Usiloquy Dance Designs "Ragas and Airs"

Supported in part by funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Shaily Dadiala's (ACG '12) Usiloquy Dance Designs will perform the Bharatanatyam work Ragas and Airs at the Irish Memorial in Philadelphia on July 26. Based on parallels between the music of Indian and Celtic communities, expanding upon the historic connections between South Asian and Celtic heritage. The 45 minute original Indian classical dance production featuring 6 dancers will be followed by an interactive segment engaging audience members in a demonstration of dance techniques and information about the commemorative Irish sculpture by Glenna Goodacre. The dance consists of pieces touching on the following themes: early textile industry populated by Irish immigrants in Kensington, Philadelphia; 18th century Sanskrit texts written by Indian poet Muthuswamy Dikshitar to Irish reels; and a ballad played by contemporary Pennsylvania based Celtic Band Burning Bridget Cleary. These free showings of Ragas and Airs will be a cross-cultural, site-specific and multidisciplinary partnership between two Philadelphia organizations.