Yathra (Journey)

“Yathra (Journey) traces the course of a day and, by implication, a life. Dance themes are iterated by successive performers with different inflections…the effect is movingly meditative. This is an excellent company” (The New York Times)

A visual meditation on the human experience, Yathra represents the cycle of one day, metaphorically tracing a human being’s journey from the dawn of birth to the twilight of life.

Yathra is set to an original score 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.

Premiered at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), March of 2011.

Created with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Jerome Foundation, the Winston R. & Maxine K. Wallin Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation, and generous support from members of Ragamala’s “Rasika Circle,” including Prakash and Usha Asirvatham, Dr. Robert and Katherine Goodale, David McKay, Wallace and Margaret McKay, and Anonymous.