mahishasur

mardini

mahishasur mardini

Inspired by Pandit Jasraj's composition, this choreography is conceptualised to celebrate

and offer an ode to the supreme mother, Durga. The legend elaborates on the situation

that when the entire universe is in trouble even the male trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and

Mahesh is helpless, they invoke the Goddess as Chandi in her most terrible avatar. Her

shaktis go about destroying all the evil, and finally she herself destroys the demon

Mahishasura, and is thus celebrated as Mahishasura Mardhini.

Verses from the Chandi Path text are also included.

trailer

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rasa united

The dance company, founded by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Vanashree Rao,

aims to explore timeless tales from ancient Indian lore through a fresh choreographic

approach that attempts to seamlessly meld the three classical dance styles of

Bharatanatyam, Chhau and Kuchipudi.

Minute attention is paid to all aspects of choreography, including costume, light and stage

design.

The music is professionally recorded, and incorporates invigorating rhythms that add a

contemporary nuance to its classical base. RASA UNITED does dramatic tales from

mythology and has given 45 shows in the last 10 months.

company showreel

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touring details SCALE OF VENUE: Large

DURATION: 23 Mins approx.

MIN. PERFORMANCE AREA: 40'w x 36'd

COMPANY MEMBERS: 1 Artistic Director | 9 Dancers | 1 Tech (Light | Sound) | 1 Make Up

Artist | 1 Manager | Total: 13 people

ACCOMMODATION: For 13 people for 2-3 nights depending upon the schedule and

distance from the base for 1 performance. Each additional performance will require 1

additional night of accommodation. The Artistic Director will require a single room. Rest all

can accommodate in twin rooms.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION: Technical specifications as mentioned below. All lighting |

sound hires and projection are the responsibility of the local venue.

DAYS IN THEATRE: Day before Get in, Performance day, Strike on same evening.

AGE SUITABILITY: Suitable for all ages, but best experienced by 11+ year old.

stage | general requirements STAGE SIZE: 13 M (W) x 12 M (D)

FLOOR: Marley Dance Floor (Black) | Linoleum Flooring (Black – 1.5 mm thick) optional. Floor

should have no nails, splinters etc.

BACKDROP: Black Backdrop | White Cyclorama required. NO advertisements | logos on

any part of the stage including backdrop | wings | underside of stage.

WINGS: 3 Wings on each side (4 Ft Wide X 10 Ft High covered with Black mask). A passage

required behind the backdrop for the dancers to move from one side of the stage to the

other.

GREEN ROOM: 1 for the Artistic Director | 1 for Females | 1 for Males. Quick change rooms

required on both side of the stage. One chair and table required in the wings for quick

props to be kept.

RAKE: Stage to have NO RAKE. Should be marked as per water level.

ENTRY | EXIT: To be marked with glow | white tape. Staircase on both sides for outdoor built

up stage

OTHERS: Ironing Board | Snacks | Bottled Water | Tea – Coffee | First Aid Kit | Ice Packs

light requirements

sound requirements QUANTITY PARTICULARS SPECIFICATIONS

8 PZM Foot Mikes AKG PCC 160 or Equivalent (Ref.

diagram below)

4 Monitors for the Dancers EAW LA 215 or Equivalent on tripod

stands

TBC Main PA | FOH As per the venue requirement

2 Walky Talkies | Intercoms For communication re Sound cue

TBC CD Player | Laptop | Aux To play music from CD | Pen drive

| Aux

TBC Sound Console As required

FOOT MIKE DIAGRAM

vanashree rao | biography

Vanashree Rao, wife and dance partner

of Padma Shri, Guru Jayarama Rao, is

renowned in the field of Kuchipudi not only

for her excellent performances along with

her husband, but also for her individual

extensive research work in the field of

dance. A post graduate of Political

Science, from the Lady Shri Ram College,

Vanashree started learning dance only

after her M. A. In 1978, she started learning

from Guru Jaya Rama Rao and received

the Sahitya Kala Parishad scholarship.

Married to Sri Rao since 1981, she along

with Sri Rao has performed in all major

national and International festivals in the

last 25 years in over 60 countries. She has

received a number of awards including

the most prestigious Central Sangeet

Natak Akademi Award in December, 1999

| the Delhi State Award known as Sahitya

Kala Parishad Samman in 1996 | the Indira

Priyadarshini Award in November, 2003 |

the Andhra Pradesh Samman in 2000 | The

Life time achievement Award from EDERA

to name a few. She is the recipient of

Central Govt. junior and senior fellowship.

She has also received 3 individual grants

from Sangeet Natak Akademi for her

research work in the field of Abhinaya.

Empanelled as an outstanding artist with

ICCR and television she has performed all

over India and abroad including the

Adelaide Festival in Australia | Jerash

Festival in Jordan | Cervantino Festival in

Mexico | International Ocean Festival in

Mauritius | The Delhi Days in Moscow,

Russia | 50th Golden Jubilee of India’s

Independence, Ceremonies in Syria,

Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Azerbijan,

closing ceremony in Germany |

International Trade Fair in Hannover |

Edinburgh Festival in U.K. | Latin America

| U.S.A | France | Afganisthan | Cuba

etc. Indian Festivals include Khajurahao

Festival | Ajanta Ellora Festival | Kalidas

Festival | Ujjain Festival | Elephanta

Festival | Konark Festival | The Qutab

Festival, Delhi | The Uday Shankar Dance

Festival | The Nehru Centre Dance

Festival, Mumbai | Sangeet Natak

Akademi Dance Festival, Kolkata and

Assam | Surdas Festival, Mumbai | The

Goa Dance Festival by Kala Akademi,

Goa | The Kalakhestra Festival, Chennai |

Legends of India Festival | Ananya

Festivaletc. Her Lecture series all over India

under the Spic Macay invitation are highly

sought after. Vanashree has truly

established and popularized this rare style,

Kuchipudi, amongst the youth and others

with her single minded dedication and

commitment as a teacher and a

performer. Her production company RASA

UNITED does dramatic tales from

mythology and has given 45 shows in the

last 10 months.

press The concluding Mahishasura Mardini again was a tight well-knit presentation - Leela

Venkataraman, Narthaki, 21st October, 2017

Powerful theatre by Rasa United - Leela Venkataraman, Narthaki, 21st October, 2017

This particular piece was a feast of dance and creativity - Sveta Arora, Kala Upasana, 20th

March, 2018

Vanashree Rao and dancers scale great artistic heights - Dr Sunil Kothari, November, 2017

Mythology can keep the mind engaged if conveyed in a telling manner - picturesque

description, touching depiction, dignified delivery in majestic language and last but not

the least a dramatic aura. Dancer - guru Vanashree Rao’s Rasa United presentation

“Dramatic Tales” had all these ingredients to emerge as a popular performance on the last

day of the Purana Qila festival - Ranee Kumar, The Hindu, 6th October, 2017

It was a tour de force – Sunil Kothari, Narthaki, 20th November, 2016

credits Concept | Choreography: Vanashree Rao

Musicians

Nattuvangam: Dr. S. Vasudevan

Vocal: K. Venkateshwaran | Dr. S.

Vasudevan

Mridangam, Tabla, Pakhwaj, Khol, Khanjira:

R. Kesavan

Flute: Rajat Prasanna

Violin: Raghavendra Prasath

Music Editor: Ankur Kapoor

Lights and Sound: Sharad Kulasreshta

Costumes: Sandhya Raman | Vanashree

Rao

Masks: Shamim

Make up: Naresh Khare

contact details

VANASHREE RAO

ADD: 99, BAKHTAWAR SINGH BLOCK

ASIAD VILLAGE, NEW DELHI - 110 049

MOB: +91 88000 99197

EMAIL: vanashreerao@yahoo.com

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TOUR CONSULTANT

ARIJEET MUKHERJEE

ADD: ARTIST ASSOCIATION OF INDIA

184, LIG, POCKET 3C, SECTOR 16B

NEW DELHI – 110 075

MOB: +91 93111 57771

EMAIL: info@artistassociationofindia.com

SKYPE: arijeetmukherjee

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