The Rooted Foundation is proud to present Aishwary Ravindran in its series of One Step Closer Koncerts, a one-of-its-kind narrative performance presenting an Indian Classical Artform, Bharatanatyam (pronounced buh-ruh-tuh-naa-tee-yum), in Jersey City, NJ on September 30th, 2023 at 3 PM (Seating at 2:45 PM).
Tickets: http://tikkl.com/rootedfoundation/c/ONESTEPCLOSER/?section=buy-tickets.
One Step Closer Koncerts is a multi-city dance festival across the United States (Sept. 29 - Sept 30th, 2023), seeding the coming together of artists and audiences in the Indian Classical Art of Bharatanatyam. We, at RootEd Foundation, believe that Bharatanatyam is a wonderfully versatile art form that has embodied human aesthetic and universal human narratives over centuries, and carries within it the promise to continue to do so for centuries to come.In its inaugural year, Rooted comes to you in 6 cities, with 7 OSC Koncerts, each designed in a narrative performance format and with the intention to take Bharatanatyam to diverse and unacquainted audiences, in a format that is accessible and relatable to them.
Aishwarya Ravindran will perform solo, as is the traditional way in Bharatanatyam, while also doubling up as the Sutradhar, the narrator, who will hold the thread to walk you through all aspects of the performance – big and small. There will be ample time for an audience to share impressions and ask questions.
Aishwarya is an Indian classical performing artist, musician, and digital health entrepreneur based in the NYC-area.
For Aishwarya, the bond between performer and audience in Bharatanatyam is profoundly strong. It's a unique art form that invites both the performer and the audience to a different world, immersing them in the storytelling narrative. She recognizes that this transportive experience is at the heart of what makes Bharatanatyam so special - that empathy is both a skill to be cultivated and a gift to be shared, enriching both the performer and those who witness the stories come to life. Excited to share her art with you all, she invites you to join her, even if you don't have previous experience or knowledge of Bharatanatyam.
Why is Koncert spelt with a K?
In the south of India, where Bharatanatyam traces its origins to, a concert is called Kutcheri. Kutcheri was a term that came into concert parlance a few centuries ago, when it was common for performances of art to take place in the courts of Kings (kutcheri in Hindi meaning “court”). This was used as a space for artists to present new work to a mix of afficianados and lay audiences, and for audiences in return to express their approval, appreciation or reservation on the works presented. The “kutcheris” or courts became on of the important epicentres for the sharing of art, where art was consumed critically. It was a space where connoisseurs came to share, to exchange ideas, to appreciate art. It is in this spirit, we wanted to name it concerts with a ‘K’.
