NCPA Pravaha Dance Festival 2024 – Day 1

“Sevens” (Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance with live music) by Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations

Nina Rajarani, MBE, is an award-winning choreographer, dancer, teacher and Founder of Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations. Her dance style is unique in its assimilation of the best qualities from each of the different traditions followed by her gurus. Rajarani is a founder committee member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing’s (ISTD) Classical Indian Dance Faculty and is their Lead Examiner for Bharatanatyam Vocational & Teaching Qualification examinations. She is a winner of The Place Prize, Europe’s largest choreographic competition sponsored by Bloomberg, for her piece QUICK!. She was also awarded an MBE (Member of British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2009, in recognition of her services to South Asian Dance.

Rajarani will present SEVENS through the medium of Bharatanatyam and Kathak and to originally composed live music. It explores the sacred, and sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven. The presentation will feature three items—Seven Snags, Seven Steps and Seven Sins. Seven Snags is the choreographic equivalent of an obstacle race, a fast-paced flirtatious piece, which is rhythmic, full of exciting dynamics and laced with challenging cross-rhythms. Seven Steps is a duet by Rajarani and vocalist/composer Y. Yadavan, based on the saptapadi (seven steps)—the most important rite in a Hindu marriage ceremony. With each step, the couple takes a vow that is beautiful, universal and timeless. Seven Sins is a thought-provoking, nuanced piece about the age-old concept of rights and wrongs, challenging our perceptions of what has come to pass as the social norm. From playful and energetic to soulful and contemplative, the show will take audiences on an emotion-filled and entertaining journey.

Box Office now open.