GENERAL AUDIENCE TOURING PROGRAM
April - May - Prince Rama in the
Wilderness GTA and Southern Ontario Schools
"I have had the opportunity of working with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company for some 10 years as a presenter, and I had the pleasure of seeing Menaka dance in Montreal early in her career. I have always been impressed with the quality and finish of the performances and the grandeur of the work that includes dramatic and impressive props and scenery. The company is always highly polished and one can immediately see their dedication and joy in the presentation of their art forms. This is also aptly complimented by their administrative staff and operations who are meticulous and extremely organized in their attention to detail and in the way they support the company throughout their extensive touring seasons. I highly recommend MTDC to all presenters as a company that is at the top of their game and who deserve their well earned reputation as one of Canada's jewels in the South Asian performing arts diaspora.” - Dr. Dev R. Sainani, Co-Founder, Kala-Manjari, London, Ontario, Canada “A three-day dance residency with classical Indian dance company, Menaka Thakkar, gave the Fredericton Playhouse the opportunity to present a range of enrichment activities in combination with the company’s mainstage production. Master Classes with the dance and Indo-Canadian communities, at a capacity school performance, a free dance demonstration, and post-show artist talk gave the public a rich and meaningful experience into the history, beauty and culture of classical Indian dance.” - Amani Wassef,
Education and Outreach Director, The Fredericton Playhouse
An Evening of
Classical and Contemporary Indian Dance Parashakti (Primordial Energy) – 25 minutes - Parashakti is a contemporary Bharatanatyam dance that deals with the cycle of creation, sustenance, and destruction. It portrays the cycle through various stages: first, the pre-creation primordial self-absorption; second, the impulse to create bursting forth in joyous expansion; then a self-regulating stage of order, harmony, flowering and balance; and finally there is a falling off balance, explosion, and inevitable destruction. The piece ends where it began in the self-absorption first stage of creation. Odissi Pallavi – 6 minutes – A beautiful classical Indian dance form from Orissa, India. Bharatanatyam Varnam – 16 minutes – A classical Bharatanatyam work which combines pure dance sequences with an ongoing narrative in which the dancers speak and then perform. Intermission – 15 minutes Shapes & Rhythms – 20 minutes - This delightful modern fusion choreography combines Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Ballet movements. Shapes and Rhythms is the result of a week-long residency for Ms. Thakkar organized by the National Ballet of Canada. Riaz – 20 minutes - A modern
group choreography by one of Canada’s foremost Indian soloist dancers,
Natasha Bakht. Bakht who is a former member of the Menaka Thakkar Dance
Company developed the choreography especially for the company. Riaz is
an original creation that takes classical Bharatanatyam movements and
gives them the modern twist that is Bakht’s individual style.
“Excellent showing of the moves before the actual dance drama. Helped the students to understand the plot. Excellent show for elementary school students. It’s always great to see athletic male dancers with graceful female dancers together!” – Teacher, The Valleys “Really well presented and explained. The children thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the boys! The girls loved it too. Great way to present culture and heritage through the arts.” – Teacher, Clark P.S.
Show duration 60
minutes (includes 15 minutes talk before the show, 10 minute Question &
Answer period) Canada’s premiere Indian dance company presents a tale told through classical Bharatanatyam dance inspired by the epic Hindu classic Ramayana. “Prince Rama in the Wilderness” tells the story of Prince Rama the first born son of King Dasharatha who is exiled for 14 years because of the wishes of King Dasharatha’s stepmother for her son to be the new king instead of Rama. Rama and his wife Sita are living happily in a beautiful forest setting in the wilderness among the dancing birds and animals. But when King Ravana who is far away in the kingdom of Lanka learns that his enemy Rama is living in the forests their peaceful life is threatened. Performance time: 35 minutes, 5
dancers
Workshops: Residency: Contact: For Touring and Block Booking
Information, please contact:
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