India Post News Service

ST. LOUIS: Dances of India in St. Louis, has slated celebration of its thirtieth anniversary with a grand Annual Performance for three days beginning October 19 Washington University's Edison Theatre. It will present two dance dramas: the first, Narasimha, is a traditional piece with a clever musical score created in India, and the second, An Incantation of Incarnation:

The Ten Wondrous Lives of Vishnu, is an exceedingly unique composition.A light-hearted spin on the classic Hindu myth of the Ten Incarnations of Vishnu is narrated over Strauss' Tales of the Vienna Woods, Ravel's Bolero, and a bit of Verdi's La Forza del Destino. In addition to Indian dancers, ballet, flamenco, tap, and modern dancers will be performed with the company!

This is a strikingly unusual combination of dance styles, one that really pushes Indian dance into new adventurous territories. Dances of India was founded in St. Louis by Asha Prem in 1976. It was the first classical Indian dance company to be established in Missouri. She had performed for years in India before coming to the US.Theckla (Ila) Mehta, one of Asha Prem's first students, has been a prominent member of the company, assisting in artwork, props, and elements of choreography. Patrick Suzeau, a Professor of Modern Dance at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, has been performing with the company for over a decade.

He performs both Bharata Natyam and pieces fused with Indian and modern elements. And so is Monica Newsam, a professional modern dancer.