Dance and Music translate expressions of the soul and releases pent-up emotions. The perceived sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality, leading towards salvation. Spiritual Dance and Music play important role in all cultures. Even though expressions may differ yet the goal is usually to stimulate the connectedness, communion and spiritual experience of a group or an individual. As spiritual Dance and Music communicate directly with the inner self, they therefore affect us on a subtle and often unconscious level, thereby addressing the psychological health of individuals.
On the Occasion of the International Dance Day, Russia’s leading Spiritual Music Ensemble ‘Sirin’ and India’s most celebrated and venerated Kathak danseuse, Guru Shovana Narayan (Padmashri), come together in a memorable evening ‘Dance of the Soul’ where ‘one image is equivalent to more than thousand words’. It is the confluence of cultures; it is ‘beyond frontiers’; it is building bridges of sensitivity; it is conversation on humanism; it is speaking through images and emotions!
This memorable evening that will be staged at the Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 6.30pm, is being brought to the audience lovers of Delhi by the ICCR.
Something about ‘Sirin’ from Russia:
Founded in 1989 by well-known Russian singer, choirmaster and folklorist, Andrey Kotov, Spiritual Music Ensemble ‘Sirin’ derives its name from the legend about the bird of paradise that sang ‘ineffable songs about saved souls’. The ensembles repertoire includes liturgical canticles of XV-XVIII centuries’ monastery chants as well as early forms of Russian polyphony. The ensemble has performed widely in the international circuit, attracting the attention of several contemporary composers. Vladimir Martynov set to music “Threnody of Jeremiah”, the scenic version of which was marked by the ‘Golden Mask’ Award and which went through 150 performances in Russia and abroad.
Something about Guru Shovana Narayan (Padmashri) and her ASAVARI group:
Guru Shovana Narayan (Padmashri) is today, a venerated Kathak Maestro of India and an outstanding dancer ‘par excellence’. She has also become a living legend, a virtuoso who has blazed a trail in Kathak, re-defining the ethos and vocabulary of Kathak bestowing it with dignity and enriching it with a deeper and wider canvas of expression and dimensions. Every fibre of her body lives and breathes dance. A consummate artiste and choreographer, a revered guru to her disciples and an intellectual, she combines artistry with keen observation and humanism.
In her career spanning several decades that has seen her mesmerizing audiences all over the world in several prestigious national and international festivals, she has been conferred with numerous awards, outstanding among which are the Padmashri Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to dance by the President of India in 1992 and yet again the Sangeet Natak Akademi award by the President of India in 1999-2000. Some of the other awards won by her include Delhi Govt’s Parishad Samman, Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar, Bihar Gaurav Puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini Samman, Kelvinator’s GR8Award, Rotary International Award and Japan’s Oisca Award.
ASAVARI Group: Asavari is an institution that was established in the year 1979 by the renowned danseuse Padmashri Shovana Narayan. Since its inception, under the banner of Asavari, Shovana’s dance company has given numerous performances on various themes and subjects all over the country and in UK too. In a way, Shovana’s group choreographies and the banner of Asavari are synonymous and it is therefore no wonder that the Asavari group is often known as Shovana’s troupe! Shovana’s Asavari group is credited with many path-breaking works, whether they were sensitive portrayals of social issues or whether they were explorations of rhythmic dimensions in terms of sound-scapes and emotional-scapes!
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