Bala Devi Chandrashekar Comes to the Nimoy at Symphony Space

Bharatanatyam exponent and scholar BALA DEVI CHANDRASHEKAR will perform her dramatic solo 'KARNA - DESTINY'S CHILD,' the riveting story of one of the most powerful warriors, Karna, from the great Indian epic Mahabharatha. In a several centuries old traditional Indian classical dance style, Bharatanatyam, with interspersed English narration, the artist tells the story of Karna, his life and its trials, tribulations, and his eventual downfall. One performance only, Saturday September 23, 7 PM, at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street).

Ms. Chandrashekar has performed throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and India, and has just returned from a tour to England, Spain, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Singapore and India. Her recent performances inspired such accolades as "exquisite performance" from The Statesman, and "a moving experience" from The Hindu, both national Indian newspapers.

The hour, 15 minute solo is drawn from a character in Sanskrit literature, Karna, the eldest son of Kunti. Karna's fate through the story is marked by misfortune, social exclusion and a constant hunt for self-identity. In a 2016 interview with The Hindustan Times of New Delhi, Bala remarked: "Through this production, I wanted to explore the hues of Karna's emotions, trapped in the moral dilemmas he grew up with all his life. The story of Karna exhibits the qualities of friendship, charity and valour."

BALA DEVI CHANDRASHEKAR is a Bharatanatyam exponent, research scholar, and a passionately committed teacher of Bharatanatyam. She is recognized for her distinct scholarly style as she takes on subjects based on ancient texts, and her productions are based on intense research and collaborations with renowned scholars in the respective fields. Bala Devi hails from a family of literary scholars, and, through her classical dance, strives to interpret ancient philosophical and spiritual concepts that communicate across cultures.

The artist started her initial training under Guru Jayalakshmi Narayanan in Hyderabad, and later studied with Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam in Chennai. A devoted teacher, Bala imparts valuable knowledge to her dedicated students as Artistic Director of SPNAPA Academy of Performing Arts in Princeton, NJ. As a Professor of Practice, she also collaborates with Theater, Dance, History, Philosophy, Linguistic anthropology and South Asian Departments at various universities in the U.S., and has served as Fellow and Artist in Residence at The Carl A. Fields Center at Princeton University.

Bala is one of the few Bharatanatyam artists worldwide to have released six critically acclaimed dance DVD's based on her extensive knowledge and research.

Saturday September 23 at 7 PM
Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
Tickets: $30 ($26 in advance)
Reservations: 212.864.5400 or www.symphonyspace.org

www.baladevichandrashekar.com,