Celebrating The Wisdom Of Gandhi and King: A Must See Event

Published: Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 12:09 PM. Author Raj Pillai. View Original Article

The Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) is presenting an original thematic dance presentation called Ahimsa: The Path of Peace on October 6, 2007 at 3 PM at Tri-C Metro Theater. It is choreographed by Chaula Thacker, the award-winning artistic director of Nadanta, Inc., a Michigan-based dance group. Ahimsa is a tribute to the icons of nonviolence, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a re-affirmation of the critical role of nonviolence as a peaceful alternative in an increasingly chaotic and violent world.

Ahimsa utilizes Indian dance, music and a dialog between two fictional characters, Himsa and Ahimsa to highlight the conflict between violence and non-violence. The production includes performers from many different ethnic heritages all combining their talents to deliver the message of nonviolence embodied in Thacker’s unique and powerful choreography.

Key milestones in India’s independence struggle, such as the Amritsar massacre, and the Dandi salt march as well as the American civil rights struggle are portrayed using a blend of dance, multimedia images and spoken words (in English). The production also engages the audience at various times, resulting in a performance that adds immediacy and intimacy to the events.

Nadanta, Inc. is an award winning dance group based in Michigan. Chaula Thacker is its artistic director, and the creative force behind a series of unique dance-based presentations of Indian culture over the last 20 years. Programs such as Bharat 2000; Shiksha – Teachings of the Buddha; Megh-Dhanush – Six Seasons Of India; Saptapadi – Seven Steps Of An Indian Wedding; and, Nataraj – The Lord of Dance, have met with critical acclaim and solidified Nadanta’s position as one of North America’s premier Indian dance organizations.
The group has performed in several international cities, including Moscow, Leningrad, Copenhagen, and Sydney as well as in Spain, and Bali. The August 2005 world premiere of Ahimsa received critical praise in North American and Indian media. The PBS affiliate in Detroit, which has the North American broadcast rights to the show, plans to air an hour-long version in 2007.