MYSTIC INDIA: Bollywood Comes To Poway

Every now and then a show emerges that delivers such a spellbindingly sensory experience that audiences remain riveted long after the final curtain. Mystic India: The World Tour, is such a show, especially for those intrigued with Indian culture.

The Bollywood dance show traces India's transition from ancient culture into modern times, fusing dance, theatre, and special effects along the way. Created and choreographed by AATMA Performing Arts' founder Amit Shah, the show features musicians, dancers, aerialists, acrobats, and hundreds of opulent costumes. Audiences are introduced to the folk and tribal styles of such regions as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab and Gujarat.

More than half a million people have seen Mystic India: The World Tour since its inception in 2011. It has toured South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bahrain, China and the United States. The company has opened for Carrie Underwood in Las Vegas and performed at top venues including major casinos and performing arts centers. Mystic India is the first internationally touring Indian dance production headed by a USA-based dance company.

Shah, a native of New Jersey, has always considered dance his passion and remains loyal to his cultural roots. Developing Mystic India checked multiple boxes for the young artist, including choreographing a show blending East and West elements, and sharing his Indian roots with a broader audience.

"Mystic India started very organically," Shah explained. "I was in a village in India with my mom when I realized that Indian-Americans (Indians who live in the U.S.) have done a great job maintaining our culture. I felt very much at home in a country that I had only visited a couple times, because my parents did a great job teaching us how to juggle the best of both the eastern and western worlds."

"It was at the same time that I got a call from a producer in Europe who wanted to bring a show about India to Switzerland," he went on to say. "In a very short period of time, my team auditioned dancers, wrote the script, created the music, produced the costumes, only to realize that we made something pretty spectacular. Our intention was never to go on tour, but before the show in Europe, we decided that we should do a 'rehearsal' show in New Jersey. It was sold out and the response was unlike nothing we would have imagined. That show changed my life."

Audiences and critics alike have described Mystic India as more than just a show. It creates a full on, visually and culturally saturating experience, from its opening moments through the grand finale. Reviewers have called it "A true celebration of Bollywood cinema" (The Star Ledger), "Electrifying and immensely original" (New India Times), and "The Must-See Show of the Season!" (City and Shore Magazine).
At $45-$75, tickets for Mystic India: the World Tour, are on sale now at www.powayonstage.org and the box office at 858-748-0505. The 800-seat Poway Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15498 Espola Rd. at the corner of Titan Way in Poway. The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and two hours before curtain. Due to its generous sponsorship, GEICO Youth Tickets (for age 12 and under) are half off regular pricing. Discounts are available for seniors (65+), active duty military, and students (12-22). Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling the Box Office at 858-748-0505.

Poway OnStage, (a dba of The Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation), is a 28-year-old non-profit organization that offers professional performing arts events, including concerts, dance performances, theater productions, and a children's theatre series. The Foundation operates through a special partnership with the City of Poway and the Poway Unified School District.
Visit our website at www.powayonstage.org.