“Odissi” Indian Dancers Will Perform For Lafayette

The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India will make a tour stop in Lafayette next week.  This very rare presentation will be presented next Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.  Shanna Higgonbotham with the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana talks to "Mornings With Ken and Bernie" about the performance and a master class to taught by the dancers on Monday, April 2nd at 12:30 p.m. at U-L McLaurin Hall.

Higginbotham tells KPEL it is " a really big coup for us here in Lafayette" to have the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble to perform.  She says they are only giving four performances in America this year, and Lafayette was one of the chosen four.   The ensemble is a classic native dance from India, that according to the PASA, " combines seductive gestures, precise unison movements and suggestive facial expressions into a mesmerizing display."  The New York Times wrote about the Nrityagram Dance ensemble is "one of the most luminous dance events of the year."

Higginbotham says dancers from around the world are selected to be part of the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble.  They then go to Nrityagram, India to spend years dancing and practicing.  Every two to three years the dancers then book a very few select shows across the globe.

To hear the entire interview with Shanna Higginbotham, click here: