Jacob's Pillow Presents U.S. Premiere of 'Shiva Ganga'
BECKET, Mass. — In a return engagement at Jacob’s Pillow, the preeminent Indian dancer, Shantala Shivalingappa, will perform a U.S. premiere program accompanied live by master musicians.Shivalingappa captivates audiences with the precise storytelling embodied in her interpretation of the Kuchipudi form of classical Indian dance. Praised by The New York Times’ chief dance critic Alastair Macaulay for her "witty charm," Shivalingappa will perform "Shiva Ganga," an evening-length work exploring the balance between the energies of the Hindu god Shiva and the goddess Ganga.
"Shantala Shivalingappa embodies the beauty, grace, and virtuosity of classical Indian dance, which is also quite dynamic, with shifts of weight, precise positions, and a great deal of musicality," said Ella Baff, executive director of Jacob’s Pillow. "The relationship between the music and the dance is fascinating; they are interdependent and produce an extraordinary dynamic of sound and soulfulness."
"Shiva Ganga," featuring choreography by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, Kishore Mosalikanti, and Shantala Shivalingappa, is a two-part program with live accompaniment by four musicians including flautist Navin Iyer, who has been featured on the soundtracks of Academy-Award winning film "Slumdog Millionaire," (2008) and Bollywood hit "Om Shanti Om" (2007). The first half of "Shiva Ganga" is a selection of traditional solos including a prayer to the Sun God, a depiction of Dancing Ganesha, and a dance about the gods Radha and Krishna, whose relationship is the manifestation of love and devotion. It also includes a rhythmic solo showcasing the specific technique of Kuchipudi. The second part of the program is inspired by the balance of two distinct yet complementary energies: Shiva, the Lord of Dance, who creates and sustains the universe through dance; and Ganga, the Goddess of the sacred river Ganges, who embodies grace, beauty, and fluidity.
Raised in Paris, Shivalingappa returned to India at 16 to receive training in the Kuchipudi form of dance that she now brings to the Pillow. "Dance for me is joy and beauty," Shivalingappa said in an interview for European magazine Culture Kiosque. "I want to change the stereotyped image that some people have of Indian dance. I don't only dance for myself, but for my musicians and my audience…it doesn't matter if people don't understand the story or the significance of certain gestures."
Shivalingappa has performed Kuchipudi in Portugal, France, Morocco, Italy, Belgium, and New York City. Though she is trained classically in Kuchipudi, Shivalingappa’s work is influenced by contemporary choreographer Pina Bausch, in whose company she has performed, appearing in many works including "O Dido" and "Bamboo Blues."
While at Jacob’s Pillow, Shantala Shivalingappa will lead a Master Class on Sunday, July 11, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday Master Classes are open to intermediate/advanced dancers and advance registration is required (call 413-243-9919, ext. 5). Master Classes are $15 per class or $8 for dance instructors with proper identification. The public is welcome to observe free of charge.
Kuchipudi is a classical dance form of South India characterized by its rhythmic, vibrant style, full of quick, intricate footwork and jumps. Originally a sacred men’s dance, Kuchipudi is a combination of abstract and narrative movements based on Hindu mythology. The focus is on the use of gestures, facial expressions and body language; the hand gestures, or mudras, are codified into a very precise language. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Shantala Shivalingappa’s guru and the choreographer of part of Shiva Ganga, is regarded as Kuchipudi’s most influential practitioner, and is credited with spreading knowledge of Kuchipudi worldwide.
For more information or tickets, visit www.jacobspillow.org, or call 413-243-0745.
