When:
Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m
Where:
Studebaker Theater in the historic Fine Arts Building
410 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago.
Mandala South Asian Performing Arts celebrates the Indian holiday of Diwali with Story of Ram, a Holiday Spectacle. This modern dance theatre piece incorporates shadow puppetry, movement and music to tell a classic tale that spans cultures. Guest artists representing Indonesia, Cambodia and Sri Lanka join Mandala’s professional company and pre-professional dancers. Here, Picture This Post (PTP) speaks with Ashwaty Chennat (AC), principal artist for Mandala.
(PTP) Please tell our readers about Mandala.
(AC)Mandala is Chicago’s premier organization for South Asian arts—as defined by regions from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and from Persia to Indonesia—and our programs speak to how arts travel and take shape through our different cultures. Each year, we focus on highlighting traditions from communities lacking a strong platform in Chicago’s artistic spaces, and we build space for vital exchange and collaboration. Since 2014, Mandala has presented exceptional artists in traditions from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bali, Persia, Cambodia, and India, as well as exponents of Chicago’s cultures and larger global communities.
For those unfamiliar, what is Diwali? Which cultures celebrate Diwali?
Diwali is widely known as the Festival of Lights remembered for simple to grandiose displays of light amidst darkness. This represents good triumphing over evil, which is an important aspect of most cultures and religions, and we seek to honor that. Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated across South Asia by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
How does Story of Ram celebrate Diwali?
During Diwali, many great stories are regaled. The Ramayana (the epic that “Ram” draws from) is the most essential tale of the holiday season, in fact, Diwali acts as its final scene: the lamps are lit to honor Ram’s return home after defeating the demon, Ravan.
Which traditional dance forms are incorporated into this work?
The Ramayana is a deeply complex story that is sacred to many cultures. As Hinduism and Buddhism traveled from India, these mythologies hitched a ride—and have become integral to artistic traditions through South and Southeast Asia. This year’s production will present Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchupudi, Balinese and Javanese dance, Khmer classical dance, as well as snippets of folk from these regions.
How is the shadow puppetry used?
I Gusti Pak Ngurah Kertayuda, our longtime collaborator and principal artist, is a master of many arts. Pak Ngurah’s Wayang Kulit tells the story through puppetry and as our backdrop set for the entire production. We have both 2D and human portrayal of each character. And...Pak Ngurah is returning as Ravan for the fifth show!
How many performers will there be? Have they each grown up with Diwali?
This year's Story of Ram has approximately 30 performers, which includes youth artists who are engaging with Diwali and its mythology. While the holiday sits warmly in the hearts of the South Asian diaspora, Diwali is not a part of each performer's culture. The Story of Ram, while steeped in Diwali, is more invested in sharing the variety of perspectives—and presentations—within storytelling.
What are your first memories of celebrating Diwali? What personal meaning does this holiday have for you?
As a first-generation American, Diwali feels like community. While my family didn't celebrate Diwali at home, it meant going to a friend's home and community space, it made my suburban Michigan upbringing feel rich and warm. Diwali is a ritual that honors being Indian-American.
What do you most hope audience members take away from this performance?
Mythology is in its best form when we dig into its multiplicity. The best part of mythology is how it ebbs and flows with time and space; how characters harken to our everyday lives, in any context. How can newer generations (within a diaspora) find themselves in ancient stories, and how can we find our own voice to pass them down?
For more information visit the Mandala Arts website
Tickets:
$25 general admission; $15 for students and seniors
Photos by Monika Bahroos and Rich Rankin
Read more dance reviews by dancers in the Picture This Post Round-Up, “Choreographers’ Eyes - Dancers Explain Dance”. Watch this video preview of the story here —
