Pratima: Reflection, is an evening-length work that explores the relationship between the dancer and her dance as she seeks to find an image of herself through the essential truths - of Creation, Contemplation, Separation and the Duality of the human spirit.

Choreographed by Surupa Sen, the piece is performed by an ensemble of female dancers to an original score. The language of the show is Odissi, the oldest of India's classical dance forms.

 

Pratima: Reflection has been commissioned by the Joyce Theater's Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work.

 

Explores the parallels between a dancer's journey and the journey one takes as a spiritual being. The first half consists of Odissi temple rituals, and the second consists of more lyrical expressions of an ancient love ballad. The piece poses the questions "Can the ephemeral tap into the eternal? Can humanity be divine?" Sacred Space is choreographed by Surupa Sen and features six female dancers and four musicians. In December 2005, Sacred Space was awarded the best production of the season by the prestigious Music Academy, Chennai, India. The piece was performed to sold out houses in the US. Some of the 2006 spring and summer venues included Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival,  Lee, MA; Aspen Dance Festival, Aspen, CO; University Musical Society, MI; World Music Institute, NYC; Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC; George Mason University, VA; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, CA; University of Florida Performing Arts; Miami Dade College, FL; and Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, FL.

 

An Introduction to Odissi that includes a demonstration of the language of the dance and of dance pieces, the lecture-demonstration provides an opportunity for participation and interaction with the dancers and serves as a vital aid to better understanding of a performance.

 

 

An Introduction to Odissi that includes a demonstration of the language of the dance and of dance pieces, the Master Class is an opportunity to learn very basic phrases of pure Odissi movement and the isolated body training specific to Odissi.