Classical Indian Dance in
Contemporary Contexts
International Festival & Symposium

September 30 - October 3, 2010
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco

October 8-10, 2010
REDCAT Theater, Los Angeles

Register now!
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Frequently Asked Questions

In celebration of its 30th anniversary and expansion in India, the Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC) & Chhandam School (U.S.) in collaboration with its sister organization Chhandam Nritya Bharati (India) will present Traditions Engaged, international festival and symposium on Indian classical dance and music.  Join us for stellar performances, intimate lecture demonstrations and engaging discussions featuring some of the world's leading as well as emerging Indian classical artists and musicians.

Now is a critical time to delve deeply into our ancient roots and traditional art forms, not only to preserve the beauty, knowledge, history and understanding they embody, but to impart their wisdom to the broader global society.

Traditions Engaged will be an historic event bringing together master and emerging artists, scholars, leaders, critics, presenters and funders to explore the role and relevance of India's traditional classical dance and music forms in a global world.

In 2006, the CDDC/Chhandam, in partnership with Chhandam Nritya Bharati and Chhandika, presented Kathak at the Crossroads (KAC) international festival and symposium, which featured 60 artists and 12 scholars, received a special Isadora Duncan Dance Award and the Mayor proclaimed the first day of KAC as "Kathak Day" in San Francisco.

 KAC received international press coverage in the New York Times and Telegraph (India) among others:

"The depth and quality of the performances…were remarkable.  I walked away from them and the conference with a better understanding – and quite frankly a love – for this art"    Rita Feliciano, Dance View Times

"Das is concerned that in an age of globalization and Bollywood, the form’s more subtle attractions – crisp chanting, and abhinaya, the delicate facial gestures used to tell Hindu stories – may be lost…We are fortunate to have him – and this eye-opening festival – in our city. "    Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle

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