Ramayana Dance-Drama Triumphs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, 2009
New York, 2009
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan invited Pandit Satya Narayana Charka and his East- West School of Dance at Ananda Ashram to present the Ramayana Dance-Drama at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium.
This was a flawless production. The East-West cast of about 40 comprising of Charkaji’s Kathak dance ensemble and the actors of Ananda Ashram gave an outstanding performance which impressed the full house with its beauty, spectacle, fine performances and humor.
The Ramayana Dance-Drama, based on the beloved epic of India, was conceived by Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, the Guru of Ananda Ashram/Yoga Society of New York, 26 years ago. It has been performed every summer since then at the ashram’s outdoor amphitheater. It incorporates a rich Indian musical score & Sanskrit verses from one of most important literary works of ancient India. English dialog has been added to bring to life for all audiences the classical story of the battle of the forces of light and darkness within ourselves.
What a gift the museum is offering to New York by bringing the Ramayana to its stage! I hope that more people will be able to enjoy it there again and again. This was the eighth performance I attended in six years and it always seems new to me! Such is the effect of the great works of truth.
A documentary film of the 25th anniversary performance will be available on DVD soon. Please visit East-West School of Dance website to check on future performances and the DVD release.
This was a flawless production. The East-West cast of about 40 comprising of Charkaji’s Kathak dance ensemble and the actors of Ananda Ashram gave an outstanding performance which impressed the full house with its beauty, spectacle, fine performances and humor.
The Ramayana Dance-Drama, based on the beloved epic of India, was conceived by Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, the Guru of Ananda Ashram/Yoga Society of New York, 26 years ago. It has been performed every summer since then at the ashram’s outdoor amphitheater. It incorporates a rich Indian musical score & Sanskrit verses from one of most important literary works of ancient India. English dialog has been added to bring to life for all audiences the classical story of the battle of the forces of light and darkness within ourselves.
What a gift the museum is offering to New York by bringing the Ramayana to its stage! I hope that more people will be able to enjoy it there again and again. This was the eighth performance I attended in six years and it always seems new to me! Such is the effect of the great works of truth.
A documentary film of the 25th anniversary performance will be available on DVD soon. Please visit East-West School of Dance website to check on future performances and the DVD release.