costumes: Karen Young, Rani Khanamn, Poonam Rajey
Saturday & Sunday, July 28 & 29 at 3 PM
Baruch Performing Arts Center (Nagelberg Theatre), 55 Lexington (entrance on 25th St between Lexington and Third)
Reservations: (866) 811.4111 or www.teatroiati.org
Choreographer Janaki Patrik and her Kathak Ensemble once again communicate the richness of Indian culture through its arts, along with Patrik's innovative use of music by composers Mozart, John Adams and Samuel Barber, and poetry by W.H. Auden. Her 16-member ensemble will appear in the World Premiere of "Taal Se Taal" (Match Your Rhythm to Mine), July 28 & 29 at 3 PM, at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue, presented by the PAM (Performing Arts Marathon) Festival presented by IATI: Theater Todo Vanguardia.
"Taal Se Taal" presents to viewers Kathak dances to the beat of four very different drummers. "BOLLYWOOD GOES CLASSICAL" showcases blockbuster Indian cinema songs, illustrating the moods of love from initial infatuation through betrayal and finally to joyful celebration. The hundred and one bells worn around each Kathak dancer's ankles create music in GHUNGROO, accompanied only by manijira finger cymbals. MOZARTAYANA pairs the elegance of two court traditions – Mozart's music from 18th Century Vienna with Kathak dance from India's most opulent 19th Century court in Lucknow. And finally FLASHPOINT ignites a mixed ensemble of Kathak and modern dancers, accompanied by the music of American composers Samuel Barber and John Adams.
In Flashpoint Part I Ms. Patrik explores the use of classical Indian dance storytelling techniques to illuminate English poetry, specifically W.H. Auden's "Lullaby," accompanied by Samuel Barber's lyrical Allegro from the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Flashpoint Part II pays tribute to Merce Cunningham, whose wry sense of humor inspired the choreographic high-jinks, and is well-matched by John Adam's ferociously fast Toccarre.
"Taal Se Taal's" next section shows us how Bollywood Goes Classical. Kathak dance and its accompanying Hindustrani North Indian music provide the foundation for much of the choreography and music used for Bollywood films. This section highlights the potential pure Kathak choreography underlying some of the glorious music in Bollywood films.
In Mozartayana Patrik unites the elegance of pure classical Kathak with the music of Mozart.
The final section is Ghungroo, where low lighting puts the dancers almost in shadows so as to focus attention on their feet and ankle bells. Music for the entire piece is provided by the bells and by the sparse "ching" of the brass finger cymbals to dictate the bare outline of the beat.
JANAKI PATRIK (director/choreographer) has been a disciple of Kathak Guru Pt. Birju Ma araj since 1967. She trained in Hindustani vocal with Vidushi Siddeswari Devi and in tabla with Guru Purushottam Das. Patrik has a BA in Russian from Swarthmore College (1966), and and MA in Hindu and Sanskrit from Columbia University (2000). She was granted a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship to study poetry in the Kathak repertoire, and the American Insitute of Indian Studies Senior Performing Arts Fellowship 2008 to make a comparative study of Kathak teaching methods and new directions in Kathak choreography in India. Ms. Patrik founded her Kathak Ensemble in 1978; she also continues as a performing and teaching artist since 1970 in universities and private schools around the U.S.
Patrik's Kathak Ensemble communicates the richness of Indian culture through its arts, most specifically through the classical North Indian dance style Kathak, its storytelling techniques and its accompanying Hindustani music. Ensemble programs strive to create a dialogue with a broad spectrum of dance and musical styles. The Ensemble, founded and directed by Janaki Patrik, consists of Kathak dancers Sowmya Viswanath, Rashi Verma, Brighid O'Dea, Neha Kulkami, Anisha Muni, Mrinali Kaul, Tara Chowdhury, Rajanandhini Balachandran, and Prachi Bakarania, and modern dancers Atsushi Yahagi, Yayoi Suzuki, Maurice Dawkins, Chie Mukai, Scott Lewis, and Caron Eule.
PAM (Performing Arts Marathon) is a production of teatroIATI, an organization dedicated to nurturing young artists as well as support staff and administrators, particularly from the Hispanic community in which it has its roots.
www.teatroiati.org
www.kathakensemble.com
Janaki Patrik and her Kathak Ensemble
©2012 Danza Ballet
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