IDIA invites you to be part of our 7th Festival year with a fabulous lineup of artists on August 17th & 18th. Come support our budding artists, watch Bay Area based performing artists, and witness world-renowned Bharatanatyam artists bring together a most enjoyable weekend for dance enthusiasts and art lovers like you.
Day One (Saturday, August 17, 2024)
Event 1: From the Artist’s Eyes – Rama Vaidyanathan
Saturday, August 17, 2024 11 am – 12.30 pm PDT
There is something in this interactive session for everyone: art lovers, budding dance students, performing artists. If you ever felt like you’d love to talk to this incredible artist but didn’t have an opportunity, here is a perfect opportunity. In this session, Smt. Rama Vaidynathan will talk us through her artistic approach for a chosen piece from her repertoire. Dancers will have an opportunity to learn at least the excerpt of the piece, art lovers will appreciate the nuances and detailing that is involved and have deeper appreciation for when they see her performance on stage. It is intended to be a truly immersive and inspiring session.
Lunch Break
– Boxed lunch will be available to purchase
– Artist/Non-Profit Organizations and Vendor Booths will be open for purchases and conversations
Event 2: Life of Pi – Junior Showcase
Saturday, August 17, 2024 2pm – 3.30pm PDT
IDIA is pleased to present ‘Life of Pi’, a performance based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel of the same name with San Francisco Bay Area’s young Bharatanatyam students. We are excited to introduce this new format replacing the 10 min solos by Junior Artists residing in the Bay Area. Story of Pi, a 16-year old Indian boy who finds himself alone in the boat with an adult Bengal Tiger for 227 days after a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is the central theme of this performance. This performance is adapted and choreographed by Ganesh Vasudeva, a San Francisco Bay Area Bharatanatyam performer & choreographer. Music composition is by Snigdha Venkataramani.
Aditya Romfh, Anika Warrier, Avya Podatoori, Dhaathri Vijay, Liya Abil, Sahanna Chetput Venkataraghavan, Sanjana Melkote, Shrimayi Lakshmi Chaganti
Event 3: Vazhi – Aarthy Sundar, Surya Ravi, Vivek Ramanan
Saturday, August 17, 2024 3.30pm – 4pm PDT
When we think of the Ramayana, we often see Rama as the hero and Ravana as the villain. But Ravana had a family too. Shoorpanaka, the quick-tempered sister; Vibhishana, the often excluded middle child; and Kumbakarna, the loyal and naive elder brother. How does their relationship as siblings unfold from childhood through pivotal moments in their life? This performance explores what this family dynamic looks like at the pivotal moments of Ramayana.
Aarthy Sundar is a talented Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer whose work has been featured by numerous news outlets such as HuffPost and The Times of India. She completed her initial training under the tutelage of Smt. Madhusri Sethuraman, and continued learning under Smt. Janaki Rangarajan.
Vivek Ramanan is a multifaceted artist of Bharatanatyam, konnakol and mridangam. He had his foundational dance training under Smt. Madhusri Sethuraman and Smt. Vidhya Subramanian and Sri Ramesh Srinivasan in mridangam. Vivek has synthesized his work across multiple artistic fields to also create novel music compositions for many talented artists in the field.
Surya Ravi is a dynamic performer of Bharatanatyam. She had her initial training with Smt. Vidhya Krishnan and continued with Smt. Radhika Ganesh in Dallas. She has performed solo and with award-winning dance companies across USA, Canada, and India. She integrates her dance training and physical therapy education together to help dancers prevent injury and optimize their performance.
Aarthy, Surya, & Vivek have performed at multiple festivals and concerts around the US since their rewarding time as Indian Raga Fellows, including Erasing Borders in 2023, and seek to continue creating innovative choreographies and explorations using the Bharathanatyam repertoire, together.
Tea Break
– Boxed Snack and Tea/Ice Cream will be available to purchase
– Artist and Vendor Booths will be open for purchases and conversations
Event 4: Grand Margam Performance: Meera Sreenarayanan
Saturday, August 17, 2024 5pm – 6.30pm PDT
Called a “sensitive dancer,” for her nuanced expressions and technical proficiency, Meera Sreenarayanan, a gifted young artiste from Guruvayur, Kerala, was initiated into the world of dance by Prakash Choondal at the age of four. Following her fundamental training under R.L.V. Anand, her fami ly relocated to Chennai to further enhance her dance vocabulary with Kalakshetra Nirmala Nagaraj. Currently, Meera is mentored by Indira Kadambi . Meera holds a postgraduate degree in Bharatanatyam from the University of Madras & a diploma in Nritya Shastra from the Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Mumbai University. She undergoes consistent training also in Navarasa Sadhana under G. Venu.
Day Two (Sunday, August 18, 2024)
Event 1: Mind to Motion: Tracing an idea -by Meera Sreenarayanan
Sunday, August 18, 2024; 11am-12.30pm PDT
There is something in this interactive session for everyone: art lovers, budding dance students, performing artists. Most of us have seen her performances online but the first in-person opportunity awaits you in the Bay Area. If you ever felt like you’d love to chat with this dynamic, sincere, & committed artist, but didn’t have a chance, here is a perfect opportunity. In this session, Meera Sreenarayanan will talk us through her sAdhana – daily practice, her sensitive approach to new choreography, and her process in navigating complex nritta patterns for flawless execution. Dancers will have an opportunity to learn at least an excerpt of a chosen piece, art lovers will appreciate the nuances and detailing that is involved and have deeper appreciation for when they see her performance on stage. It is intended to be a truly immersive and inspiring session.
Lunch Break
– Boxed Lunch will be available to purchase
– Artist/Non-Profit Organizations and Vendor Booths will be open for purchases and conversations
Event 2: Bay Area Performing Artists (30 min solos) – Jyotsna Vaidee, Sharanyaa Ganesan
Sunday, August 18, 2024; 2pm-3:00pm PDT
IDIA 2024 is excited to present two performing soloists from the San Fransisco Bay Area : Sharanyaa and Jyothsna’s dedication, growth, and advancement in their artistic journey has been tremendous: they have devoted a significant part of their professional life to choreography, performance, and teaching.
Sharanyaa Ganesan began her training in the “Vazhuvoor” style of Bharatanatyam at the age of 8 under the guidance of Guru Kalaimamani Late Smt. K.J. Sarasa. Before relocating to the Bay Area, she trained under Smt. Poornima Kaushik in Bangalore. Currently, she continues her Bharatanatyam training under the mentorship of Guru Smt. Vidhya Subramanian. Sharanyaa holds a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam from Sastra University, where she was mentored by Dr. Padma Subramaniam. Sharanyaa is the artistic director of Sruthi – School of Arts in Fremont, California where she offers Bharatanatyam classes to children and adults.
Jyotsna Vaidee is an award winning Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and the founder of bay area based Samudra Dance Creations. She is a senior disciple of Padma Bushan Professor CV Chandrasekhar and Nritya Kalanidhi Smt. Bragha Bessell. Jyotsna has choreographed several full-length productions including her acclaimed work “The Earth Speaks”, which toured across north america in 2023 and was nominated for the Isadora Duncan Dance Award. She is a seasoned soloist at Chennai’s Margazhi festival and is a recipient of multiple awards including the Natya Ratna from Trinity Fine Arts.
Event 3: Innovative Narratives in Bharatanatyam – Bay Area Choreographers
Sunday, August 18, 2024; 3:15-4:00pm PDT
– Mythili Kumar, Surabhi Bharadwaj
“Choreographic process is not an easy one. A dancer needs to attain a level of proficiency not just in her nritta and abhinaya but also in effective storytelling. Bringing a creative idea to a perfected visual treat requires an acute sense to distill the story into most important points, decide how and which musical and dance components can narrate each of those important points effectively, then translate these to movements for an effective storytelling and finally, execute them flawlessly. We have chosen well known Bay Area dancers and choreographers who have been doing this as part of their dance journey to explain their choreographic process through a piece.
Mythili Kumar is a Bharatanatyam artist, teacher and founder of The Abhinaya Dance Company of San José. She has presented many innovative and professional quality performances of Bharatanatyam. Since 1986, Abhinaya has staged several full-length dance dramas choreographed by Mythili Kumar. Jwala- The Immortal Flame (2011), Gandhi (2012), Arjuna (2014), Nritya Dhaara (2015), and Vanara Leela – monkeys in the Ramayana (2016), Cesar Chavez (Si Se Puede – 2017, 2019), and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (I have a Dream – 2019) are some of the most acclaimed works amongst these.
Surabhi Bharadwaj, the Artistic Director of Siddhi Creative, is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, curator, educator, and lighting designer, boasting a career spanning over a decade. Trained and mentored by Guru K M Raman, Guru Radha Sridhar, Guru B Bhanumati, and Guru Mavin Khoo, Surabhi also learnt the Karana movements under Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Nirupama Rajendra. Her diverse artistic portfolio includes an array of multidisciplinary works such as Ashrutam – The Unheard Voice, The Dream Tree, The Maze and Finding Joy.
Tea Break
– Boxed Snack and Tea/Ice Cream will be available to purchase
– Artist and Vendor Booths will be open for purchases and conversations
Event 4: Grand Margam Performance: Rama Vaidyanathan
Sunday, August 18, 2024; 5pm – 6:30pm PDT
Rama Vaidyanathan is a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam, a popular classical dance form of India. She is undoubtedly one of the most sought after artists of her generation having carved a name for herself in the Bharatanatyam World. She has trained intensively under the legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and the renowned Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. Everyone who has seen Rama perform is struck by her unique thought process and fresh approach to dance. While deeply rooted in tradition, she has evolved her own individual style without forsaking the core principles of Bharata Natyam. She brings to her dance a rare sense of devotion and dedication, which leaves the audience with a sense of spiritual fulfillment.
Supported with live orchestra by Asha Ramesh, Snigdha Venkataramani, Vikram Raghumukar, Sannidhi Vaidyanathan
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We appreciate your support in the past years and hope you will continue to support our vision of bringing world class performances to you. Because of devoted arts patrons like you, we can look forward to bringing back virtual as well as live performances for all to enjoy.