Final Week Remaining Before:

Janak Khendry Dance Company’s

KAAL – TIME 

Telling the extraordinary cosmic and modern story of time

part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps 

Choreographed by Janak Khendry, Music by Ashit Desai 

TORONTO, January 20, 2012 – Rehearsals are underway for the world premiere of KAAL – TIME, an innovative dance work that tells the extraordinary cosmic and modern story of time, presented by Janak Khendry Dance Company. Conceived and choreographed by Artistic Director Janak Khendry with music by India’s renowned Ashit Desai, KAAL – TIME runs January 26-28, 2012 at Fleck Dance Theatre as part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps series.

Kaal is the Sanskrit word for “time.” It is most appropriate that a work about time is presented in 2012. There are numerous beliefs that a cataclysmic or transformative event will occur this year. The Mayan’s 5,125-year-old calendar resets to 0.0.0.0.0, leading to endless dark prophesies; Nostradamus predicted massive destruction in 2012 as the result of a comet; according to Indian scriptures, we are in the age of Kalyuga (The Age of Darkness); and there are numerous other predictions about this significant year.

Based on three years of research of the ancient Indian scriptures – Rig Veda, Atharva Veda and Shveta Upanishad – and works of western physicists conducted under the guidance of eminent Vedic scholar Dr. Tulsiram Sharma, KAAL – TIME tells a fascinating story about the history of time: how time came into existence 14.9 billion years ago with the Big Bang; how galaxies, planets, elements, night and day cycle and seasons were created and, finally, how time comes to an end. KAAL – TIME is experienced in both a cosmic dimension and a modern perspective.

KAAL – TIME is performed by an ensemble of fifteen accomplished dancers who perform a myriad of dance styles ranging from classical Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi and other South Asian disciplines to western contemporary.

Janak Khendry, an internationally renowned classical dancer and choreographer, has trained extensively in five distinct dance styles: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, Sattriya and modern dance. Khendry’s distinguished dance career spans over 55 years and more than one thousand productions throughout the world. Khendry’s focus is to create dance works with a philosophical centre that have a universal message of import.

Khendry’s forte is in choreographing works based on philosophical subjects that have never been attempted as dance works, blending several different Indian classical dance styles and creating a new and powerful dance vocabulary. The strength of Khendry’s creative works lies in extensive scholarly research. With the passage of time his works have become even deeper in their philosophical approach, immersed with human concerns. His recent works have stressed messages of Non-violence, Self-discipline, Human-equality and Peace.

Now in its 33^rd year, Janak Khendry Dance Company is dedicated to creating unique philosophical and outstanding dance works for diverse communities in Canada and abroad. Company members travel internationally as Indo-Canadian Cultural Ambassadors. Recently, the company was invited to perform by the governments Myanmar, Mexico, South Africa and India; co-sponsored by the Canadian and Indian Embassies. In the last five years the company has performed in 32 cities in six countries.

Janak Khendry Dance Company presents the world premiere of

KAAL – TIME 

Choreographed by Janak Khendry, Music by Ashit Desai

Thursday, January 26 – Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8pm

part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps at

Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West

Tickets: $31.50-$38.50 (discounts for seniors, students, groups)

Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000

To Purchase Tickets Online Click Here

Media refer: Dianne Weinrib/Brendan Ross, DW Communications 416-703-5479 dw@dwcommunications.net

GANGA is a river,
GANGA is a goddess,
GANGA is the flow of life,
GANGA is a beautiful woman,
GANGA is the consort of the Gods,
GANGA is the life breath of its people.

GANGA is the perennial stream of existence arising from the mysterious source, storming, sparkling, flowing and calmly surrendering to the vast ocean.

GANGA is the symbol of purity and eternal cycle of life, one that pervades the Heaven, the Earth and the Underworld in Time and Space. According to Indian thinking, the divine consciousness manifests through Creation, Preservation and Destruction which is connected with three Supreme Gods – BRAHMA – the creator, VISHNU – the preserver and SHIVA – the destroyer. GANGA is the creation of all three Gods. The energy was started from the big toe of Vishnu, which was collected by Brahma in a Kamandal and given the form of a beautiful woman. Before GANGA descended on earth, she was held captive in the hair locks of Shiva and was charged with his energy.

Birth of Ganga (Kala Vageesan)

In Indian numerology and astrology number SEVEN plays a very important part. All the important episodes connected with GANGA are in number seven. When GANGA was born in heaven, she was worshipped by Sapta Rishi – Seven Sages – who represent seven rays of light. On her way to earth, in space GANGA was surrounded by Sapta Marut – Seven Winds. On earth GANGA splits in Sapta Sindhu – Seven Streams. On earth GANGA marries King Shantanu and gives birth to eight sons but kills Sapta Putra – Seven Sons because of a previous curse.

Adoration of Ganga by Sapta Rishi (Seven Sages)
(clockwise from centre top: Anthony Guerra, Ninthuja Nandesan, Chad Walesac,
Gauri Bharati, Sagana Mahendiran, Biplob Kar, Jeneta Rubaranjan)

Meeting of Ganga and Mahabhishekh in Heaven
(Kala Vageesan and Janak Khendry)

When Shiva graciously released Ganga from his locks, she came down to earth and divided herself into Seven Streams that have distinct characters and colours.

Farmers
(Taniya Papinazath, Reshmi Chetram, Sinthuja Jeyarajah and Mala Pisharody)

Farmers
(Mala Pisharody, Sinthuja Jeyarajah and Reshmi Chetram)

(Gauri Bharati, Reshmi Chetram, Divya Divakaran, Sinthuja Jeyaranjah, Sagana Mahendiran, Ninthuja Nandesan, Taniya Papinazath, Mala Pisharody, Hirrenya Rajasekeran and Jeneta Rubaranjan)

Audience Response to GANGA

“Brilliant choreography” “Outstanding performance” “Never seen anything like this before” “Feast of dance and colour” “Amazing beauty and formal perfection” “Truly inspirational” “Never experienced such complexity performed with such absolute grace” “The choreography, the dancers, music and message to human kind about protecting our environments was exceptional” “Spectacular visual display” “The choreographic presentation itself is classic” “Choreography was thrillingly beautiful, hypnotic and strikingly dramatic” “The presentation of Ganga was moving and absorbing experience with wonderful lighting”.

Creators of GANGA
Choreography: Janak Khendry
Research Advisor: Dr. Tulsiram Sharma
Music Composer: Ashit Desai
Lighting: Bradley Trenaman
Computer and Graphic Design: Eddie Kastrau
Publicity: Rupal Shah
Photo Credits: David Hou and Manpreet Sokhi (MansaPhotography)

Artists of GANGA

Kalaimanram of Canada has my gratitude for sharing its dancers.