Ragamala invited to the Kennedy Center in 2011

Washington, D.C. — The Kennedy Center’s 40th season highlights a wide breadth of creative programming. From March 2 to March 20, 2011, The Center will demonstrate the vibrancy of Indian culture with maximum INDIA, an unprecedented celebration of Indian arts and culture that will include performances in music, dance, and theater, as well as exhibitions featuring contemporary visual art and the finest textiles, pottery, jewels, cuisine, and more. The festival is presented in cooperation with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Ragamala Dance is one of only two companies outside of India selected to perform in the festival. “We are deeply honored to be included among a venerable list of dance, music, and theater legends, including our teacher, Alarmel Valli.” says co-Artistic Director Ranee Ramaswamy. The company, accompanied by live music, will present two original pieces: Gangashtakam, a solo performed by Aparna Ramaswamy that has been described by the press as a “tour-de-force performance”; and Yathra (Journey), featuring the entire Ragamala ensemble, a visual meditation of the human experience that explores the spiritual and emotional passage of a soul through the many phases of life—birth, youth, love, loss, redemption, and death, completing the cycle with rebirth. Yathra is composed and played live by Shubhendra Rao, one of India’s most respected sitarists, and Saskia Rao, considered a pioneer in the Indian music world for introducing an Indian cello she herself designed.