Rajika Puri News

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, announces partnerships with Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) and the American Dance Festival (ADF), and renews partnerships with the CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) and the New York State DanceForce, creating new platforms of support and professional opportunities for Bessie artists.

In celebration of her career as a dance critic, writer, dancer, choreographer and educator, From the Horse's Mouth will dedicate its next theater/dance performance event to Deborah Jowitt, whose lifelong accomplishments exemplify a storied career spanning more than 50 years.

Jiva Dance presents the World Premiere of The Four Horsemen on March 7 & 8, 2019 at 8pm and March 10, 2019 at 4pm at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002. There will be a post-show talk-back on March 8 with the choreographers Maya Kulkarni and Sonali Skandan, moderated by NYC Indian classical dance veteran and curator Rajika Puri. Tickets are General - $28 (Early Bird Until Feb 14) / $30 Advance / $35 Door Students and Seniors ($25 Early Bird Until Feb 14) / $28 Advance / $30 Door and can be purchased at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1004759.

Jiva Dance presents the World Premiere of The Four Horsemen on March 7 & 8, 2019 at 8pm and March 10, 2019 at 4pm at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002. There will be a post-show talk-back on March 8 with the choreographers Maya Kulkarni and Sonali Skandan, moderated by NYC Indian classical dance veteran and curator Rajika Puri. Tickets are General - $28 (Early Bird Until Feb 14) / $30 Advance / $35 Door Students and Seniors  ($25 Early Bird Until Feb 14) / $28 Advance / $30 Door and can be purchased at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1004759.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, announced today that Yoko Shioya, Artistic Director of the Japan Society, is the recipient of the 2019 Bessies Presenter Award for Outstanding Curating. Ms. Shioya will receive the award at the Bessies Presenters Gathering on Sunday, January 6, 2019 (5:00-7:00pm), at La MaMa La Galleria, 47 Great Jones Street, New York, NY 10003

The night remained forever young at this year's Bessies, what with live performances, videos, tearful and grinning thank you's, hugs and cheers for the new slew of winners, and a costume sashay thrown into wild mix of celebration that took place tonight, October 8, at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.  As a prelude to the goings-on inside, impromptu dance performances, including Simone Forti's "Huddle," took place outside.  Ayodele Casel and Shernita Anderson hosted the evening.

Glasses clinked and cheers crowded the air as this year's 43 Bessie nominees were announced and celebrated today, July 11, at a cocktail party/press conference at Gibney 280, along with the winners of 2018 Juried Bessie Award and the 2018 NY Dance and Performance Award for Outstanding "Breakout" Choreographer.  (See attached for list of selected nominees)

WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE announces the 7th annual presentation of Dancing the Gods Two-day festival at Symphony Space features leading exponents of two forms of Indian dance in evening-length performances accompanied by live music. Co-curated by Rajika Pur.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced the complete list of the 2017 award recipients tonight at the 33rd annual Bessie Awards ceremony. Awards were presented in the categories of Outstanding Production, Outstanding Revival, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition/Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design, with additional awards presented for Lifetime Achievement in Dance and Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance. The full list of 2017 Bessie Award recipients follows.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announce the lineup of special guests for the 33rd annual Bessie Awards. The ceremony, hosted by performance artist/entertainer Shernita Anderson and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer James Whiteside, will be held on Monday, October 9, at 7:30pm, at NYU's Skirball Center for the Arts. Doors open at 6:30pm for red carpet and pre-show celebrations.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the nominees for the 2016?17 season at the Bessies press conference. The nominees were selected by the Bessie Awards Selection Committee, an independent committee of 38 dance industry professionals. Bessie Award categories include Outstanding Production, Outstanding Revived Work, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition or Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design. The list of nominations follows. 

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, the Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced that the nominees for the 2017 Outstanding Emerging Choreographer Award are Lela Aisha Jones, Niall Jones, Will Rawls, and Kate Skarpetowska. The Bessies are also thrilled to announce that Abby Zbikowski will receive the 2017 Juried Bessie Award.

April 27-30, 2017 was a special limited engagement to celebrate the history and scope of Indian dance in America at the Theater at the 14th Street Y. The production is part of the a series of dances by the collective, From the Horse's Mouth, conceived and directed by Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham. This particular program was curated by Rajika Puri- an internationally acclaimed Indian classical dancer. The show was dedicated to the late Balasaraswati- a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer who was instrumental in making the South Indian classical dance style popular throughout different parts of India and around the world.

In celebration of the history and scope of Indian dance in America, From the Horse's Mouth will dedicate its next theater/dance performance event to this storied art form, including its early connections to Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Jack Cole, and the fascinating early Indian dancers in America Balasaraswati, Ragini Devi, Indrani, and many more. Live music will be included in this colorful tribute, curated by Rajika Puri, doyenne of Indian Dance in NYC.

In celebration of the history and scope of Indian dance in America, From the Horse's Mouth will dedicate its next theater/dance performance event to this storied art form, including its early connections to Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Jack Cole, and the fascinating early Indian dancers in America Balasaraswati, Ragini Devi, Indrani, and many more. Live music will be included in this colorful tribute, curated by Rajika Puri, doyenne of Indian Dance in NYC.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced the complete list of the 2015-16 season award recipients tonight at the 32nd Annual Bessie Awards ceremony. Awards were presented in the categories of Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition/Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design, with additional awards presented for Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance. The full list of 2016 Bessie Award recipients follows.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the host and presenters for the 32nd Annual Bessie Awards.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the nominees for the 2015-16 season. Scroll down for the full list!

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the host and presenters for the 32nd Annual Bessie Awards.

The Met invites visitors to step into the minds and creative practices of artists this Friday, September 9, from 5 to 9 p.m., during MetFridays: Artist's Choice at The Met Fifth Avenue.