Saturday, September 15
8-9:30pm
Arthur Miller Theater, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
A unique evening based on poetry from three eras of Indian literature: ancient, early 20th century and contemporary. It features three poetry based segments of performance, dance, visual art, live music and avant garde multimedia and digital projections:
I. Sanskrit poetry from the 12th century poet Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda
II. Duhshamay by Rabindranath Tagore – late 19th/early 20th century
III. Contemporary Indian poetry
Sanskrit poetry from the 12th century poet Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda: recited in Sanskrit by Jahnabi Barooah Chanchani and in English by Prof. Paroma Chatterjee, accompanied by Diptavo Dutta on Sarod. Ancient Gita Govinda paintings from the 18th century will accompany the readings and will be projected.
Duhshamay by Rabindranath Tagore by Sreyashi Dey, Anurekha Ghosh, Gina Danene Thompson and Emmeline Weinert.
Based on Rabindranath Tagore’s profound poem Duhshamay, this performance uses the classical dance vocabularies of Odissi and Kathak, along with physical theater and contemporary movements to interpret the layers of meaning and depths of philosophy and mysticism inherent in it.
Returning repeatedly to the visual metaphor of a broken blind bird that struggles to spread its wings and let its spirits soar, this work traces the journey of the spirit, with no beginning and no end. On this journey, time and space are mere illusions, as transitory as both fear and hope, as well as all human bonds. The eternal spirit seeks to transcend it all.
Concept: Sreyashi Dey
Choreography: Sreyashi Dey, Anurekha Ghosh
Artists: Sreyashi Dey, Anurekha Ghosh, Gina Thompson and Emmeline Weinert
Narration: Barun Chanda (Kolkata, India)
Music Compilation: Koushik Som
Contemporary poetry: Visual art, digital projections, live music, created by Hans Anderson, Dave Sharp
Venue: Arthur Miller Theater
Parking: $5 event parking is available in the adjoining University of Michigan lot (U-M Blue and Gold Permit free)
Rasa Festival 