Telling timeless tales of love, Venus, Mars and theory of relativity is what Indian Classical Dance does so well. Its pure style physicalises abstract sounds of spoken language. Its narrative structures combine mime and dance as a metaphor. Together these challenge the performer to perfect intricate mudras and rhythms as well as act multiple characters in conversations with each other.

Image: Kanan Deobhakta is a well-known Bharata Natyam & Odissi exponent in Auckland. Telling timeless tales of love, Venus, Mars and theory of relativity is what Indian Classical Dance does so well. Its pure style physicalises abstract sounds of spoken language. Its narrative structures combine mime and dance as a metaphor. Together these challenge the performer to perfect intricate mudras and rhythms as well as act multiple characters in conversations with each other.

Image: Kanan Deobhakta is a well-known Bharata Natyam & Odissi exponent in Auckland.Kanan Deobhakta Dance Company presents
Masked Maiden - 'Tempest, Temperate and Temptress'

Kanan Deobhakta has presented the South Indian classical dance form Bharata Natyam and the North Eastern style Odissi to both Auckland and Wellington audiences. After 22 years of choreographing and presenting Indian classical and contemporary dance in New Zealand, Kanan formed Kanan Deobhakta Dance
Company. It is the only professional Indian dance company to have performed consistently in Auckland for two decades.

In 1994, Kanan presented 'Nritya Ganga', a unique synthesis of Bharata Natyam with North Indian classical music, researched and presented by her guru, the world renowned Sucheta Bide-Chapekar. Kanan and daughter Kavita, were Sucheta's first students to present the works in Australasia. In 1996, the company invited Sucheta, accompanied by three master musicians to present their work in New Zealand. New Zealand audiences warmly received the show. Since then, Kanan has presented new works. In 1999, she presented a new work "The Contest Inside" and "Cellular Division".

Developing another of her passions, the music was an original score composed and performed by Kanan.

In 2003, as part of TEMPO - The Auckland Dance Festival, Kanan presented another new work with a new score. STATE OF EIGHT "I love you, I love you not".
Linda Ashley   in Dancenet reviewed the performance. "Conserving the Indian Art of Conversation" - Telling timeless tales of love, Venus, Mars and theory of relativity is what Indian Classical Dance does so well. Its pure style physicalises abstract sounds of spoken language. Its narrative structures combine mime and dance as a metaphor. Together these challenge the performer to perfect intricate mudras and rhythms as
well as act multiple characters in conversations with each other. No small ask for mere mortals, especially when some of the characters are immortals. Kanan
Deobhakta and Karishma rose to the challenge in State of Eight "I love you, I love you not" mixing traditional and modern choreography.

Jennifer Shennan - a dance scholar and dance critic in Wellington. "Your performance and choreography   were a remarkable fusion - beautiful, poignant, radical -
altogether engaging. I am very glad to have seen it."

On 1st October, 2004, once again as part of TEMPO - The Auckland Dance Festival, Kanan presents another new work with a new score. THE MASKED MAIDEN 'Tempest,Temperate and Temptress'.     The picture of a perfect woman. She, who is the essence of life, beautiful, dutiful and sinful. She is daughter, sister, wife,
lover, mother and what else ?

There is only one show. Come and see the multiple faces behind the mask. Do you know who you go home to at the end of the day ? Find out Friday 1st October,
2004, 7.30pm, Centennial Theatre, Auckland Grammar
School, Epsom.
Tickets Ph. 6310313
Box Office : Ph. 623 5409
Adults $25, Concession $20, Children under 13yrs, $15.

Book early.

Photos and additional publicity material are available
from our offices.
KANAN DEOBHAKTA DANCE COMPANY
P.O.Box 26403
Epsom
Auckland 3
NZ

Ph/Fax 64 9 6310313