Outreach activities added for India’s Nrityagram Dance Ensemble residency


October 2, 2019

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble performing on stage.

ATHENS, Ga. —UGA Presents is bringing India’s Nrityagram Dance Ensemble to Athens Oct. 6 for a 3 p.m. performance in Hodgson Concert Hall. In addition to the ticketed performance, the company will offer a number of educational activities during a multi-day residency.

On Oct. 7 the ensemble will conduct a free workshop in Hodgson Concert Hall from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. The workshop is open to the public and attendees can observe or they can actively participate in learning elements of Indian classical dance, known as Odissi. Paid parking is available in the Performing Arts Center deck.

Members of Nrityagram Dance Ensemble will present a master class Oct. 8 for UGA dance and music students. The class will be led by Nrityagram artistic director Surupa Sen and will include dancers and musicians from the company.

A pre-performance talk will be given prior to the Oct. 6 performance. The lecture will be given by Leera Rawal, a Kathak dancer, who will talk about Odissi, which is one of the oldest dance traditions in the world. The talk begins at 2:15 p.m. in Ramsey Concert Hall and is free and open to the public.

The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble is regarded as one of the foremost dance companies of India, performing all around the globe, including an annual tour to the United States. The company’s artistic director, Surupa Sen, was recently honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from India’s National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, the highest recognition given to an artist in India.

Tickets for the Oct. 6 performance can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400. A limited number of discounted tickets are available to current UGA students for $10 with a valid UGA ID (limit one ticket per student).

Hodgson Concert Hall and Ramsey Concert Hall are located in the UGA Performing Arts Center at 230 River Road in Athens.