SPEAK
American Tap meets Indian Kathak
March 27, 2017, 8 pm
Hogan Center Ballroom, College of the Holy Cross
rerejhjhsfkjhgfjkghkjfdhrRina Mehta, Kathak
Rachna Nivas, Kathak
Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Tap
Also featuring:
Jayant Banerjee, Sitar
Vaibhav Mankad, Indian Vocals
Satyaprakash Mishra, Tabla
Austin McMahon, Drums
Carmen Staaf, Piano
Keala Kaumeheiwa, Bass
Free and open to the public
Directions and parking >>
Indian Kathak dance and American tap dance, continents and ages apart, share parallel stories of struggle and perseverance. They come together in this extraordinary collaboration that is rhythm, poetry, storytelling, music and dance.
SPEAK carries forward the legacy of iconic artists like Pandit Chitresh Das, Jimmy Slide and James Buster Brown, while bringing to the forefront the voices of a new generation of female artists. Serving as the bridge between tradition and innovation, history and progress, Rina Mehta, Rachna Nivas, and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards create nothing short of magic on the stage.
Joined by leading Indian classical and jazz musicians, SPEAK promises to thrill, provoke and move your spirit.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Rachna Nivas is a charismatic performer, mentor to many, and a powerful leader amongst today’s generation of Indian classical artists, bringing a contemporary voice to Kathak. Deemed “revelatory” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rachna has an extensive performance career to great acclaim across the U.S. and India, both as a soloist and principal dancer with the Chitresh Das Dance Company. She was nominated for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award as part of CDDC, received the Alliance for Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts grant. She is a senior disciple of the late legendary master, Pandit Chitresh Das and the former Director of the Chhandam School of Kathak, one of the largest classical Indian dance institutions in the world. www.rachnanivas.com
Rina Mehta, founder and Artistic Director of The Leela Institute, is one of the most powerful Kathak artists of her generation. She is a senior disciple of the late Kathak icon, Pandit Chitresh Das and has performed to great acclaim across the United States and India, both as a soloist and principal dancer with the Chitresh Das Dance Company. She received a Fulbright Award for Dance, an Alliance for California Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant and twice been nominated for an Isodara Duncan Dance Award as a part of CDDC. She is a pioneer and strong leader amongst her generation, taking Kathak forward and carving a place for the ancient art form in modern times. www.rinamehtakathak.com
Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards has been a part of almost every major Tap movie or show that has appeared in the history of tap dance since the 80’s. Accolades include an Astaire Award for Best Performance, the Bessie Award, and the Hoofer Award. She is founder of Harlem Tap Studio and performs extensively at shows and festivals around the world. She was elected to the Advisory Board of Dance Magazine and nominated the official Tap Spokesperson for Capezio. Mrs. Sumbry-Edwards was also Michael Jackson’s private tap instructor for eleven years. Dormeshia is revered as one of the most dynamic performers in the industry today.