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Battery Dance Celebrates 40th Anniversary With The Durga Project
Battery Dance marks its 40th anniversary this year, and the "The Durga Project," a blend of American and Indian choreography, takes centre stage.
Battery Dance was founded in New York in 1976, but with performances in 65 countries, the company isn't just a cultural force of Manhattan but also a global ambassador for dance.
The 40th-anniversary celebration takes place in New York City at the Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University on May 11th and May 12th, and later at the 35th annual Battery Dance Festival in August 2016. The company will be taking the production to other countries, including India in the spring of 2017.
"The Durga Project" was created by Battery Dance's founder and artistic director, Jonathan Hollander.
Hollander explains the choice for the Indian-themed project as well as their connection with India. He says, "Selecting an Indian theme for the Company's 40th Anniversary was a natural and fitting choice. We are the best-known American dance company in India, having engaged in seven national tours (17 cities reached thus far) since 1992 and having hosted dozens of Indian dancers and musicians in New York and across America."
Sean Scantelbury, Bethany Mitchell, Clement Mensah, Mira Cook, Robin Cantrell and Unnath H.R. in "The Durga Project"
Photo Credit: Darial Sneed
In "The Durga Project," Unnath H.R., one of India's leading classical dancers, engages in a symbiotic process with Battery Dance's team of five Western-trained dancers. The result is a distinctive choreography like none other in the company's repertoire.
Costume designer Sole Salvo infused the garments with shades inspired by the spices of India.
Calvin Anderson's lighting design is a variegated palette with sculptural chiaroscuro, suggestive of the bas-relief on Indian temples.
Indian dance historian and critic Sunil Kothari notes, "With its beautiful images and soulful music, The Durga Project evokes the sentiment of Bhakti (devotional love of the Goddess). The choreography is excellent, drawing inspiration from Indian classical dances and music. The human chain performed in the beginning with Bharatanatyam dance Unnath H.R. gradually gathers momentum, resolving into the pas de deux which offer imaginatively suggestive and iconic poses of Goddess Durga in motion. Hollander and his dancers from the U.S. and India have captured the essence of Shakti, the female principle of divine energy, in a meaningful manner."
Watch a sneak peek of the performance below.
The 40th anniversary program will also include the dance "Inter/Ago" choreographed by Tajed Brdnik at the 34th annual Battery Dance Festival and "Observatory," created by Theo Ndindwa in 2014, at the 33rd annual Battery Dance Festival.
Tickets for the event are available at the Schimmel Center Box Office. For gala tickets for the May 12th performance, contact [email protected].
Main Image Photo Credit:: Darial Sneed
Sonia Malik
Author
Sonia writes on current affairs and pop culture. An English graduate from the University of Toronto, she identifies as a global citizen, feminist and nature lover. She will be ready to shake a leg to a peppy Bollywood beat any day.
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