An exotic fusion of ballet and classical Indian dance.
Caption: Dancers rehearsing for the premiere of Jangala.
Bureau Report
NEW YORK: Graham Lustig’s Jangala will premiere at the Middlesex County College, New Jersey, on March 2nd.
Inspired by tales from Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’, Lustig pays homage to his long held respect and love for the arts of India, not least its tradition of classical dance, in Jangala, his new production.
Known for his engaging, theatrical interpretations of popular stories, Lustig’s Jangala will fgeature 10 professional dancers who will be showcasing a fusion of Contemporary ballet and Bharatanatyam. Tying the dances together are many colorful costumes, extravagant sets, props and new-era music that will give the familiar Jungle Book story a brand new flair.
Master teacher and dancer Renuka Srinivasan, Artistic Director of the Tala Shruti Dance Studio in Fords, NJ, is an accomplished Bharatanatyam expert who is assisting Lustig with the creation of Jangala. The Lustig Dance Theatre (LDT) company will be joined by Dr. Shobana Natarajan, one of Srinivasan’s students, LDT Ensemble students, as well as Alicia Pagan, a recent graduate of Middlesex County College.
The evening will begin with an interactive presentation of Bharatanatyam, followed by the feature presentation of Jangala.
Jangala is funded in part by Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission with assistance through a grant provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.