The dance schools and regional communities in
Atlanta came together to produce Rhythms of India 2009, an evening of
enchanting dance and music, to raise funds for the Indian American
Cultural Association’s India Center project.
The event showcased traditional dance forms like Kuchipudi,
Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Odissi along with regional folk dances like
Gondhal (Maharashtra) and Thiruvathira (Kerala).
The traditional forms were contrasted with newer evolutions based
on modern tunes and themes. The dances were orchestrated around the
story of Apu, who, encouraged by Lord Ganesha, travels around India to
learn about the rhythms and dance forms of India to impress his fiancé,
who is an expert dancer.
The lighting, visuals, choreography and coordination were
breathtakingly pulled together by a band of dedicated volunteers. The
event provided the audience with the unique opportunity of witnessing
several dance forms performed by talented artists on one stage in one
night.
The participants included Shiv’s Institute of Dance, Odissi USA,
the Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta, Kalaivani Dance and Music,
Tandav Themes Dance Academy, Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, Natyanjali,
Nritya Natya Kala Bharti, Maharashtra Mandal of Atlanta, Deeksha School
of Performing Arts, Srivani Kuchipudi Dance Academy, Greater Atlanta
Malayali Association, Georgia Atlanta Tamil Sangam, and Kruti Dance
Academy.
The chief guest of the evening was Dr. Jag Seth. Rhythms of India
2009 was organized by Dr. Raktim Sen, Chand Akkineni, Nivedita
Garabadu, Shweta Shetty, Abir Guha
Thakurta, Shankar Sengupta, Prasad Shetty, Neeta Shenvi, Pritesh
Patel and Isha Vandanam. The primary speakers included Dr. Anatha
Kamath, President of IACA, Dr. Paddy Sharma, Chairman, and Chand
Akkineni and Vir Nanda, co-chairs of the India Center Committee.
The IACA has acquired 10.2 acres of land north of downtown Atlanta,
on Cooper Lake Drive in Smyrna, for its India Center project. The plan
is to build a temple and a center that will meet the burgeoning needs
of metro Atlanta’s Indian-American community for conventions, seminars,
festivals, and banquets, and also provide a convenient home for daily
activities like tutoring, music and art lessons.
The IACA has planned similar fundraisers in the future that will
highlight the diversity and vibrance of the South Asian diaspora in
Atlanta.