Rally for Rivers Concerts in North America

In support of reviving the dying rivers of India

Today we are faced with a number of global environmental challenges. Being a tropical country, India is deeply affected by climate change and its rivers are seeing dangerous levels of depletion. As an agricultural country with a billion-strong population, India is on the threshold of a grave ecological and human crisis.

Sadhguru, a realized yogi, mystic and founder of Isha Foundation is initiating massive campaign to create the necessary awareness towards this imminent calamity and to implement policy and lifestyle changes in reviving the lifelines of India.

As a part of this endeavor, Isha Foundation will be hosting multiple classical dance and music events across United States as an expression of support.

Spanda, a group founded in 1995 that presents works conceived and choreographed by Leela Samson, explores group dynamics in Bharatanatyam. Spanda, which means a vibration or pulse, is symbolic of the enduring and perpetual energy that is the life force of the universe.The need to rediscover learnt vocabulary challenges and excites Spanda. While retaining the geometry, the variety and grammar of this ancient form one can reduce movement to its truest expression. Spanda deliberates text, musical traditions and movement vocabulary and exposes the dancer and viewer to the stillness within them. Spanda seeks to establish a relevant dialogue between dance, music and stage craft.

Classical Dance Performances

The river has been the very source of life. From Sufi fakirs in the North to Baul singers in Bengal to Sangam poetry and classical composers in the South – an ocean of poetry has been penned inspired by the River. NADI seeks to explore the love and longing, the physical changes and the deep philosophy that the river inspired through the centuries-old voices of India’s poets.
NADI has made an eclectic selection of poems in different languages and musical genres from the thumris of Varanasi, to Tagore’s melodies and the Baul renderings of Bengal, to Sangam poetry, the previous centuries Dikshitar, and to modern-day Girish Karnad of the South. Every poem has a different philosophical setting, but all deal with the concept of the River.
NADI is a common link and we hope that elements like the river, can continue to teach man the usefulness and beauty of nature and our link to it.
Concept & Choreography: Leela Samson
Music: Sri Rajkumar Bharathi
Sound: Sai Shravanam.

Minneapolis (Oct 8)

Boston (Nov 4)

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Nadi - an exploration of the river in Bharatanatyam by Leela Samson and Spanda Dance Company

Nadi is an amalgamation of theatre, poetry, and dance that exposes the dancer and viewer to the stillness within them. Nadi captures the moods of the river through poetry and arresting imagery using the graceful movements of Bharatanatyam to weave a story honoring the river as the very source of life. This theater-like production explores the vibrant group dynamics of Bharatnatyam, making it unlike any other classical dance performance.

Sandeep Narayan is one of the most sought after artists in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music today. Breaking boundaries by being the first US born and raised musician to move to India to take up Carnatic music as a full-time career, Sandeep is proud to be a role model for many aspiring musicians from around the world who are now following this trend. Having performed extensively all over the world including concert tours of Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United States of America, Sandeep hopes to continue serving as a cultural link between Carnatic music and audiences worldwide.