October 22, Springfield College, Springfield MA
Ranjanaa Devi presents a talk on the "Tradition of classical dance in India" followed by a masterclass for students in the dance program.

October 24 at 6:30PM Yoga Sanctuary, Northampton, MA
Nataraj Dancers present Tara Blessing dance in conjunction with the Healing in Tibetan Buddhism seminar. Call 413-545-2511 for tickets



November 2 at 7PM Diwali Festival at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst, MA
Celebration Dances by Nataraj Dancers at the Diwali festival presented by the Pioneer Valley India Association, For information email PVIAA@yahoo.com

December 7 from 2- 4PM Open House at the new Nataraj Studio at Pomeroy Lane, Amherst, MA
Take a free class, hear music, get to know what Nataraj center for asian performance offers and sign up for Spring classes! Call 413-348-8922 for more information

Mudra:
Please Click here to see a video clip from the Mudra performance.
(Download Windows Media Player for Mac)

Celebrating their 25th anniversary On November 1, 2007 Nataraj Dance Company under the leadership of its founder and artistic director Ranjanaa Devi, premiered its newest dance theater production at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Mudra is a spectacular work linking dance, live music and theater through a series of arresting scenes. Drawing upon ancient ritual, dialogue, poetry, and image, Devi creates a remarkable visual tapestry of ideas that are expressed through gestures -- (abstract and literal), movements and spoken words. Mudra will expose the audience to the sheer beauty, power and skill of the hand; it will highlight the importance of the hand as a part of the human body and will show how the fingers help to express thoughts and emotions in their fullest sense.

Mudra is the Sanskrit word for a hand gesture depicting a thought, an idea or a word in classical Indian dance. Used in narrative and poetic dance sequences, Mudras uniquely tell the story in a literal way making the words of the song almost inconsequential for those educated in Indian classical dance. Mudra is also contemporary, as simple and complex hand gestures are used by people as a tool for communication on a daily basis. Mudra includes Nataraj dancers, guest musicians, dancers and theater and video artists as in this production.

Telling Their Stories:
Ranjanaa Devi was recently awarded the Massachusetts Cultural Council Traditional Arts Finalist ‘08 award. Her company Nataraj Dancers performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Community Day on July 20, 2008 followed by a workshop. Nataraj Dancers explored the day’s theme - Telling Their Stories – by retelling classic stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from the temple prayers through Devi’s blend of traditional and contemporary choreography.

Southeast Asian Water Festival:
On August 16, 2008 Nataraj Dancers joined the Somapa Thai Dance Company and Angkor Dance Troupe to jointly perform the Hindu epic Ramayana for Lowell’s outdoors Southeast Asian Water Festival.

(Images 1-3) Ranjanaa, The Nataraj Dancers, Justine lemos and Jessica Marglin perform at Hosei University,Tokyo,Japan... (Image 4) Michelle Marroquin as Goddess Kali, Festival of Lights performance, Hampshire College... (Image 5) Nataraj Dancers in Concert... (Image 6) In Praise of Tara, Bowker Auditorium, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.