Tuesday, November 7, 2017
4:30 p.m.
Donald G. Drapkin Studio, Lewis Arts complex
For Princeton students only
RSVP to jcgold@princeton.edu
The Program in South Asian Studies presents a dance-theater workshop on Kathakali, a dance theater form from Kerala in the southern most tip of India. In Kathakali, performers play characters and the hands speak through gesture, the face expresses the emotions behind the words, and the feet dance. For the contemporary performer the principles of expression in Kathakali can provide a rich source of inspiration and practice.
This workshop will have two parts: 1) A demonstration of Kathakali with a focus on rhythm, gesture, movement, the inner landscape of the performer and how all these elements come together to create expression; and 2) exercises and an improvisation by the participants to experience these principles.
Maya Krishna Rao is a theater artist and teacher from Delhi. She has trained in Kathakali, specializing in the male role. In both her teaching and creative work, Kathakali and its expressive principles – gesture, rhythm, energy, facial expression — are a source of inspiration. Rao has presented workshops and performances throughout India and around the world.
Students interested in signing up for this opportunity should contact Professor Jonathan Gold at jcgold@princeton.edu.