Indian Dance workshop in Grinnell College, IA

Summer Dance Intensive 2017

VENUE: Grinnell College, IA http://www.grinnell.edu/

DATES – June 29 (9 am start)
June 30
July 1
July 2
July 3 (3 pm finish)
Please plan on attending full workshop

DANCE INTENSIVE: Dakshina will host a residential dance intensive between June 28–July 3rd at the scenic Grinnell College campus in Iowa. The classes will be led by legendary dancers Leela Samson, Madhavi Mudgal, and Rama Vaidyanathan. The intensive is recommended for advanced dancers who can work in a fast pace. The dancers will learn yoga, Bharata Natyam, Odissi (technique and dances), and choreography. After learning the solo dances, the participants will work with the guest teachers on adapting a solo item into a group format.

Students will perform the group choreography on the last evening of the intensive. Students will learn 2 dances depending on how quickly and how well they master each dance. The teachers will only proceed to the next dance after the dancers master the first dance. Students will learn a solo version and a group version of each dance.

Evenings will be set aside for practice, discussions, film viewings on dance. If you are working on your own choreography, the evening times will be perfect to receive one-on-one guidance.

***Workshop will only take place if we have 10 participants by the May 20th deadline.***

More details at  dakshina.org

FEES
Fees include housing, meals, and tuition for the workshop. We are doing this workshop at cost, and would gratefully accept any donations over the workshop fees listed below to help continue making these educational and professional opportunities possible. ***Workshop will only take place if we have 10 participants by the May 20th deadline. If Dakshina cancels the workshops, the fees will be refunded. Please email info@dakshina.org with any questions.***

Fees  $1075 if paid before May 20 ( $1175 if paid between May 20th to June 5th, $1275 after June 5th)

LEELA SAMSON
Leela Samson is an alumnus of Kalakshetra. Her seemingly understated delineation conceals a powerful and inspired inner source, which gradually unfolds before the viewer. She is a virtuoso performer and a sensitive interpreter of the nuances of Bharatanatyam. Two significant documentary films have been made on Leela Samson – ‘Sanchari’ by Arun Khopkar and ‘The Flowering Tree’ by Ein Lall. Leela is the recipient of the Sanskriti Award in 1982, the Padmashri Award in 1990, the Nritya Choodamani Award in 1997 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000. She served as Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation from 2005 to 2012. Spanda, a group that presents works conceived and choreographed by Leela Samson, attempts to explore bharata natyam. Launched in September 1995, Spanda now has an evolving repertoire. Spanda is ‘a vibration’ or pulse and is symbolic of the enduring and perpetual energy that is the life force of the universe. It acknowledges prithvi – the earth, as the central source of energy in the universe, as the nabha, the womb is the energy centre of the human body.

MADHAVI MUDGAL
Contributing to the evolution of classical Odissi dance with her artistic vision and talent, Madhavi Mudgal is a renowned dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She has become India’s premier Odissi exponent, garnering awards and acclaim for sustaining the art form’s authenticity while pushing it beyond traditional constraints. Born into a family deeply involved in propagating the classical arts, she was immersed in music and dance from a very young age. She trained in Bharata Natyam and Kathak under great gurus and later turned to Odissi which she adopted as her preferred medium. She has trained under Guru Hare Krishna Bahera and Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. Through teaching, performing and conducting workshops, Madhavi has been actively involved in propagating the art of Odissi in New Delhi and other parts of India as well as the world. She received the Sanskriti Award, the President of India’s award, the Padmashri, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to the world of Indian Dance. A frequent guest artist with Dakshina, Ms Mudgal is a nurturing teacher who pushes and refines the performance quality of dancers. She is known for her group choreography and will be teaching some rare North Indian abhinaya dances.

RAMA VAIDYANATHAN
Rama Vaidyanathan is a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam, a popular classical dance form of India. She is undoubtedly one of the most sought after artistes of her generation having carved a name for herself in the Bharatanatyam World. She has trained intensively under the legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and the renowned Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. Everyone who has seen Rama perform is struck by her unique thought process and fresh approach to dance. While deeply routed in tradition She has evolved her own individual style without forsaking the core principles of Bharata Natyam. She brings to her dance a rare sense of devotion and dedication, which leaves the audience with a sense of spiritual fulfillment. She has received the Kalaimamani, Nadanamamani, Natya Bhairavi, and Bharatha Rathna award among many others. A good friend and frequent teacher at Dakshina’s workshops, Mrs. Vaidyanathan will be leading classes in technique and group choreography along with teaching her signature Bharata Natyam dances.