The Egg Presents: Ragas in Motion

Featuring Barkha Patel & Ishita Mili with Sunken Cages

Hosted by Arun Ramamurthy

Ragas in Motion is an immersive celebration of Indian dance and music, tracing the timeless connection between movement, melody and storytelling. This special night showcases a dynamic journey through Indian dance forms, from the elegance of classical traditions like Bharatanatyam and Kathak to contemporary, modern interpretations. Witness how ancient and modern worlds converge, as dancers bring to life the spiritual and emotional depth of music and storytelling through motion.

Featuring the outstanding, innovative artistry of Barkha Patel, a visionary Kathak dancer and choreographer; Ishita Mili, a choreographer seamlessly integrating hip-hop, contemporary, and Indian dance forms to tell powerful stories: and Ravish Momin, a pioneering percussionist blending South Asian traditions with cutting-edge global rhythms.

Opening the night are performances by local Bharatanatyam dance schools Alapana Arts (Lavanya Raghuraman) & Mudra School of Dance (Mathangi Srinivasan).

About The Artists:
 
Barkha Patel

Barkha Patel is a kathak dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director of Barkha Dance Company (BDC) based in NYC. BDC aims to uphold the traditional lineage of kathak and mindfully create contemporary works that uncover new movement possibilities and means of storytelling within the form.

Barkha has performed solo and ensemble works at dance festivals in India and the U.S. Her work has had the opportunity to present at venues such as Dance Theatre Harlem, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Joyce Theatre and Little Island Dance Festival, 92Y, and Chelsea Factory among others.

Barkha was a Dance/USA Institute for Leadership mentee and a recipient of the 2023 Juried Bessie Award. She was recently named a recipient of the Princess Grace Award 2024. She is currently in residency with Movement Research and a Harlem Stage WaterWorks Fellow where she is developing a part of her new full-length work called Ramti Aave – Her Playful Arrival.

Barkha teaches kathak to young and adult students in New York and across the U.S in person and via zoom. You can learn more about her dance and community work at www.barkhadance.com.

Ishita Mili with Sunken Cages

The duo of percussionist/electronic musician Ravish Momin (aka Sunken Cages) and dancer Ishita Mili seeks to blend ancient traditions with contemporary influences.

Their collaboration weaves narratives of forgotten histories, resistance and healing rituals. They draw on street-rhythms from Mumbai to Cairo, and dance styles that blend traditional Indian Classical (Bharatnatyam) and tribal styles (Chhau) with Hip-Hop and beyond.

The Resonance Series

Curated by Arun Ramamurthy, the Resonance Series explores sounds from the South Asian subcontinent and its relationship with musical cultures in the Capital Region and around the world. This series pairs traditional music and dance with contemporary creativity and spirit, and presents groundbreaking artists from a wide spectrum of culture and genre.  

The Resonance Series is funded by the Michele L. Vennard Hospitality Grant Program of the Albany County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Fund (AKA Discover Albany), a fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.

The Resonance Series is also funded by the Arts Thrive & Grow Grant Program of the Art Center of the Capital Region. Arts Thrive and Grow has been funded by New York State, Kathy Hochul, Governor. We thank Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins for her extraordinary commitment and leadership, and our elected officials who represent our grantmaking region: Senators Jake Ashby and Neil D. Breslin; Assemblymembers Scott H. Bendett, Patricia Fahy, John T. McDonald III, Angelo Santabarbara, Phil Steck, and Mary Beth Walsh.

Food by Spice Malabar at 6PM | Performance 6:30PM

Cost: Free with a Suggested Donation of $15

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