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Angahara Dance Ensemble
A Story Telling "Yuppets"
Angahara Academy of Southern California
@ California Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Aug 22, 2004

In India, dance and theater were forms of storytelling, with the intent purpose of presenting “the activities of Gods, kings, saints and common man, for the education of the illiterate, enlightenment of the literate and entertainment of the enlightened.” - (Natya Sastra, 2nd Century B.C).

Traditionally, these stories were drawn from mythology. Now for the first time, Ramaa Bharadvaj presents the wisdom of the Panchatantra fables through the medium of dance and theater.

The show, Angahara Dance Ensemble, was staged for a puppet-narrated Indian animal fables at California Plaza, August 22, 2004. It was an excerpt from a full 2 hour production "Panchatantra Animal Fables of India", a family show version of original production.

Ramaa Bharadvaj, Director of Angahara Ensemble, and her students are the recipients of grants form the California Arts Council, Fund for Folk Culture and Alliance for California Traditional Artists. She has served on the Board of Arts Orange County a Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles and as a dance panelist for the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.

Ramaa’s choreography is based on the ancient classical Indian dance techniques of Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi, which involves telling stories through rhythm, movement, gestures, music and poetry.

It was story of a Lion - king of jungle, a bull, and 2 jackals. The story was narrated by Gary Jones of the Blackstreet USA Puppet Theater through a beautifully costumed puppet. It’s a story of love, hate, friendship, fear and power. Gary Jones, story narrator, choreographed the story so beautifully for the crowd full of children not only to entertain them but also a message to take home with.

Though it was a short version of the production but strong enough to convey the message with the use of this dance supported with Gary Jones dialogues, energetic movements, and the staccato and syncopated rhythms, and of course, the plate dance arranged stunningly.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Concept and choreography - Ramaa Bharadvaj
Music composed and orchestrated by - Rajkumar Bharathy
Original lyrics written by Dr. Chittoori Satyanarayana
Costume design - Ramaa Bharadvaj

Dancers:
Ramaa Bharadvaj - Lion King
Regina Jacob - Bull
Swetha Bharadavaj - Main Jackal
Shivali Panchal - Second Jackal
Arthi Ahit and Shiksha Patel - Procession leaders along with Gary Jones of the Blackstreet USA Puppet Theater - (story narrator)

Further information on Ramaa Dance visit www.ramaadance.com