THE PRODUCTION
Inspired by Maya Angelou’s “Everything has rhythm, everything dances”, The Kalabharathi School of Dance is proud to present, “RHYTHMIC DELIGHTS”, in collaboration with Portland Taiko. For the first time ever, the language of the vibrant Japanese taiko drums will be spoken through the elegance of Indian dance. A team of about 45 dancers will be accompanied by an Indian orchestra of 8 musicians and a Portland Taiko crew of 15 members.
The event will take place at the Tualatin High School Auditorium, on June 25th, 2006 at 3pm.
Rhythmic delights has been produced, directed and choreographed by Sivagami Vanka
RD is the result of 2 years of hard work with Taiko and Kalabharathi. Amidst the flurry of long distance and international phone calls, airline tickets and hectic schedules for dance rehearsals with the orchestra and Taiko, flyer/poster designing and printing, sponsorship requests and fundraising a magnificent work of art has come to life. This production promises to be a cultural treat for Portland audiences. Portland will witness for the first time this confluence of energy and dynamism of these two Asian cultures.
THE MUSIC
RD is the result of the collaboration started in 2005, between the orchestra from India and Taiko. Several pieces were chosen from PT’s repertoire and for the first time uniquely fused with the Indian music. Rhythms based on the mathematical structure of the Indian “talas” had been applied to the various unique Taiko drumming patterns. Many original pieces of music were composed specially for this performance by the visiting Indian orchestra. (They worked with Portland Taiko last summer when they visited Portland). This is the first time that such a full length performance of Taiko and Bharathanatyam has ever taken place in the USA.
Musicians from India will be joined by local artists for this production to provide live musical accompaniment to the dancers. Instruments such as the mridangam, flute, violin, veena, clarinet, keyboard and drums will resound and answer to the call of the Taiko drums. The blending of Indian classical music with Japanese drumming will certainly be a gratifying experience for all music and dance aficionados.
THE DANCERS
Kalabharathi dancers, who have earned the reputation of being one of the best Indian performance groups in Portland, will be joined by several well known local dance artistes. (We even have one dancer from New Jersey joining the troupe!!) .The school dancers will once again put forth a magnificent performance in “RHYTHMIC DELIGHTS” along with Portland Taiko. The success of the program was sampled at Pioneer Square, last summer, when we featured HA and danced for it at the India Day Festival. About 5000 people gave us a standing ovation!!!!
Authentic costumes, jewellery, hand painted backdrops will all add to the uniqueness of this program. This is art history in the making!
View Practices For This Event:
HA
View the video from this production:
