These young yogis come together from all over
the world to tour the USA, Canada and Mexico,
performing at festivals, parks, theaters,
schools and yoga centers. They bring with them
the culture of India through its expression in
the arts. All aspects of the performances are
done by the youth themselves - from inception
to opening night. These are not actors and
singers playing the roles of yogis and
devotees, they are yogis sharing with the
audience their love and connection to the
Divine through the medium of dance, music and
drama.
I can guarantee that you have
never experienced anything like this. Their
performances are embued with high energy and
deep devotion, leaving each person that
experiences them with a fresh excitement about
their own spiritual practises. Their spiritual
enthusiasm is contagious.
Join this traveling group of exceptional talent
and spiritual enthusiasm, as they come to
Winston Salem to entertain and enliven.
This is a free event, however, donations from
the heart will be graciously accepted.
Refreshments will be served and sponsored by
Kindred Spirits.
Friday June 27, 2008 7PM
Unity Church of Winston
Salem*
108 Hewes St
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Directions
Here's
an excerpt from Dharma's program
guide:
Dharma is... the basic principle of our
existence, our duty or inherent nature. As heat
is to fire, Dharma is the basic principle that
unifies all souls in a common cause to glorify
their Father and act as loving brothers and
sisters. Dharma transcends designations of
religion, culture, ethnicity, language or
geography. We offer this performance, Dharma,
as an act of love.
Act
1: South Indian Temple Dance
Young dancers resembling lotus flowers perform
Bharata-natyam, a classical south Indian temple
dance. Using intricate hand gestures, dance
movements and facial expressions, the girls
tell a story about a divine lover and beloved,
accompanied by intricate rhythm and melodies.
Bharata-natyam is said to be the embodiment of
music in visual form, a ceremony and an act of
devotion. The dancers have studied since the
age of six at the Bhakti Kalalayam Dance
Academy in Gainesville, Florida.
Act 2: Drama: The Story of Kunti and Karna
Lights fade. The drama begins. A princess is
blessed with a boon by which she can summon any
of the demigods to beget a child. Her name is
Kunti. Innocently, she calls on the sun god who
presents her with a baby boy named Karna. Her
reputation at risk, she abandons Karna in a
basket. A charioteer finds the boy and raises
him to become a warrior. The drama unfolds and
follows the fateful lives of Kunti and Karna
right up until the fratricidal war at the
center of the epic Mahabharata. The drama
touches upon the root causes of violence--lust,
anger, greed, envy--and hints at positive
alternatives.
Act 3: Kirtan Music from West Bengal
Dancers and actors join with accomplished
devotional singers and musicians to transport
you on a musical journey across time, into a
transcendent realm of sacred mantras where
every word is a song, every step a dance. A
meditative soundscape of incantations chanted
by yogis in previous ages includes the
maha-mantra, the great chant for
deliverance:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Pronunciation: ha-ray, krish-na, ra-ma (rhymes
with "drama")
Act 4: Delicious Vegetarian Refreshments
At the end of the show, guests are served
delicious vegetarian refreshments of savories,
sweets and nectar drink in the theatre lobby,
created by gourmet Hare Krishna chefs. The food
is prepared with love and is served as a
complimentary gift to all who attend.
"If we can touch one heart
with our performance, hopefully we'll start a
chain reaction of kindness and appreciation
towards our neighbors on this small planet.
Every time I read the news I am reminded of how
our planet needs a little love at the moment,"
Manu concludes.
Admission is free, donations are graciously
accepted. Seating is limited for this
one-night-only performance.
About
the Performers
Volunteers of the Krishna
Culture Festival Tour raise money for charity
by sharing their love for Indian dance, music,
drama and food with theatre-goers from New York
to Toronto to San Francisco. They present
Dharma, an evening of exotic entertainment
followed by delicious vegetarian refreshments
Friday, June 27, 7 PM at Unity Church of WS.
One night only. Proceeds will benefit the
Children's Wish Foundation.
They were born and raised in the West, yet
their hearts are steeped in the arts and
culture of the East. They're the second
generation youth of the Hare Krishna Movement.
You may remember their peace-loving parents
wearing flowers in their hair and chanting with
George Harrison in the late 60s and early 70s.
"Our parents raised us against a kaleidoscopic
backdrop of yoga, meditation and communal
living. While many of us have integrated into
mainstream society today, we've come away with
an awareness of how we're all inter-connected
as human beings. It's a small world and we've
got to learn to live together peacefully, to
not just tolerate but actually appreciate each
other," says Manu Dasa, the festival tour's
organizer.
"Dharma showcases the best of what our Krishna
culture has to offer in the arts and
entertainment. Through the sights, sounds,
smells and tastes of another world we try to
paint a picture of common unity where people of
every designation can live peacefully side by
side."
A message that is no doubt timely and thought
provoking. And, some may argue, utopian. On a
small scale, however, it seems to be working
for them. A quick glance at the artists' group
photo reveals faces of every colour who have
come together to travel on this festival tour.
Together they perform South Indian dance, a
drama from the epic Mahabharata, devotional
kirtan music, and serve delicious vegetarian
refreshments. Add to the mix that each of the
performers volunteer and pay their own way to
bring you this event, and that their charitable
performance in Winston-Salem is just one of 25
on their nine-week tour across the continent,
and you begin to appreciate that these folks
walk their talk.
"I teach the 3rd grade at an elementary school.
Plus I'm taking evening classes towards a
masters degree in Educational Administration.
For the past few years I've been taking time
off during the summer to travel and volunteer
for this festival tour. It's the highlight of
my year. It broadens my horizons. I get to meet
so many people from all walks of life,"
explains Jaya Kaseder, one of the festival tour
chaperones who looks after the younger
performers.
Here's an excerpt from Dharma's program guide:
Dharma is... the basic principle of our
existence, our duty or inherent nature. As heat
is to fire, Dharma is the basic principle that
unifies all souls in a common cause to glorify
their Father and act as loving brothers and
sisters. Dharma transcends designations of
religion, culture, ethnicity, language or
geography. We offer this performance, Dharma,
as an act of love.
Act
1: South Indian Temple Dance
Young dancers resembling lotus flowers perform
Bharata-natyam, a classical south Indian temple
dance. Using intricate hand gestures, dance
movements and facial expressions, the girls
tell a story about a divine lover and beloved,
accompanied by intricate rhythm and melodies.
Bharata-natyam is said to be the embodiment of
music in visual form, a ceremony and an act of
devotion. The dancers have studied since the
age of six at the Bhakti Kalalayam Dance
Academy in Gainesville, Florida.
Act 2: Drama: The Story of Kunti and Karna
Lights fade. The drama begins. A princess is
blessed with a boon by which she can summon any
of the demigods to beget a child. Her name is
Kunti. Innocently, she calls on the sun god who
presents her with a baby boy named Karna. Her
reputation at risk, she abandons Karna in a
basket. A charioteer finds the boy and raises
him to become a warrior. The drama unfolds and
follows the fateful lives of Kunti and Karna
right up until the fratricidal war at the
center of the epic Mahabharata. The drama
touches upon the root causes of violence--lust,
anger, greed, envy--and hints at positive
alternatives.
Act 3: Kirtan Music from West Bengal
Dancers and actors join with accomplished
devotional singers and musicians to transport
you on a musical journey across time, into a
transcendent realm of sacred mantras where
every word is a song, every step a dance. A
meditative soundscape of incantations chanted
by yogis in previous ages includes the
maha-mantra, the great chant for
deliverance:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Pronunciation: ha-ray, krish-na, ra-ma (rhymes
with "drama")
Act 4: Delicious Vegetarian Refreshments
At the end of the show, guests are served
delicious vegetarian refreshments of savories,
sweets and nectar drink in the theatre lobby,
created by gourmet Hare Krishna chefs. The food
is prepared with love and is served as a
complimentary gift to all who attend.
"If we can touch one heart
with our performance, hopefully we'll start a
chain reaction of kindness and appreciation
towards our neighbors on this small planet.
Every time I read the news I am reminded of how
our planet needs a little love at the moment,"
Manu concludes.
Admission is free, donations are graciously
accepted. Seating is limited for this
one-night-only performance.
Additional quotes:
"Dancing for me is an inspiration, and I hope
that it inspires others also, and lightens up
their day as it does mine. If I could just
leave a little impression on someone, even if
it's just the slightest, I feel like I've done
my service well," says Kalindi Andujar, 17,
from Alachua, Florida.
Photo of Kalindi Andujar in dance pose:
"Because Bharatanatyam dance is so visually
stunning and culturally attractive, I think
that it is one of the best ways to spread the
message of Dharma to every soul in every town
and village. As dancers we strive to bring
about wonderful performances in glorification
of our common Father. It gives me such a
feeling of accomplishment to know that people
benefit from our performances," says Pritha
Goldman, 17, a student at the University of
Florida, Gainesville, who has been traveling
with the Krishna Culture Festival Tour for the
past three summers.
Photo of Pritha Goldman in dance pose:
"Since the age of five my dharma or duty in
life was quite obviously dance. By some good
fortune I was blessed with the opportunity to
study Bharatanatyam at that early age. What
followed were many years of vigorous and
intense dance training in South India with my
dance guru, Srimati Indira Kadambi. During
these years of physical and emotional hard work
I prayed that I may someday be able to use my
talents in devotional service. Traveling with
this festival tour has given me the great
experience of performing for many varied
audiences throughout North America," says Ana
Jakupko, 30, originally from Detroit, Michigan.
Ana serves as dance instructor at the Bhakti
Kalalayam Dance Academy in Alachua, Florida.
Several of her students are traveling on the
festival tour this summer.
Photos of Ana Jakupko in dance poses:
"Through our music, dance, theatre and food
festivals I feel that our young performers can
have a great effect on the world. I want to be
a part of that and have taken a five-week
sabbatical from work as a pharmacist to be able
to travel and perform on stage with this
amazingly talented group," says Balaram Rico,
23, from Colombia.
Photo of Balaram Rico:
"I love to participate in kirtan music whenever
I can. It is what inspires, uplifts, transforms
and makes me truly blissful. I have been
playing the mridanga drum since the age of
three. I also play the harmonium and I love to
sing. I am excited to be able to assist in this
way and perform all over North America with so
many wonderful, talented young people," says
Amal Darling, 20, from Hillsborough, North
Carolina.
Photo of Amal Darling playing the mridanga
drum:
*Events hosted by Unity
Church of Winston-Salem does not necessarily
represent the teachings of Unity Church