DANCE COMPANY

The Silambam Houston Dance Company is the performing wing of Silambam Houston. Comprised of stellar performers trained to professional level in various Indian classical dance forms, the Company represents the fruition of collective decades of effort and dedication.

We are part of the Texas Commission on the Arts Texas Touring Roster! Support may be available to assist with our booking fees through the Arts Respond Performance Support grant program. This quarterly program provides support to Texas schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations for hiring an artist from the Texas Touring Roster to give a performance, residency, or workshop. These applications are funded based on a sliding scale ranging from 30% to 50% of contracted fees. Support is based on TCA’s available funds. Contact TCA at 512‐463‐5535 for more information.

In addition to the full-length works listed on this page, SHDC performs mixed rep works of various themes and lengths, tailored to the audience and presenter.

FULL-LENGTH WORKS

(60-120 minutes, can be condensed or excerpted. Click on each work to see video highlights) 

  • Kindred SOUL: The Legacy of King and Gandhi, presented by Silambam Houston in collaboration with the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra, is an exploration of the lives, work, and philosophies of two giants of the 19th and 20th centuries- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr - visionary leaders who galvanized millions to rise up against injustice and shattered the chains of oppression. The performance includes music from several genres of Black music tradition, including soul, jazz, blues, and ragtime, performed live by the SJCO, and interpreted through the centuries-old Indian dance tradition of Bharatanatyam - a versatile, expressive, rhythm-centric dance form rooted in the rich cultural heritage of South India.

  • The Baroque-Carnatic Connection is a cross-cultural exploration of the commonalities and distinct flavors of Western baroque and South Indian classical music and dance traditions. A vibrant and interactive live musical conversation between world-class Carnatic and baroque musicians provides an unique auditory experience, with a striking visual dimension added by professional South Indian classical (Bharatanatyam) and Baroque dance ensembles, embellished by period costumes and jewelry.

  • Waking Up Free: India's Journey is an original production is a 90-minute thematic presentation in Bharatanatyam (a classical dance form from southern India) that celebrates the journey of India - from the prosperity of pre-colonial times, through the advent of the British, colonization, the Independence movement, and the success and diversity of present-day India. Conceptualized and directed by Lavanya Rajagopalan, the production features choreography by award-winning dancer/choreographer Priya Murle (from Chennai, India).

  • Dance of the Cosmos

    Dance of the Cosmos celebrates the powerful imagery of Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer in Indian mythology, through four different Indian classical dance forms – grounded Bharatanatyam, fluid Odissi, dramatic Kuchipudi, and dynamic Kathak – which intertwine to represent the dance of destruction and of creation, the duality of man and woman, and each of the five elements (air, earth, water, fire, and ether) that are encompassed within Shiva’s being.

  • Chakravyuh: Battle Against The Odds

    A dance-theater presentation of a story of war, deceit, family feuds and maternal angst, from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata.

  • KĀVYA: A confluence of poetry, dance, and music that explores the universality of human sentiment.

  • MAYA is an Indian classical dance theater adaptation of the Shakespearean classic.

  • Krishna…? is a fresh look at a timeless and romantic hero of Indian mythology, through Bharatanatyam.

  • Shambhavam - A short thematic short Bharatanatyam performance that explores the concepts of Shiva, Natya (dance) and Laya (rhythm).

  • An exploration of one woman’s journey, viewed through the lens of the changing seasons, and through the classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Ballet

Archiving the ancient traditions of Indian classical arts

In addition to the creation of new artistic works with contemporary relevance, the Silambam Houston Dance Company is committed to preserving the ancient artistic traditions that form the foundation of all our programming. To this end, the Company is actively engaged in creating video, audio, and written documentation of classical Indian dance and music repertoire. Please contact us for more information, or to become involved in our archiving project.