Saayujya (The Merging) | The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

Sruti will present the world premiere of Saayujya (The Merging), an innovative performance piece interpreting classical South Indian music and dance inspired by themes of liberty and freedom drawn from Philadelphia's history and featuring two of India's preeminent artists, bharata natyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind and Carnatic musician T. M. Krishna (TMK). For their performance at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the artists will interlace elements of traditional repertoire with improvised segments in which they will creatively respond to the other's solos. They will be accompanied by musicians on the mrdangam (South Indian double-headed drum) and violin, as well as a nattuvanar (conductor) on the cymbals. The improvised setting will push the artists out of their comfort zones, creating a surprising and energetic audience experience. Various activities surrounding the performance include a pre-performance podcast moderated by WNYC's John Schaefer, as well as three workshops conducted by TMK and Govind for local students and artists presented in partnership with the Curtis Institute of Music, and a post-concert panel discussion moderated by dance ethnologist Toni Shapiro-Phim.

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