Rasa in association with Contact, presents Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati in the World Premiere of Dancing Within Walls by Rani Moorthy, 4th- 13th December, 8pm at the Contact Theatre, Manchester.

Fusing drama, dance and music, Dancing Within Walls tells the true-life story of a woman who broke all the rules. Dancer Rukmini Devi was one of 20th century India's most fascinating women, making history by defying tradition, marrying an English man and becoming the first high caste woman to dance on a public stage. Refusing an offer to be President, she single-handedly revolutionised the position of female artists in India.

Rukmini Devi's life encapsulates a nation's struggle with colonialism and cultural suppression. As independent India is born Dancing Within Walls tells the story of how Rukmini tames the erotic dance of the female temple dancers [devadasi], banned by British rule. Stripping this ancient dance of its core sensuality 'sringara' [the erotic longing for the Gods] she creates the acceptable classical dance baratha natyam. Yet in making the forbidden respectable, she invokes the anger of her guru Yellama and outrageously flouts five thousand years of ancient tradition.

Shobna Gulati plays Rukmini's guru Yellama, a devadasi who is forced to live as a prostitute and practice her art behind private walls. Trained as a baratha natyam dancer since the age of 8, Shobna Gulati is now one of the UK's most popular actresses, playing the role of Sunita in Granada's Coronation Street and Anita in BBC 2's Dinner Ladies.

Dancing Within Walls also brings together some of the hottest Asian talent working in the west. Director Iqbal Khan is one of the UK's brightest young directors, having recently directed Tariq Ali's new play at London's prestigious Soho Theatre. Canadian based choreographer Gitanjali Kolanad studied at Rukmini Devi's school Kalakshetra, and has worked across North America, Europe and Asia. UK Resident Manickam Yogeswaran who will be composing the music is the only Tamil singer to have worked in Hollywood, featuring on soundtracks for Stanley Kubrick and Spike Lee.

ABOUT RANI MOORTHY

Writer Rani Moorthy was born in Malaysia and worked in Singapore, creating lead roles in theatre, hosting hit TV comedies and staring in films. She moved to the UK in 1996 appearing in A&E, Coronation Street and becoming a regular host of Radio 2's Pause For Thought. Rani is currently a guest presenter on BBC1's Heaven and Earth and her one-woman show Pooja recently completed a tour of Asia and the UK.