Pauline Adamek
Experience an extraordinary afternoon of movement, music, and storytelling when acclaimed Indian classical dancer and choreographer Rukhmani Mehta takes the stage at Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, September 13 at 4:00 PM. Mehta will be joined by eminent sitarist Jayanta Banerjee and tabla master Salar Nader for a spellbinding program celebrating Kathak, the exquisite and seldom-performed Northern Indian classical dance form renowned for dazzling footwork, lightning-fast spins, expressive gestures, and unforgettable stories.
More than a dance, Kathak is storytelling in motion. The word Kathak comes from the Sanskrit katha, meaning “story,” reflecting the form’s roots in the wandering poets and singers known as Kathakas. Traveling throughout northern India, these storytellers shared tales from Hindu mythology through rhythmic movement, expressive facial gestures, music, and spoken narrative.
At the heart of the program is Sandhi, Mehta’s deeply personal exploration of traditional Kathak. The Sanskrit word sandhi evokes a charged threshold—a meeting point between states. In this evocative work, Mehta journeys through the many worlds that have shaped Kathak: ancient sacred Indian temples, the grandeur of Mughal courts, the ecstatic longing of the Bhakti saints, the songs of courtesans, and the timeless stories of gods and goddesses.
Sandhi brings three currents together: the story of India and its people, the story of Kathak itself, and the story of an artist standing at the threshold of both. As the ancient meets the immediate, performer and audience embark on a shared encounter with the living, the sacred, and the eternal.
Mehta has helped shape the landscape of Indian classical dance in the United States for more than two decades. A lineage bearer as well as a contemporary voice, she works at the intersection of classical Indian dance, contemporary performance, and embodied inquiry. A senior disciple of legendary Kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das, Mehta is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective and Artistic Director of Leela Youth Dance Company, where she mentors young South Asian women as artists and cultural ambassadors.
With Mehta’s breathtaking command of rhythm and movement complemented by the soulful resonance of sitar and the intricate pulse of tabla, this special performance promises an exhilarating introduction to one of India’s great classical traditions—and a rare opportunity to experience Kathak live on the Sierra Madre stage.
Don’t miss this captivating afternoon of dance, music, history, and storytelling.
Sierra Madre Playhouse Presents Dance @ the Playhouse: Sandhi ft. Rukhmani Mehta
ARTISTS:
Rukhmani Mehta, Indian classical dancer/choreographer
Jayanta Banerjee, sitar
Salar Nader, tabla
Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM
Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Tickets: $12–$35.00
For tickets and information, call 626.355.4318 or purchase tickets online here.
ABOUT SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE:
Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), the performing arts center has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts centers presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics’ Choice honors. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theater to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.
