Shristi - Nina Rajarani Dance Creations presents
'EQUILIBRIUM'
UK TOUR 22 Feb - 3 April 2004

Following on from the success of She, Shristi - Nina Rajarani Dance Creations will be touring during 2004 with a double bill of new pieces - Equilibrium. Mavin Khoo, a fabulous Indian dancer whom you might have seen performing with Shobana Jeyasingh, will oversee the choreography of the tour that runs from 22 Feb to 3 April. Equilibrium in a person is achieved when a balance is struck between one's hidden inner self (Antarang) and one's conscious outward projection (Bahirang).

The first piece Antarang will be 45 minutes long and will be performed by two dancers and five musicians. This piece will correlate the emotions predominant in the male-female relationship to the five elements, these being ether, air, water, fire and earth. Traditional Sanskrit text as well as modern day poetry on the five elements will be incorporated in the piece. The characteristics of the elements will be personified as human emotions. The different sections of the dance will be fused together using melodic rhythm in the tarana/tillana style of music. This will represent the human body that thrives because of its own rhythm. Through this internal rhythm we, as human beings, connect with each of the five elements that are present within us, in this case looking at them in the form of emotions.

The concept of vata, pitta and kapha in Ayurveda is addressed as the reason for the rise of emotions, both negative and positive. Traditional Sanskrit and regional Indian text as well as modern English poetry by Gopi Warrior, are incorporated in this piece.

The second piece Bahirang will be 20 minutes long and will be performed by two dancers to a recorded score. This piece abstracts a dancer's dilemma of placing him/herself in a bracket of being either a traditionalist or a contemporary dancer. Especially as a South Asian dancer, one is often asked to specify whether they are one or the other. In fact, the Natya Shastra, an age-old text dealing with the rules of executing classical Indian dance, music and drama, gives inspiration to explore new ideas and techniques to make new creations that are deeply rooted in tradition. So, the question arises, is work of that nature traditional or contemporary? Ultimately, why is it necessary to define one's category? Dancers just want to dance and enjoy dance. That is what is of prime importance. In this piece, dancers deeply rooted in traditional technique use the opportunity given by freedom to explore their dance form to give it new shape. Change is seen here as a transitional process, not finality. In this piece, use of light will be integral to the choreography. Confined light projection will define the restraints and the boundaries of the traditionalist, and lighting of changing form will represent the dancer's freedom to explore and take new risks.

ABOUT NINA RAJARANI

Nina Rajarani carried out her Bharatanatyam training under Prakash Yadagudde at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's London branch, during which time she also had additional training with Chitra Visweswaran of Chennai, India, . Nina was awarded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1986, and in 1987 she staged her Arangetram under her guru Prakash Yadagudde. Since 1988 Nina has received training regularly in Chennai under Shanta and VP Dhananjayan.

In 1989, the Arts Council of England in conjunction with ADiTi (the national organisation for South Asian Dance in the UK) awarded Nina a scholarship to undergo an intensive training period with the Dhananjayans in Chennai. Nina's dance style today is unique in its assimilation of the best qualities from each of the different traditions followed by the gurus with whom she has trained. Nina has also received Karnatic music vocal training under Sivasakti Sivanesan at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's London branch, and under Karpagam Balasubramanian in Chennai.

As a performer, Nina has toured extensively within the UK, in several other European countries, in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. She has performed as a soloist and as a duet partner with her guru Prakash Yadagudde, in addition to dance productions by her company SRISHTI. Nina's professional touring company presents Nina's choreography in which preservation of the authenticity of Indian classical dance traditions is of prime importance. Srishti has toured several productions nationally in the UK - She (2003), Vaachikam (2002), Santripti (1998), Independence (1997/8), Hidden Forces (1996/7), Utsav (1995), Golden Chains (1994) and Meetings (1992/3). Srishti's projects have been regularly funded by the Arts Council of England and Regional Arts Boards.

The company also has a strong commitment to both school and community based education work linked to tours and performances, and makes the provision of training opportunities a priority. Nina has earned herself an admirable reputation as a teacher and has to her credit, a thriving school of dance based at the Harrow Arts Centre in Middlesex since 1991 where students pride themselves upon the high standard of dancing they aim to achieve.

In recent years, Nina Rajarani has been closely involved with a committee of dance teachers that has devised a syllabus for Bharatanatyam with graded examinations. These examinations are being conducted by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) that runs examinations worldwide for various different dance styles including Ballet, Tap and so on. Nina is currently the secretary of the South Asian Dance Faculty of the ISTD and is also a Bharatanatyam examiner for the ISTD.

ABOUT PRASHANT SHAH

Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Prashant is one of the most promising male dancers of India. For the last two decades, Prashant has been training under Padmashree Smt Kumudini Lakhia, world renowned Kathak exponent, choreographer and founder of the Kadamb Center for Dance and Music in Ahmedabad.

In recent years, on India's national dance scene, he has performed extensively in festivals organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (New Delhi) and Kathak Kendra (New Delhi). He has also participated in many of Pandit Birju Maharaj's productions. In addition to this, Prashant's participation in most of Kadamb's productions has given him the necessary experience and flexibility to work with a diverse range of choreographers based around the world.

Prashant has performed extensively in all major cities of India and also in countries worldwide such as USA, UK, USSR, France, China, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico, Netherlands, Austria, Indonesia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka amongst others. He has done this in his capacity as a leading dancer of the Kadamb Performing Group and for different projects commissioned by established dance companies around the world.

TOUR DATES