THE RUBAIYAT - LIFE IN A DAY
November 7- 9, 2014
- Friday, Nov. 7 @ 8pm
- Saturday, Nov. 8 @ 8pm
- Sunday, Nov. 9 @ 2pm
The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts
528 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Box office: 612.206.3600 or cowlescenter.org
Tickets: $25-$30 (Discounts available)
KATHA DANCE THEATRE REVEALS ANCIENT POEMS' HIDDEN MEANINGS IN NEW COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
World premiere at the Cowles Center Nov. 7-9
(Minneapolis; September 29, 2014) - Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) presents the world premiere of THE RUBAIYAT - LIFE IN A DAY, based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam. The haunting, melancholy musings of the Persian philosopher-poet are brought to life in vivid detail by choreographer Rita Mustaphi(KDTfounder/artistic director) and the company dancers of Katha Dance Theatre.The new work will debut Friday-Sunday, November 7-9 at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave. in downtown Minneapolis.
The Rubaiyat, a collection of mystical, highly symbolic poems,deals with the essence of the divine and the fleeting nature of life. Nearly a millennium after the poems were written, their lyrical beauty and well-crafted rhyme and meter continue to speak evocatively to readers. In this all-new production, KDT will explore the fiery spirit of The Rubaiyat's original poems and the inner hidden meanings of some of those verses that continue to attract a worldwide audience.
The Rubaiyat - Life in a Day features the KDT company dancers (Sarika Haris, Priya Jain, Rtusha Kulkarni, Nivedita Sahni, Mukta Sathe, Anurag Sharma, Monica Singh and Rita Mustaphi along with 5 interns). TheRubaiyat - Life in a Day features an exciting cast of guest artists, including composer/vocalistMaryam Yusefzadeh, actor/musician David Jordan Harris, composer/multi-instrumentalist Tim O'Keefe, violinist David Stenshoel, guitarist Thomas Nordlund, and flutist Dawn Doering. The artist-media team of Craig Harris and Candy Kuehn bring the classic poems into lustrous focus, providing design projections and digital Illustrations.
Tickets to The Rubaiyat are $25-$30 with discounts available for senior, student and groups. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cowlescenter.org or by calling the Cowles Center Box Office at 612-206-3600.
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BACKGROUND
About Katha Dance Theatre
The mission of Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) is to preserve the Kathak dance culture of Northern India through the development of innovative and collaborative work. The company strives to make Kathak accessible through an uncompromising commitment to educational programs, performances and outreach efforts, which push the forms boundaries while establishing a diverse cultural community that embraces all.
About Kathak Dance
Kathak dance is the classical dance tradition of Northern India. This elegant, spontaneous dance has its origins in the narrative tradition of the village minstrel, and was enriched over the centuries through exposure with Indo-Persian cultures. Kathak dance combines lyrical grace, subtle expressions and meaningful hand gestures with physically demanding pirouettes and intricate footwork.