WALNUT, CA - Students of Arti Manek’s Shankara Dance Academy put up a dance drama Dashavtar , to a full house, at the Sophia B. Clarke Theater here with more than 50 artists, on June 22. The artists were local accompanied by Abhay Shankar, Kakoli and Abhinav Mishra of Delhi and Arti Manek, herself. The performance started promptly on time,
with a pre-recorded Guru Vandana sung by Kathak’s legendary Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj. Dashavtar was explained to the audience as ten ‘avtars’ (reincarnations) of Lord Vishnu. Each avtar was brought to life and stunned the audience with colorful costumes, back drops, stage effects, slides, lighting, sound effects, custom made props, and the large number of artisits on the stage. The Avatars were in the following order: Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha ((man-lion), Varmana (dwarf), Parasuram (Man with an Axe), Rama (Lord Rama), Krishna / Balram (Lord Krishna – cow herd’s boy), Buddha (teacher of non-violence, Kalki (Anticipated to return to cure the world’s ills). Each act of the ten avtars was well received by the audience. The professional acting by the artists, was extremely real and kepthe audience mesmerized.
The grand finale was striking as the whole cast of over 50 artists graciously came one by one as the Jaya Jagdish aarti was playing. The artists ranged in ages from around 6 years old to grownups. The full stage of artists received a spontaneous standup ovation. Several of the senior students and graduates of the Shankara Dance Academy spoke, appreciating Arti Manek’s immense contribution to maintaining and bolstering the art of Kathak and the Indian dance and drama events comprising local artists. Arti Manek is well known in the Los Angeles area, for the last several decades, for putting up folk and classical productions using local talent and amateur artists. The four to five minute long standing-ovation, with loud cheers spoke louder than words about the audience’s response the dance drama.
The grand finale was striking as the whole cast of over 50 artists graciously came one by one as the Jaya Jagdish aarti was playing. The artists ranged in ages from around 6 years old to grownups. The full stage of artists received a spontaneous standup ovation. Several of the senior students and graduates of the Shankara Dance Academy spoke, appreciating Arti Manek’s immense contribution to maintaining and bolstering the art of Kathak and the Indian dance and drama events comprising local artists. Arti Manek is well known in the Los Angeles area, for the last several decades, for putting up folk and classical productions using local talent and amateur artists. The four to five minute long standing-ovation, with loud cheers spoke louder than words about the audience’s response the dance drama.
RSS Feed
