Nava Dance Theatre Archives

11 Sep, 2014

How Do You Move a Cloud?

2014-09-11T10:02:05-07:00By Nadhi Thekkek|Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: Nava Dance Theatre, Shanti Ramrattan|

By Shanti Ramrattan (Company Dancer) It’s been a year-and-a-half journey for me as a performer with the Nava Dance Theatre, and every moment thus far has been an event-filled dancer’s dream. In-depth rehearsals, constantly evolving items, the birth of new characters, re-envisioned music…and a company of the most dedicated, talented artists committed to showing up and doing, growing, being together week after week. And recently, amidst all the whirlwind of production frenzy that (in the end at least) is the

9 Sep, 2014

A New Way Home

2014-09-09T19:20:32-07:00By Nadhi Thekkek|Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: Nava Dance Theatre, sophia valath|

By Sophia Valath (co-Artistic Director) I have had a few experiences in my life where I didn’t quite know what I was getting into when I signed up for it…the kind of decisions that you make almost on a whim. The ones you say ‘yes’ to not because you’ve necessarily thought it through, but because an internal whisper, or some times an external voice, is pushing you in that direction. These experiences change you forever in the most unexpected and

14 Aug, 2014

The Cloud Messenger – Review Revise Rework

2014-08-14T15:02:49-07:00By Nadhi Thekkek|Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: Kalidasa, meghadutham, Nava Dance Theatre, The Cloud Messenger|

We are back! I am so thrilled that Nava Dance Theatre is going to present The Cloud Messenger at CounterPULSE this year through year 2 of the Performing Diaspora residency program. The evening length version of The Cloud Messenger, to be premiered September 11th-14th at CounterPULSE (1310 Mission St) will feature new original musical score, new original choreography, new dancers, and new costumes. The piece will be directed by Sophia and myself, and will be choreographed by Sophia, Arun, and

18 Apr, 2013

Creating. Good. Work.

2013-04-18T11:12:47-07:00By Nadhi Thekkek|Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora|Tags: bharatanatyam, classical indian dance and music, Nadhi Thekkek, Nava Dance Theatre, Performing Diaspora|

For me, creating work is often an outward presentation of a very personal journey. In reading Kalidasa’s Meghadhootha, I initially drew inspiration from many different translations, and literary commentaries. In reading the epic poem over and over again, there were certain verses that leapt out from the pages. These lines were coaxed by my own experiences to find comfortable and permanent places in my mind. When I came across these lines, I saw more than the words on the page.

6 Feb, 2013

“Can a mere cloud bear such a message?”

2013-02-06T09:43:12-08:00By Nadhi Thekkek|Categories: CounterPULSE, Nadhi Thekkek, Performing Diaspora, Performing Diaspora Events|Tags: bharatanatyam, classical indian dance, Dance, GS Rajan, Kalidasa, Nadhi Thekkek, Nava Dance Theatre, Performing Diaspora|

I was first inspired by Kalidasa’s Meghadhuta (The Cloud Messenger) in 2009. At the time, I was exploring the role of the messenger in Indian texts and poetry. Often times the role of the messenger was simply stated – a person carrying a message from one lover to another. In dance, in some of the more commonly performed pieces, the messenger was often a sakhi (dear friend) of the nayika (heroine), and the nayika was usually desperately trying to convince

How Do You Move a Cloud?

A New Way Home

The Cloud Messenger – Review Revise Rework

Creating. Good. Work.

“Can a mere cloud bear such a message?”

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