Post on 09-Feb-2016
description
A Festival of the Arts and Culture
PERFORMANCE GUIDES FOR EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS
Unity in DiversityTo begin to appreciate the wonders of India, just look at the
word on this cover. Notice the different scripts (letters) within
each letter of “India.” They come from India’s many languages
and represent the diverse peoples, beauty, complexity,
history, and traditions that fuse together to form the unique
entity called India. It is the unity seen in this artwork, this
singular identity that has inspired people for centuries.
The land itself offers magnificent sights, from the Himalaya
Mountains to the Indian Ocean and stunning architecture,
from ancient Buddhist temples to the Taj Mahal, one of the
world’s most recognizable structures. The culture, one of the
world’s oldest, has given us music and classical Indian dance,
major religions, yoga, colorful fabrics and tapestries, intricate
crafts, distinct cuisines, and performances on stage and film
that mesh words, music, and dance.
Through maximum INDIA, we invite you to discover, experience,
and savor India’s cultural and artistic wonders, in vibrant color.
David M. RubensteinChairman
Michael M. KaiserPresident
Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education
maximum INDIA is presented in cooperation with Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhiand Embassy of India, Washington, DC.
Co-ChairsIndra K. Nooyi
David M. RubensteinStephen A. Schwarzman
Dr. Romesh and Kathleen Wadhwani
Presenting Underwriter
The HRH Foundation
Executive Council
Major support is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein.
Additional support is provided by the Trehan Foundation, Dr. Romesh and Kathleen Wadhwani,Amway Corporation, and RB Properties Inc.
International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of theKennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by The U.S. Department ofEducation, The President's Advisory Committee on the Arts, and The Clark Charitable Foundation.
Cuesheets are made possible by the U.S. Department of Education, AT&T, the Carter and MelissaCafritz Charitable Trust, James V. Kimsey, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Newman’s
Own Foundation, and Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. Stolwijk, and the Verizon Foundation.
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org
© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Cover photo: Ragamala Dance, Photo by Ed Bock
‘‘India is a geographical and economic entity,
a cultural entity, a cultural unity amidst diversity,
a bundle of contradictions held together by
strong but invisible threads.’’—Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister
Hallmarks of India’s Culture
‘‘A nation’s culture resides in the heart
and in the soul of its people.’’— Mohandas K. Gandhi, considered the father of the
Indian nation and worldwide icon of nonviolent protest
At the festival, you’ll experience India’s visual, wearable, culinary,
literary, cinematic, and performing arts (that means everything
from pottery to poetry, music to movies). Across this rich and
varied artistic landscape, you’ll find some notable characteristics:
� Melodic and Rhythmic Music—Strong
melodies backed by a drone (a note held
steady) rather than harmony and a wide
variety of complex rhythms
� Signature Instruments—Traditional
instruments include the sitar (a stringed
instrument, pictured here) and the tabla
(a pair of drums)
� Intricate Dance—Classical dancers move
the entire body (including facial muscles)
and use complex footwork to create
elaborate stamping rhythms
� Spirituality—Many classical dances and
art originate from religious worship
� Colors—fabrics, tapestries, and artwork
feature bright solid colors
� Cuisine—Fragrant and colorful spices
and distinct ingredients distinguish
cooking from India’s different regions
� Interrelated Arts—Sculptures might be of
dancers; films or puppetry often combine
spoken words, music, and dance