Celebrating the Dance and Music Traditions of North India

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Cost: $15 general admission; $10 students

Moghul Court takes us back in India’s history to an era of artistic and cultural renaissance – a time when music, dance, theater and poetry flourished in the lavish courts of the Muslim nawabs and Hindu maharajas. This Indo-Islamic syncretic culture was at its heights with the arts leading the way for a rich and enduring exchange between Hindu and Islamic traditions.

The evening presents performances of the traditional Tabla and Kathak solos by Javad Ali Butah, disciple of renowned artist Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, and Rina Mehta, disciple of legendary artist and guru, Pandit Chitresh Das. In the hands of consummate professionals, Kathak creates a complex dynamic between dance, melody, rhythm, poetry, storytelling and song.

Described as “spectacular” and “virtuosic” by the LA Times and NY Times respectively, Butah opens with a stunning performance showcasing the poetry and musicality inherent in the art of Tabla. Mehta’s percussive feet match the dynamic sounds of the tabla. Her articulate hand gestures and dramatic movements meet the sculpted melodies of the sarangi and sitar, creating a performance that has been described as “exquisite” and “jaw-dropping” by exploredance.com.

Mehta and Butah are joined on stage by Pandit Ramesh Mishra on sarangi, recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Nantak Akademi award, as well as renowned sitar player Sri Jayanta Banerjee.