Artistic director Ritesh Das presents Legacy: Toronto Tabla Ensemble together with Chhandam Youth Dance Company in a tribute to Kathak legend Pandit Chitresh Das
Experience an evening of scintillating rhythms and footwork at the Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s latest presentation, Legacy, on Saturday September 19th at 7:00 PM. Taking place in the Brigantine Room at the Harbourfront Centre, this concert promises a display of the rich classical music and dance of India performed by a new generation of talent from Canada and the USA. This concert follows a recent return for the Toronto Tabla Ensemble to the Harbourfront Centre where its concerts were presented regularly to sold-out audiences for over a decade.
The event pays tribute to Pandit Chitresh Das, who tragically passed away of acute aortic dissection in January. Pt. Das was the Kathak dancer and teacher who was instrumental in establishing the art in North America. The concert title Legacy shows the relationship between Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s artistic director Ritesh Das, his late brother Pt. Das, and their parents Prohlad and Nilima Das who were the founders of Nritya Bharati Institution Kolkata in 1942.
In addition the event will mark the launch of Nritya Bharati Global, a institution promoting Indian and World art forms on an international level through education and cultural exchange. The institution will have its headquarters at the recently opened Toronto Tabla Ensemble Centre for Indian Arts where Tabla, Kathak, and Odissi dance classes are held.
Opening the evening is the elite pre-professional kathak dance troupe in the United States, Chhandam Youth Dance Company (CYDC). These young dancers were trained personally by Pandit Chitresh Das and are now under the guidance of Pt. Das’ senior disciples. CYDC has performed at San Francisco Symphony Hall, the 30th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, at San Francisco City Hall and at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India.
CYDC is a unique youth dance company in that it is also a leadership program. While members perform at prestigious festivals and venues, they are also advocates and rising young leaders in the arts – they participate in mentorship programs, community events and services, and in raising the profile of Kathak and classical Indian art.
The closing act will feature Ritesh Das’ iconic Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE). Active in Canada since 1991, the TTE has brought tabla into mainstream Canadian music receiving numerous accolades including a JUNO Award nomination. They have released six albums and performed in festivals across Canada as well as touring internationally.
In the past, the TTE has emphasized the versatility of the tabla through cross-cultural collaborations with Spanish Flamenco, Japanese Taiko, and Canadian rock ‘n’ roll. The Ensemble’s recent work instead reflects the traditional musical form focusing on the pure sound of the tabla. Over the years all TTE members have been selected from the Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s School of Tabla which has locations in Toronto, Scarborough, and Mississauga.
For more information and tickets, visit http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=7800&festival_id=0
or call 1-888-95-TABLA
Tickets $25 and $20 Student/Senior
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Press Contact:
Melissa Das-Arp
1175 Lansdowne Ave
Toronto, ON, M6H 3Z7
1-888-958-2252
