When Shaily Dadiala first started working on Ragas and Airs about three years ago, I was delighted to find out that there is a connection between the Celtic people and the people of Southeast Asia. For those of us who tend to think of the United States as the melting pot, it is a surprise to find out the Irish people emigrated to other parts of the world as well to escape persecution and hunger. The Irish confluence with India is rich with culture, music and poetry. Shaily’s work in creating Ragas and Airs helps to bring greater understanding and appreciation for the influence and beauty of Irish culture while challenging the stereotypes of this often persecuted minority.
Usiloquy Dance Designs is a Bharatanatyam dance group in Philadelphia. Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance which evolved in the Temples of Southern India.
From their website:
Mission
Usiloquy Dance Designs creates traditional and cross-cultural productions of Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam and conducts educational programs.History
Usiloquy is dictated by the ancient vocabulary of Bharatanatyam to synthesize works based upon cross cultural content, pushing the confines of traditional Bharatanatyam with universal influences in music, narration and costumes.Founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Shaily Dadiala to supplement the Greater Philadelphia area’s need for an Indian Classical dance platform, Usiloquy Dance Designs is the only contemporary Bharatanatyam organization of its kind in the region, creating unique works that cross cultural boundaries and builds bridges between diverse audience communities. Usiloquy works to create a conduit between the age old dance form that originated in the temples of Southern India to schools and concert halls serving over 15,000 audience members till date.
The language of dance needs no interpreter. The cross cultural works created by Shaily and Usiloquy are accessible to all demographics and every performance has been well received. Shaily’s work touches the struggles of immigrant minorities using dance.
The Irish Memorial in Philadelphia commemorates the great hunger that drove the Irish to leave their homes. This is the location of Usiloquy Dance Design’s next performance, Ragas and Airs. It is the perfect venue to witness a work of art that speaks to the connection between Ireland and India. There are only two performances scheduled on July 26, 2014 and these are the only times this work is scheduled. DON’T MISS IT!
The performances, scheduled at 4pm and 7pm, include a short educational session and music free of charge to anyone who wishes to attend. However as a professional dance company there are many expenses associated with a performance like this and we need your help to support this important, original work. Check out the Indiegogo link below and donate. Please share the link as well.