2009 upcoming events Saturday, August 15 at 6pm Ambika Murali Arangetram (solo debut) Admission is FREE Elgin Community College 1700 Spartan Drive Elgin, IL 60123 Sunday, August 16 at 4pm Avani Miriyala Arangetram (solo debut) Admission is FREE McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage Fawell and Park Boulevards Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Wednesday, August 19 & Thursday, August 20, 2009 at Noon Katha (Legends) Choreographed by Natya's Founder and Artistic Director Hema Rajagopalan, Katha (Legends) is a piece for 16 dancers comprised of six short works, offering examples of both pure and expressional dance. Presenting a range of universal human values, including concern for the well-being of the Earth, Katha serves as a family-friendly introduction to Bharata Natyam. Admission is FREE Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park Michigan Ave. south of Randolph St. (Downtown Chicago) Information: www.millenniumpark.org; 312-742-1168 Saturday, August 22 at 3pm Vidya Govind Arangetram (solo debut) Admission is FREE McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage Fawell and Park Boulevards Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Sunday, August 23 at 3pm Vidya Visvabharathy Arangetram (solo debut) Admission is FREE McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage Fawell and Park Boulevards Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Saturday, August 29, Gala Reception at 5pm, Performance at 7:30pm Natya Performs in Dance for Life Chicago 2009, Hosted by Dean Richards Join Chicago's most renowned, talented and exciting dance companies for one spectacular, celebratory evening of dance - on one stage! Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago House, AIDSCare, Center on Halsted, and the Dance for Life Fund. The event is hosted by Dean Richards, Entertainment Critic and Reporter for WGN-TV, Chicago; National Cable Channel, WGN America and News Talk 720, WGN Radio. Participating companies include Natya Dance Theatre, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, and River North Chicago Dance Company. There will be a world premiere Finale by Randy Duncan, and a premiere by Harrison McEldowney that will feature the Natya Dance Theatre Company. Information and Tickets: www.danceforlifechicago.com, 312-922-5812 Harris Theater for Music and Dance 205 East Randolph Dr. Millennium Park, Chicago Thursday, September 10 at 12:15pm Discover Indian Dance! A lecture-demonstration by Natya Dance Theatre artistic director Hema Rajagopalan and members of the Natya Company. Admission is FREE Cindy Pritzker Auditorium Harold Washington Library Center (lower level) 400 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60605 www.chipublib.org Saturday, September 12 at 7:30pm Rhythms of Rahman Natya pays tribute to the music of Indian composer A. R. Rahman, winner of two Academy Awards© for his compositions for the film Slumdog Millionaire. This program will include selections from Rahman's full repertory of music, with choreography by Artistic Director Hema Rajagopalan, Associate Artistic Director Krithika Rajagopalan and the Natya dancers, illustrating the connections between the modern concept of "Bollywood" and its roots in classical Indian dance and music. $25; $15 students and seniors Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com (search "Natya") Cindy Pritzker Auditorium Harold Washington Library Center (lower level) 400 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60605 Information: bill@natya.com, 312-212-1240 Saturday, September 26 at 8pm Shakti Chakra - The Energy Cycle Choreographed by Natya Artistic Director Hema Rajagopalan, this signature work highlights the rhythm, geometry and beautiful story-telling power of the Bharata Natyam technique. $30 Tickets: www.northshorecenter.org; 847-673-6300 Centre East at the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts 9501 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 Saturday, October 3 at 7:30pm & Sunday, October 4 at 2pm Natya Dance Theatre Company performance $25; $15 students and seniors Tickets and information: bill@natya.com, 312-212-1240 Ruth Page Center for the Arts 1016 N. Dearborn Parkway Chicago, IL 60610 www.ruthpage.org Saturday, October 3 at 2pm Dance for the Whole Family! Join the Natya Dance Theatre Company for this family-friendly program, which will feature a performance and plenty of time for moving around! $25; $15 students and seniors Tickets and information: bill@natya.com, 312-212-1240 Ruth Page Center for the Arts 1016 N. Dearborn Parkway Chicago, IL 60610 www.ruthpage.org Thursday, October 3 Natya Dance Theatre Company performance Connecticut Details to follow. Saturday, October 17 Natya Dance Theatre Company performs Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy 1460 University Drive Winchester, VA 22601 www.su.edu Details to follow.