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On Sunday, September 30th, MEDSOK will present the magic of Indian adornment and dance in a event featuring jewelry artist Surekha Kulkarni and dance artists Neha and Ruhi. All are welcome. There is no charge for admission. The event will follow our monthly business meeting and run 2 - 5 PM. The event will be held in Louisville at Ruric-Amari's dance studio on Lexington Road inside Distillery Commons, easy to get to from I-64, I-65, and I-71. For complete directions to the studio, click [ HERE ].
2:00 - 2:30 PM: Meet and greet, drink some tea, find a chair, and look over the unique jewelry that will be available for sale.
2:30 - 3:30 PM: Indian jewelry artist and teacher Surekha Kulkarni will give a presentation on the meaning and symbolism of jewelry in traditional dance forms from India. In honor of our La Meri year, she will focus on the Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance styles which La Meri studied and which are fast becoming the Indian dance forms of most interest to American dancers. Ms. Kulkarni will also bring some of her hand-made costume jewelry, suitable for dancers, price range $15 - $150. Ms Kulkarni maintains that in the ancient cultures of India the people put limitless energy and creativity into the invention of ornaments that celebrate the human body, and her work reflects this conviction. Several members of MEDSOK visited Ms Kulkarni's booth at WorldFest and found her pieces to be distinctive, irresistible and very reasonably priced. MEDSOK had to wait a year to get on her busy calendar... please make the most of the opportunity to hear, see and buy her work!
3:30 - 4:30 PM: A concert of Indian dance featuring local Indian dancer artists Neha (Bharatanatyam) and Ruhi (Kathak). Classical Indian dance is of increasing interest to American belly dancers looking for new sources of inspiration.
Bharatanatyam is a 20th century reconstruction of the art of temple dancing. It is a fire-dance, the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. It is known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and eloquent poses. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over India.
Kathak is one of the most dynamic theater arts in the world. When the dance reached the Mughal (Persian empire in India) court in the 16th century it began to acquire its distinctive shape and features, becoming characterized by fast footwork and spins. To emphasize the flamboyant and elaborate rhythmic footwork as many as 150 ankle bells on each leg were worn. The best Kathak dancers can make just one bell tinkle from more than the hundred worn on each ankle. The bells add to the intense footwork a dancer can perform. Kathak is a solo art form, based on personal interpretations and emotional values. It has grace and strength, softness to express feelings and emotion, and affords great scope to the art of interpretation.
4:30 - 5 PM: drink some more tea, talk to more friends, and buy some more jewelry if the fancy takes you!
Hope to see you there!