Storytelling dance “Sandhi” reviewed

A captivating afternoon of dance, music, history, and storytelling. Acclaimed Indian classical dancer and choreographer Rukhmani Mehta took to the stage at Sierra Madre Playhouse this past Sunday. On the program was “Sandhi” – Mehta’s personal exploration of the traditional Indian performance tradition of Kathak where dance, gesture, music, and narrative are combined to tell elaborate stories. So much more than simply dance, Kathak is storytelling in motion. For this performance, our exquisite solo dancer played all the characters within the story, often pirouetting – then freezing into a pose – to reveal a different facial expression to mark the character transition.

Precision and elegance are features of this extraordinary dancer’s talents. Her rhythmic footwork, traditionally accompanied by ankle bells, enhanced her spins and intricate dance movements. Mehta’s expressive hands frequently form mudra, which are the symbolic hand gestures used in Indian classical dance, yoga, meditation, and also religious art. In dance, they function as a visual vocabulary: a particular position of the fingers and hands can represent an object, action, emotion, person, or idea. Even her wrists, neck and body gestures as well as her facial expressions closely underpin the spoken poetry and music and effortlessly convey story using this poetic form of sign language.

Mehta was joined on stage by eminent sitarist and composer Jayanta Banerjee, who was accompanied by tabla master Salar Nader. The musicians were accompanied by singers – the dancer’s own daughters – whose voices were so pure and haunting.  Together the troupe presented 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. We heard some explanations from the musicians describing the musical styles that accompany this dance form, with tabla master Nader explaining how the rhythms are like poems, each with their own stanza and patterns. In performance, these artists were dazzling. At times, Nader was playing the tabla so fast his left hand became a blur!

Fascinating stuff!

Sierra Madre Playhouse Presents Dance @ the Playhouse: Sandhi ft. Rukhmani Mehta

ARTISTS:
Rukhmani Mehta, Indian classical dancer/choreographer

Jayanta Banerjee, sitar

Salar Nader, tabla

Singers – the dancer’s daughters

Sierra Madre Playhouse Brings Intimate, World-Class Performing Arts to Los Angeles

The Sierra Madre Playhouse is carving out a distinctive place in the Los Angeles performing arts landscape by pairing ambitious, world-class programming with something increasingly rare: an intimate relationship between performers and audiences.

David Gordon, speaking about the venue and its programming, said the Playhouse’s guiding principle is straightforward:

“We strive for excellence. Whatever we put on, we strive to make it world class.”

That commitment is paired with the 99-seat theater’s relatively small scale, which Gordon said is one of its greatest strengths. Performers are drawn to the venue because they can connect with audiences in a way that is difficult to achieve in larger halls.

“We have people who come and perform here because they love the intimacy of the place,” Gordon said. He pointed to violinist Vijay Gupta, a former concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as an example. Gupta, Gordon said, enjoys performing at the Playhouse because “you’re in touch with the audience in a way that’s not possible in larger venues.”

The venue’s history adds another dimension to that intimate setting. The building was a movie theater back in 1924, presenting silent films. The Playhouse continues that tradition, and is still presenting films with live musical accompaniment. Gordon cited a recent presentation of the silent Soviet classic Battleship Potemkin featuring specially composed music with about 10 performers accompanying the film.

Film is only one part of the Playhouse’s eclectic programming. The venue presents Indian classical dance and music, contemporary dance, classical and new music, chamber music, Asian Pacific music and jazz. Gordon described the Playhouse as an important Los Angeles venue for Indian cultural arts.

The theater also has an emphasis on introducing younger audiences to the performing arts. Its family programming, primarily offered Saturday mornings at 11 a.m., features storytelling, films and live performances for young children. Gordon said the programs are designed to be accessible to families, with admission costing only a few dollars.

The upcoming calendar reflects the Playhouse’s broad cultural reach. A performance from the South Philippines was scheduled for an upcoming Friday. In October, the theater plans to present the Irish play Outside Malibu throughout the month. The Bob Baker Marionettes are also scheduled to return in November and December for their third appearance.

Jazz will remain another important component of the theater’s programming. Gordon said jazz performances will be woven into the theatrical schedule, with approximately 18 jazz performances planned for the following year.

For audiences looking to explore the Playhouse’s programming throughout the year, the venue also offers a Membership Passport. Gordon said the annual membership costs $400 and provides access to as many as 160 performances. Members receive a passport that can be used to keep track of the shows they attend.

Not everyone, Gordon acknowledged, will make it to all 160 performances. But the breadth of the offering underscores the Playhouse’s larger role: creating a place where audiences can encounter an unusually wide range of artistic traditions in a setting where the distance between stage and spectator remains inclusive.

Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024

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.