Kathambam

 

"Kathambam is a constellation of stars, each one dancing with a purity of spirit as they offer their essences as people and as performers through their movement styles." --Camille LeFevre, Minneapolis Star Tribune full review

Joined in choreography and performance by five of the Twin Cities' finest dancemakers--Danny Buraczeski, Joe Chvala, Susana di Palma, Wynn Fricke, and Lise Houlton--Ranee Ramaswamy creates an exciting dance mosaic on stage. Like a vibrant flower garland--a kathambam--in which each piece has a unique fragrance, texture, and color, this work is a breathtaking tapestry of rhythm and style. With the sense of artistic risk-taking and groundbreaking experimentation that has come to characterize her unique and innovative style, Ms. Ramaswamy uses her choreography, based in the classical South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam, as a thread that weaves five diverse disciplines together--Danny Buraczeski's smooth jazz, Susana di Palma's fiery flamenco, Joe Chvala's quirky tap, Wynn Fricke's powerful modern, and Lise Houlton's lyrical ballet. ''Kathambam'' opens with an introductory suite, choreographed in the classical Bharatanatyam style by world renowned dancer/choreographer Alarmel Valli of Chennai, India. Performed by the Ragamala company, this suite introduces the audience to the classical form, providing an illustration of the evening's point of departure. Next, Ms. Ramaswamy invites audiences to follow her as she takes the classical style of Bharatanatyam on a fluid journey that spans cultures, genres, and styles. One by one, she meets each of her collaborators, exploring rhythm, gesture, movement, and expression in a new and unique place created by the confluence of two diverse dance forms. Kathambam premiered in January, 2004, at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium (The College of St. Catherine), St. Paul, Minnesota. Back to Performances