From Tuesday through March 20, all the stages of the Kennedy Center will be transformed in a tribute to the music, dance, visual arts, theater, film, literature, crafts and even the cuisine of India — “maximum India.” This largest festival of top-caliber Indian artists ever gathered under the same roof includes a broad variety of offerings designed to appeal to all, from classical concerts to an interactive exhibit aimed at helping children learn about the huge subcontinent that is home to a sixth of the world’s population.
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| For a complete schedule, visit kennedy-center.org/india |
Many of the nine dance companies will highlight the classical forms odissi and bharatanatyam. The world-renowned Priyadarsini Govind will appear on a double bill with the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, a unique community dedicated to classical Indian dance.
The D.C.-based Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company will perform its blend of Indian and modern dance, and Shantala Shivalingappa will demonstrate her mastery of kuchipudi, a 2,000-year-old classical style.
The musical offerings range from three National Symphony Orchestra concerts inspired by Indian themes and starring Indian artists to a concert by a husband and wife team who mingle traditional and avant-garde music as they perform on sitar and Indian cello.
For enthusiasts of theater, “Nati Binodini” presents the true story of a woman who was born into prostitution in a country where the caste system confined her to the circumstances of her birth, yet her strength of character allowed her to overcome that system. The Chorus Repertory Theatre presents Henrik Ibsen’s “When We Dead Awaken” in a new, mystical light.
Three short stories by Ismat Khanum Chughtai will be performed on by the Motley Theatre Group. “Broken Images,” a psychological thriller, is about a writer who suddenly becomes famous by writing a best-seller in English and then is haunted by the fear that she has betrayed her language and identity.
For children, pre-eminent puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee will appear on the Millennium Stage, where nightly free performances will include a broad array of music, comedy, the traditional celebratory dance of snake charmers and a performance by rapper Panjabi MC, who fuses the world of north India with hip-hop.
Through the imagination of Kapil Gupta of Serie Architects, the Terrace Gallery will be transfigured into the Monsoon Club, where a simulation of a downpour will be created by a three-dimensional carpet of 500,000 raindrops frozen in space. Less traditional music events will be held in the Monsoon Club, from a blues and rock band from northeastern India to a synthesis of jazz and the improvised musical forms of South Asia.
In addition to exhibits of exquisite saris, gems, bindis and crafts, there will be panel discussions about India’s vibrant movie industry and screenings of various films. Lectures and forums will investigate India’s literature, including a panel discussion with Salman Rushdie.
Before or after “maximum India” events, patrons may enjoy the handiwork of 13 master chefs in the eateries and two culinary masters will give a cooking demonstration on the Millennium Stage.
Alicia Adams, vice president of internal programming and dance, was instrumental in creating maximum India.
“When you visit India, it is overflowing with colors, smells, cars, cows and rickshaws,” Adams said in a recent interview. “The brilliance of India is that it is a country of extremes — intellect, innovation, survival and experimentation. ‘Maximum’ was the perfect way to describe it.”
