The Book of Sandalwood (2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHM_aqzIWI

Commissioned by Canada’s Festival of South Asian Arts and Literature (FSLA), The Book of Sandalwood is a full-length Bharatanatyam performance traversing the lush and diverse landscape of classical, colonial and contemporary South Asian poetry. The virtuosic choreography animates the literary fragrance of the poetry, showcasing the sensuous exuberance of both courtesan repertoire and modern representations of Bharatanatyam.

inDANCE dedicated this work to the late Prof Chelva Kanaganayakam, an important founding member of FSALA, who was not only a major supporter of our work, but one of the most generous and compassionate people we have ever known. We sincerely miss his presence.

Choreography: Hari Krishnan

Dancers: Nalin Bisnath, Sreyashi Chakraborti, Shobana Raveendran and Vinod Para

Musicians: Hari Krishnan (cymbals/vocals), Susha and Varaki Wijayaraj (vocals), Kajan Pararasasegaram (percussion), Ravi Naimpally (percussion), Ajanthie Madanakaran (flute), Maiyuran Geeritharan (violin)

Narration: Katherine Duncanson

Music Composition: Ponnaiyya, Chitrakavi Shivram Rao and Sudha Raghuraman,

Textual Composition: Kalidasa, Sivakkoluntu Desikar and V. Balakrishnan

Research/Translation: Dr. Davesh Soneji

Rehearsal Direction: Nalin Bisnath

Lighting Design: Arun Srinivasan

Stage Management: Tara Mohan

Costume/Set/Brochure Design: Rex (Rajavairan Rajendran)

Costume Construction: Shanti Tailors

Premiere: May 16, 2015 at Al Green Theatre (Toronto, Canada)