June 4-5 :: SOLODANCE: Perspectives from South India and Beyond

The Friends of South Asia at the Royal Ontario Museum, in collaboration with inDance, present a special two-day dance symposium focusing on the South Indian solo dance form Bharatnatayam. This gathering of eminent scholars and international dance artists from around the world will examine and celebrate the evolution of South Indian dance with live performances and lively round table discussions on topics ranging from the history of courtesan dance in South India and transformations of solo dance in the twentieth century to issues of identity, nationhood and selfhood in contemporary solo dance. Short performances will range from solo works by leading performer Anita Ratnam of Chennai to neo-Baroque dance by Patricia Beaman of New York University. A roundtable on the afternoon of June 5 will feature Canadian solo dance legends Peggy Baker and Denise Fujiwara in conversation with Leela Samson, Swapnasundari and Anita Ratnam from India.

Friday June 4, 2010: 10 am to 9 pm
Saturday June 5, 2010: 10 am to 5 pm
Signy and Cleophee Eaton Theatre
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
www.rom.on.ca/whatson (for details and list of participants)