SPEAK: TAP & UNITE MAR 22–24 / 7:30 PM

Ensemble Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Michelle Dorrance, Rachna Nivas, Rina Mehta Allison Miller, Drums and Composer Carmen Staaf, Piano Tabari Lake, Bass Jayanta Banerjee, and Composer Vaibhav Mankad, Vocals Satyaprakash ,

SPEAK: Tap & Kathak Unite at The Broad Stage made possible in part by a generous gift from Ann Petersen and a grant from the California Arts Council. There will be no intermission.

4 MAR/APR 2018 ABOUT THE SHOW ACT I

Indian Kathak dance and American Maya , continents and ages apart, A call to the warrior goddess and share parallel stories of struggle and Kali, the goddess of creative destruction perseverance. They come together in this sensational collaboration that is Sam Yug, Rina Mehta and Michelle rhythm, poetry, storytelling, music and Dorrance dance. SPEAK carries forward the legacy Kathak and Tap come together seamlessly of iconic artists like Chitresh Das, in this piece created in a rare 9.5 cycle Dr. Jimmy Slyde and James Buster Brown, while bringing to the forefront the voices ACT II of powerful female artists. Joined by , Rachna Nivas the world’s leading Indian classical and A traditional kathak piece highlighting jazz musicians, SPEAK promises to thrill, the dynamic movement and rhythmic provoke and move your spirit. compositions characteristic of Kathak CAST dance Kirwani, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards & Rina Mehta (Kathak) Michelle Dorrance Rachna Nivas (Kathak) Tap and meet and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards (Tap) get acquainted in this piece composed in Michelle Dorrance (Tap) Raag Kirwani Jayanta Banerjee (Sitar) Vaibhav Mankad (Vocals) Nirupana, Rachna Nivas and Rina Mehta Satyaprakash Mishra (Tabla) Kathak and Jazz meet and get acquainted Allison Miller (Drums) in this piece based on Kathak Yoga, a Carmen Staaf (Piano) technique that explores the layering of Tabari Lake (Bass) polyrhythms CREW Tap Solo, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards A traditional tap solo highlighting the Lighting Designer/ Technical Director: essence of Tap dance David Robertson Production Manager: Elka Samuels Smith ACT III Company Manager: Navneet Bal Chalan, Indian and Jazz Bands SPECIAL THANKS Hindustani classical music and Jazz music come together to create an entirely new Ann Petersen & Lesley Pam, sound and music The Esper A. Petersen Foundation One, Full Cast California Arts Council Kathak, Tap, Hindustani classical music Elka Samuels Smith, and Jazz weave together in this finale Divine Rhythm Productions exploring the concepts of difference and oneness

MAR/APR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 5 BIOS presentation. She specifically credits her teachers and mentors Paul & Arlene DORMESHIA SUMBRY-EDWARDS is a two- Kennedy for giving her the foundations to time Bessie Award winner (as performer succeed across diverse platforms. and choreographer), Princess Grace Award and Astaire Award winner for MICHELLE DORRANCE is a New York Best Female Performer in Broadway’s City based tap dancer, choreographer, After Midnight. Additional Broadway director and teacher, and the Founder/ credits include the Tony Award winning Artistic Director of Dorrance Dance. productions of Black and Blue and Bring In Mentored by Gene Medler, she grew up Da’Noise, Bring In Da’Funk. Dormeshia was performing with his North Carolina Youth integral to Noise/Funk’s International Tour Tap Ensemble and has since performed (dance captain/principal) and performed in ’s ti dii, Derick Grant’s ® as special guest for GRAMMY Recording Imagine Tap!, Jason Samuels Smith’s artist Fantasia, and for International Jazz Charlie’s Angels/Chasing the Bird, STOMP, Day at The Kennedy Center, collaborating company work with Manhattan Tap, with the legendary Al Jarreau and Dee Barbara Duffy & Co, JazzTap Ensemble, Dee Bridgewater. Rumba Tap; and original work by legends Film and TV credits include “TAP” with Dr. Harold Cromer and Mable Lee. , Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” Recent highlights include CBS’s The Late (Assistant Choreographer/actress), “The Show with Stephen Colbert; The Royal Rise and Fall of Miss Thang” (Best Lead Variety Show; a high-fashion short film Actress nomination), Superstars of Dance for Tabitha Simmons; collaborating and (representing the USA), Tops Commercial, performing with inspirations, Dormeshia and onscreen coach for MTV’s Made Sumbry-Edwards, Derick Grant, Toshi to name a few. Dormeshia was also the Reagon, Nicholas Van Young, Ephrat tap advisor for Dance Magazine and the Asherie, Damian Woetzel, Lil’ Buck, Bill face of Capezio’s national tap campaign. Irwin, Tiler Peck; and choreographing Choreography credits include Michael commissions for The Martha Graham Jackson’s Rock My World, The Cotton Dance Company and The Guggenheim Club’s Sophisticated Ladies, The Blues Museum. Project (co-choreographer/co-creator), and Jacob’s Pillow debut And Still You A 2017 Ford Foundation Art of Change Must Swing with leading collaborators Fellow and 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Jason Samuels Smith, Derick K. Grant and Michelle is humbled to have been Camille A. Brown (named The New York acknowledged/supported by United Times’ The Best of Dance 2016). States Artists, the Joyce Theater, New York City Center, the Alpert Awards, With over 30 years touring the world, she Jacob’s Pillow, the Princess Grace also spent 11 years as Michael Jackson’s Foundation, Crain’s New York, the Field, tap instructor. Throughout her career American Tap Dance Foundation and the Dormeshia has established high standards Bessie Awards. A passionate educator, for the art form of tap performance, Michelle holds a BA from New York choreography and instruction, where University, teaches on faculty at IFTRA, there is an emphasized balance of Broadway Dance Center and as a guest musicality, technicality, grace and

6 MAR/APR 2018 artist at universities, festivals and arts been funded by National Endowment for organizations throughout the world. the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation, She wishes to credit the master hoofers California Arts Council and Alliance for with whom she studied in her youth for California Traditional Arts. constant inspiration and influence. As Dean of the Chhandam School of Kathak, Rachna has also been RACHNA NIVAS is a leading artist, educator and activist in Indian classical instrumental in building one of the dance, bringing a relevant voice to Kathak. world’s premiere Indian arts institutions, Deemed “charismatic” and “revelatory” advancing a globally renowned pedagogy. She is artistic director of the Chhandam by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rachna is a fierce and passionate performer, Youth Dance Company, shepherding displaying the depth of her 17-year training excellence, leadership and creative under legendary master and icon Pandit discovery amongst teens. Rachna Chitresh Das. She is a founding artist of currently splits her time between San the Leela Dance Collective, an artist- Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City owned and artist-led arts organization, and Mumbai, becoming one of the producing powerful works through the most sought-after teachers of her collective creativity of trailblazing women generation. Rachna’s broader vision is to in Kathak. raise awareness, through kathak dance, of the rich philosophies of the Indian Rachna was principal dancer with the subcontinent, and for it to be a tool for Chitresh Das Dance Company for 15 empowerment and social change. years and received two nominations for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award while RINA MEHTA brings to the art form of performing worldwide in productions Kathak, classical dance of North , a such as Shiva, Sita Haran, Pancha Jati, singular voice and vision. An artist and an Darbar, Shabd and many more. Some of entrepreneur, she displays on and off the the most notable venues she has toured stage her depth of training with legendary include Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Kathak master, Pt. Chitresh Das, an in San Francisco, Cal Performances at UC unshakeable grounding in tradition and a Berkeley, REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/ pioneering spirit. Described as “regal” and Cal Arts Theater) and Getty Museum in Los “brilliant” by critics, her performances Angeles, National Center for Performing and artistic work are paving a path Arts in Mumbai, National Institute of forward for the legacy of Pt. Chitresh Das Kathak Dance in , Shaniwarwada and Kathak dance itself. Festival in Pune and International Kriya Rina is a founding artist of the Leela Dance Yoga Congress. Her original solo work, Collective, which brings together leading “Meera”, was featured at the ODC Walking artists from around the world to advance Distance Festival in San Francisco and at a collective vision for Kathak. Rina’s Salvatore Capezio Theater in New York original works include SPEAK, a kathak-tap City. Rachna is currently touring her collaboration; “Chandanbala”, the story of latest collaborative work, SPEAK, bringing the revered Jain saint interpreted through together leading women in kathak and tap the Kathak tradition; and “Son of the and bridging Indian and Black-American/ Wind”, the story of India’s mythological African art and heritage. Her works have hero, Hanuman, brought to life through

MAR/APR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 7 dance-drama. She has received funding ALLISON MILLER is a NYC-based to create and tour her works by such drummer/composer who engages her prestigious institutions such as the deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to National Endowment for the Arts, the explore all music. Described by critics as California Arts Council and the Zellerbach a charismatic and rhythmically propulsive Family Fund. drummer with melodic sensibility, Miller Prior to her work with the Leela has been named “Top 20 Jazz Drummers” Dance Collective, Rina was a principal in Downbeat Magazine. Her band, Boom dancer with the Chitresh Das Dance Tic Boom, is a 2014 recipient of Chamber Company, performing and touring with Music America’s “Presenter Consortium the company’s critically acclaimed for Jazz Grant” and is proudly sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. As productions including Shabd, Pancha a side-musician, Miller has been the Jati and Sita Haran across the United States and in India. She has received the rhythmic force behind such mainstream Alliance for California Traditional Arts artists as Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, Apprenticeship Grant and twice been Brandi Carlile, Toshi Reagon, the Meredith nominated for an Isodara Duncan Dance Vieira Show and Late Night with Seth Award for Company performance as part Meyers; and her jazz skills have been of the Chitresh Das Dance Company. embraced by everyone from organ legend She has performed at such prestigious Dr. Lonnie Smith and vocalist Patricia venues/festivals nationally and in India Barber to avant-garde trailblazer Marty as REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Ehrlich and Ben Allison. Arts Theater), Meany Hall for Performing “Boom Tic Boom has a razor-sharp Arts (University of Washington), the precision that recalls classic drummer- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, led ensembles of 50 years ago—the music UCLA’s World Festival of Sacred Music, of Art Blakey, Art Taylor and Max Roach Tata Theater/ NCPA in Mumbai and the come to mind—but Ms. Miller’s band Shaniwarwada Dance Festival in Pune, as works from a diverse sonic palette that a soloist and with the Chitresh Das Dance is unmistakably contemporary.” – Martin Company. Johnson (The Wall Street Journal.) Rina’s work is grounded in the belief that -“...Miller’s craftiness as a percussionist is Kathak dance can be a powerful tool met by her ingenuity as a composer and for empowerment and social change. group conceptualist.” -The New Yorker. She is the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright award and researched the SATYAPRAKASH MISHRA is the son effectiveness of Kathak dance education and disciple of critically acclaimed as a social intervention in underprivileged tabla artist, Pandit Kalinath Mishra of communities in Mumbai, India. Rina’s the Benares . Satyaprakash’s most ambitious initiative is The Leela versatility and range makes him a sought- Endowment, the first and only initiative of after accompanist amongst India’s most its kind, aimed at providing the financial renowned dance and music artists. He infrastructure necessary for dancers to has performed and toured nationally thrive and continue to advance India’s rich and internationally with the likes of artistic heritage. Pt. Chitresh Das, Padmashri Sunayana

8 MAR/APR 2018 Hazarilal, Padmashri Suresh Wadekar, with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Smt. , and Originally from Seattle, Carmen has played Anup Jalota. His performances have been throughout the United States and abroad featured at prestigious venues around at venues such as the Village Vanguard, the world such as the National Centre for Carnegie Hall, the Playboy Jazz Festival, Performing Arts (Mumbai), Yerba Buena International Jazz Day in Paris and many Center for the Arts (San Francisco) and others in Europe, Latin America and Green Music Center (Sonoma, CA). India. She was the winner of the 2009 A rising star, Satyaprakash is increasingly Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Pianist seen performing the tabla solo as well as Competition and recently her Standards the tabla jugalbandi (a duet performance Reimagined Sextet performed at the that features two soloists) with his father Litchfield Jazz Festival. in some of India’s most prestigious Carmen is a faculty member at the festivals including Saptak, Harrivallabh, Stanford Jazz Workshop and the Chakradhar, Kala Ghoda to name a few. An Litchfield Jazz Camp, and taught in the artist and entertainer alike, Satyaprakash’s Piano Department at Berklee College style is marked by technical prowess and of Music in from 2005-2009. sophisticated layakari on the one hand She also taught jazz piano alongside and accessibility and universal appeal on Dafnis Prieto and Ferenc Nemeth at the other. His performances and work aim Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music near to bring to the forefront the uniqueness Chennai, India. Carmen completed the of the Benares Gharana, a school of dual degree program at Tufts University tabla that emphasizes the instrument’s (BA in Anthropology) and New England raw power, its poetic potential and the Conservatory (BM in Jazz Performance) intricate relationship between dance and after deferring for a year to study music percussion. When he is not performing, in Cuba. Staaf recently recorded her new Satyaprakash is working as an educator, sextet album featuring kora master Foday training a new generation of students Musa Suso; the album is due out in the fall. in the art of tabla through classes and workshops. VAIBHAV MANKAD has trained under Agra Gharana tradition from Guru Shri Rajesh is a pianist and composer CARMEN STAAF Kelkar. He has completed Masters in known for her strength in a wide variety Hindustani Classical Vocal from Mumbai of musical settings; she has performed University. Vaibhav started performing everywhere from the Village Vanguard professionally at the age of 15 and has during John Zorn’s Masada week, to been performing with several renowned Lincoln Center as a guest soloist with artists like Pandita , Smt the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Nandita Puri, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shri with Wynton Marsalis, to recording as Rajendra Gangani and many more. He has an accordionist and vocalist on the performed in several countries which GRAMMY®-winning album “ Pecados y includes USA, UK, France, Sri Lanka, ” by Mexican singer Lila Downs. Milagros Oman, UAE etc. He also specializes solo Currently she is a fellow at the prestigious singing in Semi classical, Gazals, Sufi and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz devotional Music. In his illustrious career, Performance at UCLA, where she studies he has not only been performing but

MAR/APR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 9 also like a ‘Guru’ has been spreading the TABARI LAKE Born on the island of St. knowledge of Hindustani music through Thomas, US Virgin Islands, he began his his teachings. He has been teaching music musical exploration on the steel drums for 15+ years. Currently Vaibhav resides in the second grade. He came through in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He is currently the VI’s public school system playing the an artist-in-residence with the Leela clarinet and tuba, as well. In high school, Dance Collective, teaching music classes Tabari decided that the bass was the to students of the Leela Young Artists instrument for him and he pursued it as Academy and the Chhandam School of such. Tabari attended the Interlochen Arts Kathak. Camp during the summers of 2010 and 2011, where Rodney Whitaker introduced JAYANTA BANERJEE is an upcoming young him to the double bass. Tabari then Sitarist from Kolkata, India. He was born received a scholarship from Interlochen into a musical family in 1974 and started to further his classical and jazz studies at learning Sitar from Sri Amit Prosonno the academy from which he graduated in Mukherjee, Prof Santosh Banerjee, late 2012. Tabari received Bachelor degrees Pandit Robi Chakroborty and Dr Rajeeb in Performance as well as Contemporary Chakroborty. His Guru trained him with Writing and Production from Berklee and strict discipline and sincerity of purpose at his Masters in Contemporary Performance a tender age. He has given performances (Production Concentration) at Berklee in as a soloist and accompanist in the United Valencia, Spain. States, UK, Germany, Spain, Holland, Poland, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Tabari has performed with Terence Fiji, Malaysia, Hawaii and Bangladesh. Blanchard, Dion Parson, Dee Dee Jayanta has performed with some of the Bridgewater, Tia Fuller and Sting amongst world’s greatest Indian classical Dancers others. and Musicians: Pandit Chitresh Das, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Dr L Subharamonium, Pandit Rajan & Sajan Mishra, Pandit Kumar Bose, Pandit Swapan Chawdhuri, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Sabir Khan, Pandit Bhawani Shankar and Pandit Ramesh Mishra. He regularly accompanied Pandit Chitresh Das for his performances throughout India and tours with him internationally as well. In addition to being a sitarist, Jayanta is also a successful composer and arranger, having composed and arranged for many of India’s renowned musicians and dancers. Says Jayanta: “My approach to music is largely intuitive and spontaneous. My audiences feel good while listening and witnessing my performances and I feel fulfilled.”

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