Kanopy Dance Company
Starry Nights: Painting with Dance
Sunday, March 19
3pm & 6pm
Promenade Hall
Age Recommendation
6 and up
Running Time
90 minutes
The Overture stage becomes a canvas when Kalaanjali Dance Company and Kanopy Dance Company premiere Starry Nights: Painting with Dance, a fusion production inspired by the art of Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. The companies will combine principal modern dance techniques and classical Bharatanatyam Indian dance in three original choreographies that evoke the expression, rhythm, and passion of Van Gogh’s iconic works. Sixteen dancers will move against projections of Van Gogh's masterworks and will artfully “paint” the curved silhouettes of Van Gogh’s Irises, the entrancing stars and mysterious night sky in Starry Nights, and the rich colors and joy of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers - with a sensuous palette of dance forms.
The Kalaanjali Dance Company, based in Madison and San Francisco, will also present three traditional Bharatanatyam dances. Kalaanjali Dance was founded by Kanopy’s guest artist, Meenakshi Ganesan, to promote and showcase Bharatanatyam, the oldest classical dance tradition in India that dates back nearly 3000 years. Bharatanatyam encompasses music, rhythm and expression and strictly adheres to the Natyashastra, (a Sanskrit treatise on performing arts).
A modern work rounds out the Starry Nights: Painting with Dance program, with Lisa Thurrell’s Prayer, performed by the Kanopy Dance Company. The sweeping Graham-based work is set to the music of Estonian Arvo Pärt, a composer of minimalist style classical and religious music, and features elegant costuming in vibrant colorways of plums rose, copper, and magenta.
Bring a Group! Purchase 4 or more standard price tickets and get a discount. Discount automatically applied when you check out.
Meet the Guest Artists
Choreographer, Guest Director, Dancer
Meenakshi Ganesan
Meenakshi Ganesan is the founder & artistic director of Kalaanjali Dance Company in Madison, WI & San Jose, CA. She was conferred the prestigious title of Nritya Mayuri by the Ministry of Education of India, and has performed at notable events such as the Cleveland Aradhana Festival. Ganesan has trained more than 100 students around the globe and has conducted 35 Arangetrams (student graduation recitals) under Kalaanjali. She was awarded a grant as a Master Artist by the Wisconsin Arts Board and is honored to serve as a WAB panelist 2022 to help preserve and support the community of artists.
Kalaanjali Dance Company has been directed by Guru Meenakshi Ganesan since 2003, to propagate Bharatanatyam – Indian Classical Dance to the community and generations to come in Madison, WI and recently also in San Francisco, CA. Kalaanjali's objective of promoting Indian Classical Dance is accomplished through multiple means including workshops, performances, ballets, collaborations, lecture demonstrations, fundraisers, and outreach programs. Kalaanjali's students receive rigorous training in the theoretical and practical aspects of this ancient art form, frequently perform at a variety of special events, and participate in fundraising activities.
Photo by Sri Jasta
Thank you to our sponsor
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The McCammon Family
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