Erasing Borders DanceFEST INDIA! Priyadarshini Govind (Bharatanatyam) and Trinayan Dance Ensemble (Odissi) (SOLD OUT)
VIEW EVENT DETAILSNYC premiere of internationally renowned Bharata Natyam dancer Priyadarshini Govind's PraNayam: Obeisances to God, accompanied by a live orchestra from India, with Trinayan Dance Theater's Pratidhwani: Sacred Resonance
Kalaimamani Priyadarshini Govind — known for her intensity and mastery of the subtleties of Abhinaya (the art of expression in classical Indian dance), and named one of India's "Top Ten Bharata Natyam Performing Artists in Chennai" by India Today — will grace the stage for an exhilarating suite of original choreographic works, one of which is specially composed to Shyma Shastri's timeless work "Amba Kamakshi."
The New York City premiere of PranAyam is accompanied by acclaimed musicians K.S. Balakrishnan (nattuvangam), Gomathy Nayagam (vocal), V. Vedakrishnan (mridangam), and Deepu K. Nair (violin).
"Govind is a stunning and committed dancer who does not just play a character but utterly disappears into one. Each movement seems to come directly from her gut and hits you straight in yours."
— Sarah Halzak, The Washington Post
Pratidhwani, Sanskrit for echo, explores the vedic principle Prakriti — eternal spirit in contact with the cycles of nature. The production features two New York City premieres choreographed by artistic director Leena Mohanty: Surya Upasana, an invocation depicting the effulgence of Surya, the Sun God, and Madhyamali Pallavi, a melodic dance filled with the energetic rhythms and reflections of nature.
"It's heartening to find something as beautiful, serious and substantial .... The lively rhythm of the feet, the often sculptural fullness of the sustained poses, the unusual vivacity of the eyes (opening and closing them becomes rhythmic in itself), and the ravishing harmony of face, arms and torso make this a complex experience."
— Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times
Watch a video of Priyadarshini Govind: