Holi! Kathak celebration in VT
I had the privilege of performing alongside my partner in crime and ultra-talented kathak danseuse, Veronica Simas de Souza, bringing Indian dance, music, and culture to my hometown of Brattleboro VT for the benefit of Planned Parenthood. It was an incredible evening of music, dance, color, and joy.
Holi is the Indian festival of colors which is celebrated on March 21st this year. It is a celebration of the arrival of spring, fertility, color, love, and the triumph of good over evil. It is the day when Lord Krishna and Radha played the game of Holi (throwing pigment powders on each other) to celebrate their love.
Simas de Souza and Charkey will perform dance and music associated with this festival. Ms. Simas de Souza, a native of Peru, lived in India for 12 years and studied Kathak, under Padma Shri Sunayana Hazarilal, a graceful North Indian classical dance form that emphasizes storytelling, complex rhythmic footwork, fast spins, and pantomime. Mr. Charkey, a native of Brattleboro who also lived and studied in India 6 years, under Padma Bhushan Dr. N. Rajam will perform Indian classical music on the cello.
The evening is a benefit for Brattleboro Planned Parenthood, one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Brattleboro Planned Parenthood offers compassionate care, backed by medical experts and more than 100 years of research in reproductive health.
118 Elliot is a modern, fully accessible arts and educational center in Downtown Brattleboro. Learn more at https://118elliot.com/calendar/holi-indian-dance-performance/
