The Dance Center and Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts present
She’s Auspicious by Mythili Prakash
Thursday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. (includes post-show discussion with the artists)
Friday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m. (includes pre-show reception with food and post-show dessert)
Friday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. (includes post-show dessert)
Tickets: Sept 26: General Public ($30), Elders & Non-Columbia College Chicago Students ($20) includes post-show discussion with the artists; Sept 27: VIP ($150) includes pre-show reception and post-show dessert with the artists, General Public ($50) includes post-show dessert with the artists.
Presented in partnership with Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, this full-length dance and music work features an all-female cast and blurs the lines between Goddess and Woman to explore the intricate interplay between goddess worship and the treatment of women in society. The Goddess/Woman paradox allows the unraveling of socio-cultural myths, stories, and values that are beautiful and personal, but simultaneously deeply rooted in systemic power structures.
As the dancer, I inhabit the character of the Goddess Devi, who is created by male gods, generated with their energy and weapons, and programmed to kill an army of demons. In doing this, I seek to embody and linger in psychological states that challenge the ideals of “restraint” that characterize femininity in both classical dance and in society. This mythical narrative becomes a mirror to our present day reality, connected to questions of power and agency, reflecting my own lived and observed experiences as a woman. – Mythili Prakash
Read Newcity’s Sharon Hoyer’s interview with Mythili Prakash on the origins and creative journey of She’s Auspicious - “Catharsis and Community: A Preview of “She’s Auspicious” at the Dance Center of Columbia College.”
Chicago Reader’s Irene Hsiao chooses She’s Auspcious among fall’s “Onstage front-runners”
Chicago Tribune’s Lauren Warnecke lists She’s Auspicious as a “ Top 10 dance for fall 2024 pick…”
Dance/choreography: Mythili Prakash
Vocal/veena: Ananya Ashok
Vocal: Susha Rangarajan
Percussion: Aswini Srinivasan
Dance ensemble: Jahnavi Kalyan, Nikita Rao, Jessica Sitaramya, Malini Taneja
Recorded contributors: Sushma Soma (vocal), Aditya Prakash (vocal and percussion), Sumesh Narayanan (mridangam)
Sound Engineer: Julien Le
Lighting: Venkatesh Krishnan
Production Manager: Matt Sanford
Rehearsal Director: Uma Kadekodi
Production Team
Sound Design: Aditya Prakash, Mythili Prakash, Sushma Soma
Music Production: Aditya Prakash
Lighting Design: Aideen Malone, Jennifer Cashman
Set Design: Mythili Prakash, Kaavya Matatova, Zak Macro
Technical Managers: Lars Davidson, Zak Macro
Project Manager: Jahnavi Kalyan
Agent: Cathy Pruzan
Mentor: Akram Khan
Images above: pictured Mythili Prakash from She’s Auspicious; photo by Maxime Dos
Support
The presentation of She’s Auspicious was made possible in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. This program is also supported by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.
