South Indian dance show aims to be both educational and fun
By: Stephanie Brown
MONROE An afternoon of traditional Indian dance, with all the visual splendors of an ancient Hindu temple, is set for Sunday.
The Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance will present Bharatanatyam, a traditional South Indian dance, at 2 p.m. in the Richard P. Marasco Center for Performing Arts at the Monroe Township High School. Admission is free.
Sponsored by the Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission, the show aims to educate as well as entertain.
Originated in South Indian temples over 2,000 years ago, Bharatanatyam has been used to show worship and profound emotion through highly stylized movements, said choreographer Ramya Ramnarayan.
Ms. Ramnarayan has structured the show’s dance pieces to explain the historic and cultural background of India.
Twenty-five dancers dressed to represent Hindu temple sculptures will take the audience on a journey through India, as communicated through gestures of the hands, eyes and mouth.
In addition to the dance, a narrator will provide a detailed description of each dancer’s story.
"Bridging the gap of understanding was something that was appealing to us," said Nancie Gunkleman, a commissioner of the Cultural Arts Commission. "This kind of dance is foreign to Western eyes, and if you don’t understand what’s going on, it might be hard to appreciate."
Located in North Brunswick, The Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance has worked to preserve and promote classical forms of Southeast Asian dance for more than a decade, said Ms. Ramnarayan.
"I just feel it’s important for audiences to have better understanding of classical form," said Ms. Ramnarayan, who noted much of the contemporary dance depicted in Bollywood India’s version of America’s Hollywood has its roots in these classical dance forms. "It will be interesting for audiences to learn not only how long it’s been around for, but also how well it’s been preserved."
For more information on The Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance call (732) 398-9895 or visit its Web site at www.nrithyanjali.org.