Krishna Bhaaratham: An Indian Dance Performance

Presented By: Organizations of the Associated Students of the Indian Subcontinent (OASIS) in association with Rangashree Dances of India

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An Indian Classical dance performance portraying the character of Lord Krishna in the Mahabhaarata.

Presented by: Sheejith Krishna, Paulomi Pandit, and Anupama Aranaprasad
Concept and Choreography: Sheejith Krishna
Music: Jyothishmathi and Sheejith Krishna

Sri Krishna's role in the great Indian epic, The Mahabhaarata, is a complex blend of human and divine attributes. In the unfolding saga of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Krishna appears throughout as a political agent, social reformer, and an ambassasor of peace. Although His Divine Vision knew all too well that the outcome would be war, untold suffering, and bloodshed, the human avatar of Krishna, a figure of cautious diplomacy, razor-sharp intelligence, and limitless wisdom, always spoke and acted in order to alleviate pain and arbitrate peace. Unlike the human actors in the scene, Krishna could see beyond temporal and material realms, and yet in no way did His Vision allow him to step back, or remain a mere spectator. Vyasa's Sri Krishna is one character, whose participation is integral to the action. He is a vital presence whose intervention allows Dharma to ultimately prevail.

Unlike a ballet where each performer portrays a fixed role, this production sees characters take on different roles in different scenes - a smorgasbord of performances, with the artists morphing from one principal character of the epic into another, so that in essence, there is only one character, one performer, and a multitude of perspectives.

Leading this metamorphic cast is Sheejith Krishna, an outstanding Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and a versatile musician. Since his post graduation from Kalakshetra in 1995, Sheejith has been dancing principal roles with the Kalakshetra repertory company. Sheejith's expertise in dance, percussion, nattuvangam, Carnatic vocal music, and stagecraft give his performances both dynamism and depth.

Paulomi Pandit is a postgraduate from the illustrious Kalakshetra institute. Paulomi moved to California and started Rangashree Dances of India in 2002. She has now trained over 80 students, ranging from young children to seasoned dancers who have completed their arangetrams. Rangashree's budding performance group in the United States aims to bring India's folk and classical dance traditions to new audiences, while emphasizing authenticity and dedication to tradition.

Anupama Aranaprasad, a diploma holder in Bharatanatyam from Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS), has been performing in the dance and music festival Chennai for the past six years. She is currently a student, as well as an instructor, at Rangashree.