Saturday, October 10, 2020
4:30 – 5:45pm PT
Ardhanarishwara: The Intersexual Being
Dance and Choreographer: Anuradha Naimpally
Music: Lavanya Ananth
Poetry: Adi Shankaracharya
Austin, Texas, USA
Ardhanarishwara is an intersexual being that fuses the male Shiva and female Shakti into one human form. This original choreography is set to a poem by early 8th century poet Adi Shankara. Included in the metaphorical descriptions are Shiva’s wild dreadlocks, garland of skulls, and bare body in contrast to Shakti’s shiny black hair, flower garlands, and silk sari. As these two genders live fused together, in the end, the choreographer leads the audience into the higher plane of spirit that is beyond gender.
About the Artist
Anuradha Naimpally is a Bharata Natyam performer and master teacher whose performances present both traditional repertoire as well as original works with unexpected pairings through collaborations with artists of various genres. A 2018 Austin Arts Hall of Famer, she is the recipient of numerous global honors and awards. Anuradha is funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division and selected artist with Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Her passion for arts in education and art as social practice has led to projects on racial inequity, climate change, and girls’ empowerment. She is founder and director of Austin Dance India and sees the power of dance transform individuals through self-discovery.
Press
https://www.austinchronicle.com/feedback/2019-07-09/2500287/
https://www.statesman.com/article/20180416/NEWS/304169890
As recommended by the performer
Age recommendation: All Ages
Trigger Warnings: No
Run time: 12 minutes