Joyful things
It’s been a trying few days (weeks? months?) for me, but it’s been art that’s kept me sane and sustained me, and as I look at the crazy few days (weeks? months?) ahead, it’s art, again, that’ll see me through. Sharing that lovely pieces of inspiration, in case they spark joy for you too. :)
Her Story of Dance - A Podcast by Dr. Yashoda Thakore
Since I’ve given up NPR (who wants to keep up with breaking news anyway), podcasts have been my new escape. Also, I really, really, really miss being a college kid, since it’s been over a year since my last grad school course. (Okay, maybe not the exams part of it.)
So, imagine my joy when I found out Yashoda m’am released a podcast that - in her warm, intimate conversational way - unravels and knits back together the history of South Indian classical dance forms through her own lived experience and the lived experiences of others, her own scholarly work and the research of others, and so much more.
Her love for dance comes through in every moment - as opposed to coming off as cynical or hypercritical, she brings hope to the conversation even as she holds a mirror to the uncomfortable aspects of history and pushes for us as a community to do better.
You can catch the podcast wherever you stream your podcasts, or listen to it at Suno India.
Vaiśravaṇa - An original production by Kiran Rajagopalan
I met Kiran at Prakriti Dance’s Festival of Solos many moons ago, where he was giving a talk about the history of Bharatanatyam, and we connected again as co-speakers for Prakriti Dance’s Festival of Kuchipudi, but I missed seeing him perform his three-act production on Kubera at their Festival of Villains.
I cannot tell you how excited I was to find out I don’t have to wait to watch (at least the first act of) his production, as it was featured by Ramapo College’s Berrie Center. While it premiered last Wednesday, along with a live Q&A session, the beautifully filmed performance will be available online for a bit longer.
As someone who's as politically and socially engaged as I love history and Indian mythology, I thoroughly enjoyed the subtly ways he wove together history, mythos, the issues we’re grappling with to this day. Also, it was my first time seeing more than a brief clip of the Sri Lankan tradition of Kandyan dance, and really getting to enjoy watching Kiran, the artist, not just Kiran the scholar. I knew Kiran had been trained not only in Bharatanatyam and Kandyan, but also Bhagavata Mela Natakam (specifically doing sthree vesham), but it was something else seeing him transform into a beautiful woman with the slightest shift in posture.
The live Q&A session with Kiran and Wesley Beeks is also thoroughly delightful - watch that too, and then go back and rewatch the show for all of the Easter eggs. (So that I don’t feel so weird for having done that myself.)
Anna Deavere Smith’s Fires in the Mirror - Performed by Jamar Jones
Aguas Arts Ink’s productions led me to cross paths with someone I wish I’d known when I was on campus - the brilliant actor Jamar Jones. I’ve eagerly watched his offerings as part of various Aguas Arts Ink and W&M productions this past year, including his performance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and an African folk tale. I am counting down the days until I can finally see him live at the Firehouse Theater this month (after getting vaccinated - praise be!)
The Firehouse Theater (support local theater, y’all!) has a limited number of seats open for safely watching and will be virtually live-streaming some of the shows, so whether you’re in the Richmond area and looking to attend in person or watching remotely, you can do it! Get your tickets here.
For Colored Girls Who Inspired The World: Performances Honoring the Impact of Black Women - The Lemon Project 2021 Symposium and Asian Centennial W&M
The Lemon Project is named for a man who was enslaved by the College of William & Mary. Let me say that again. The Lemon Project is named for a man who was enslaved by the College of William & Mary. The Asian Centennial of W&M is also commemorating the admission of Chen Pu-Kao '23, the college’s first student from Asia.
As a first-generation Asian immigrant married to an African-American man and raising two biracial children while also watching the news of the past few weeks (months? years.), it was with complicated feelings that I agreed to perform at their joint event, For Colored Girls Who Inspire The World: Performances Honoring the Impact of Black Women.
The incredible artists who came together for this reminded me that we can shape the world we live in, especially through art. We can honor our mothers and our daughters and create a nourishing space to feel all the messy, ugly, beautiful, heart-wrenching feelings that the world makes us feel, and come out stronger. Aida Aguas, Kristin Hopkins, Sumie Yotsukura, Baiyina Doyle, Deirdre Jones Cardwell, Francis Edemobi, and Virginia Poet Laureate Dr. Luisa Igloria, thank you. Prof. Francis Tanglao-Aguas, thank you. My soul needed this.
2021 IDEA Dance Festival (4/29 through 5/2)
This hasn’t happened yet, but the pre-events have started and it’s exciting! With a packed month of artists, scholars, and educators coming together for workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, and performances - it’s a steady stream of inspiration and encouragement, and I cannot wait!
Last Thursday’s discussion following the screening of Dance Like A Man was just excellent, thanks to Kasi Aysola, Kiran Rajagopalan, Brinda Guha, and Dr. Parimal Phadke. There’s a lot more to come - check out the calendar and get your tickets here!
