2002 Events

Madhuban Me Radhika Nache Re - Sangam Diwali Nite, November 2002

Madhuban was a repeat performance of our 2001 cultural show presentation, and was performed to live music. Bharatha Natyam and Kathak dancers combined forces to describe the love of Lord Krishna and Radha. Ashish Nimgaonkar (G) sang, with Naveen Goela ('03) on the tabla.

'Diwali Nite' is MIT Sangam's annual show in celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. The show features Indian music, dance and drama as well as a 3 course Indian dinner.

When: 7:00pm, Friday November 8, 2002
Where: Walker Memorial, MIT.

Kathak Lecture Demonstration by Sri Chitresh Das - October, 2002

MIT's Natya in conjunction with MITHAS and Chhandika presented a free Lecture Demonstration by Kathak Dance Master Sri Chitresh Das. Kathak is a classical dance theater that originated in northern India, and Chitresh Das is widely acknowledged as one of the most dynamic and brilliant Kathak Dance exponents on the international stage today.

When: Thursday October 24, 2002
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Killian Hall
Contacts: Alpana Waghmare, alpana[at]mit[dot]edu; MITHAS

Kathak is a classical dance theater that originated in northern India, and Chitresh Das is widely acknowledged as one of the most dynamic and brilliant Kathak Dance exponents on the international stage today. Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience this art form in an intimate setting with one of the great masters.

Natyanjali - September, 2002

This year's Natyanjali, Natya's annual dance performance, was held on the 20th & 21st of September in Little Kresge. It featured students of MIT and showcased three different dance forms from India (Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak).

Date: September 20th & 21st, 2002
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Little Kresge Auditorium, MIT

Dancers (in order of performance): Rasika Kumar, Alpana Waghmare, Sheila Krishna, Sumati Ram-Mohan, Sripriya Natarajan, Anindita Basu, Prahladh Harsha, Radha Kalluri, Prachi Jain, Aditi Garg, Vidya Lakshmipathy, Sangita Shresthova

Musicians: Meenakshi Verma (recitation), Sharareh Barjrachary (recitation), Naveen Goela (Tabla)

For further details of the event, check out Natyanjali '02 webpage

Arpana - July, 2002

Natya hosted "ARPANA - A Dance and Music Festival", a production of the Academy of Indian Performing Arts.

Arpana (offering) is a three day Festival of Indian Classical Dance and Music. The primary goal of the Festival is to provide a vibrant and engaging learning environment in which the grace and energy of India's performing arts traditions are shared. More than one hundred dancers and musicians, young and mature,students and professionals, will participate in this year's festival. More than just performances, the festival contains educational opportunities. Panel discussions will explore number of key issues central to the experience of Indo-Americans and their relationaship to Indian traditions. Lecture demonstrations will illuminate the theory and practice of Bharatha Natyam, Pilates and Kalari.

Date: July 5,6,7; Venue: Kresge Auditorium

For more details, check Natya's ARPANA webpage.

Poorvarangam Grains of Rice - April, 2002

Grains of Rice is an annual ethnic banquet and cultural performance that features ethnic dishes from various Asian countries, and a series of cultural performances by MIT student organizations and one professional group. Anindita Basu and Prahladh Harsha, representing Natya, performed Poorvarangam, an invocatory piece in the Kuchipudi style.

Radha Kalluri, Sumati Ram-Mohan and Alpana Waghmare also did a repeat of the 2001 "Madhuban Me Radhika Nache Re". The music was sung by Sheetal Karhade and the tabla was played by Naveen Goela. The dance describes the love between Lord Krishna and Radha.

Date: April 7; Venue: Walker Memorial, MIT.

Photo Courtesy SAAS

14 Bharatha Natyam dancers perform a Thillana

Ummid, South Asian Cultural Show - April 2002

MIT's Annual South Asian Culture Show features dance and music from all regions of South Asia. This past year, fourteen members of MIT Natya performed a Tillana in the Culture Show. A Tillana is performed in the Bharata Natyam style and features intricate rhythmic footwork and hand movements.

Date: April 6, 2002
Venue: Kresge Auditorium.