A thought provoking production, that shines a light on women’s issues and struggles. We look at contemporary issues women face today, through the lens of a very traditional art form of Bharatanatyam.
Dikshaa Dance Academy’s student led pursuits through experimentation and storytelling in Bharatanatyam
True to form, Dikshaa Dance Academy brings another gem. A thought provoking production that shines a light on women’s issues and struggles. We look at contemporary issues women face today, through the lens of a very traditional art form of Bharatanatyam. We have always strived to bridge the modern and the traditional, and this production is no different.
Still I Rise is a poem by Maya Angelou, we combine the emotions of that poem of a woman who laughs at adversity, and defiantly rises above it, with the stories and struggles of women across the world and cultures and times.
We will show you 9 vignettes of modern life. With music specially composed for this program, and live musicians, this promises to be a dance-theatrical production unlike any other!
Poster courtesy | Shilpa Deshpande
The treasured heritage of India’s mystics, saints and poets.
The Indus Valley has always been a magical, mystical place with a rich heritage. This valley is home to profound spiritual awakening and the teachings of great saints. Through this dance show, we explore the lives, writings, and poetry of these revered saints—whose wisdom has enriched Indian culture for centuries and inspired social reform
Marmabandhatli Thev hi – Natyasangeetacha Nrityavishkar
A look at Maharashtra’s rich culture of Natyasangeet through dance.
For the first time ever, Marathi Natyasangeet was presented in dance form! Marathi Natyasangeet is a genre on it’s own, that has inspired many talented artists and led to some incredible theater performances. In this unique production, performed entirely by artists born and brought up here in the US, we curated a selection of gems from this genre and brought to life an art form that had never before been done in dance.
Bhakti Marga – The glorious history of path of reform
Through dance we discover the phenomenal impact of the great men and women of the Bhakti marga, the path of Piety. Bhakti was not just a movement of a few. It was a cultural phenomenon that swept across the Indian subcontinent and brought with it major changes. Today we look at Bhakti with a different view. Bhakti, even though deeply rooted in spirituality, it was a catalyst for social, cultural, political change. It spawned the path of renaissance and reform.
Poster courtesy -| Shilpa Deshpande
An adaptation of a Russian and French ballet, set in India. We revisit this ballet with more cultural awareness and sensitivity than the original ballet, where blackface was used to show Indians.
This is a unique, avant-garde production that presents a russian ballet in Bharatnatyam. As Bharatnatyam faces unique challenges of language barriers and difficulty understanding the stories and mythology, we took that challenge head on to bring Bharatnatyam to a wider audience. With original music composed especially for this, we presented the story of 2 star crossed lovers, a temple dancer and a commander. This was a widely popular show that had our audiences raving and were left wanting for more.Presented entirely by students, our performers brought class and artistry and delivered an elevated performance, worthy of any professional theater experience.
An adaptation of a Russian and French ballet, set in India. We revisit this ballet with more cultural awareness and sensitivity than the original ballet, where blackface was used to show Indians.
This is a unique, avant-garde production that presents a Russian ballet in Bharatanatyam. As Bharatanatyam faces unique challenges of language barriers and difficulty understanding the stories and mythology, we took that challenge head on to bring Bharatanatyam to a wider audience. With original music composed especially for this, we presented the story of 2 star crossed lovers, a temple dancer and a commander. This was a widely popular show that had our audiences raving and were left wanting for more. Presented entirely by students, our performers brought class and artistry and delivered an elevated performance, worthy of any professional theater experience.
The epic of Ramayana unfolds on stage.
This was Dikshaa Dance Academy’s first production. A humble beginning that launched a 15 year journey. This show follows the life of Lord Rama.
A stepping stone for budding performers to overcome stage fear, gain confidence, and experience the joy of sharing their art.
Presented every three months, Natyarambham is a solo performance showcase where students perform in full costume, as though they are on stage — but in the comfort of a supportive, virtual setting.
Natyarambham is a special online web series that began during the Covid-19 pandemic as a creative solution to keep our students performing safely. What started as a temporary adaptation has now become a cherished tradition and an ongoing feature of our dance school.
