Centre East presents the internationally reputed Natya Dance Theatre Company (NDT) Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8pm at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd.
For its Centre East debut, Natya Dance Theatre will perform its renowned signature work, “Shakti Chakra – The Energy Cycle,” which the company toured throughout India (a rare honor for a US company) and performed at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“The Energy Cycle” features nine dancers in authentic southern Indian costumes performing to music created by traditional south Indian instruments, including the bamboo flute and double headed drums. This work has been staged in many prestigious venues around the world and deals with the five activities of God, as spirit, source, and supreme power.
It addresses creation to dissolution and draws on episodes from major Indian epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata. These epics deal with universal emotions, such as jealousy, greed, lust love, and pride; and explores what happens when these emotions are allowed to flower; how they form blockages to our good self; and why they must be controlled.
According to Rajagopalan, “‘The Energy Cycle’ is essentially a work of dance theater featuring is a lot of drama and a strong story line. Traditional Indian dance involves all parts of the body and the expression of the face and the eyes. However to enhance the connection to the Centre East audience, this performance will incorporate more movement. There will be subtle expression but also impressive group choreography.”
About the Chicago Natya Dance Theatre
Established in Chicago more than 30 years ago, the Natya Dance Theatre was the first U.S. company to appear at New York’s prestigious World Music Institute.
Natya Dance Theatre promotes the values of Indian culture, preserves an ancient art form, and forges links among Indian, US and other cultures. ”Admirably precise, animated, sensual, exceptional, triumphant, daring” (The New York Times), Natya performs with a contemporary sensibility, transporting audiences of all backgrounds and ages with rhythmic footwork, dynamic body movement, hand gestures and facial expressions.
Artistic Director Hema Rajagopalan is a Bharata Natyam dancer, teacher and choreographer of international acclaim. She began learning the dance at age 6, and her mentors are Padmashree K.N. Dandayudapani Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, two of the foremost figures in Bharata Natyam.
National recognition of her artistic and educational work includes seven dance choreography awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Vishva Kala Bharati award from the Bharat Kalachar festival in India.
About the Centre East Performing Arts Presenter
Founded in 1979, Centre East is the resident performing arts presenter at the award-winning North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, located at 9501 Skokie Blvd. Centre East presents Natya Dance Theatre Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25-$30; students $15 (with ID; restrictions apply). Free parking available. For tickets call 847-673-6300 or visit northshorecenter.org. Groups of 15 or more, call GroupTix at 877-4-GRP-TIX (877-447-7849).
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