NDT works can be customized for your particular needs, audience, space or budget. Also, English voice-overs precede each dance section, providing a full explanation for the stories for all pieces. Please contact the NDT office for more information.

Currently Booking Tour Dates for the Following:

• Shakti Chakra   The Energy Cycle
• Love Beyond Reach
• Margam: The Sacred Path
• The Flowering Tree (premieres at the Harris Theater of Music and Dance, March 2011)

Signature Works

• Shakti Chakra
• Margam: The Sacred Path

Productions that can be tailored for scale:

• Ahimsa: Toward Nonviolence
• Maryada Purasha Rama
• Manifestations of Siva
• Dance of Life
• Expositions of Rhapsody
• Rhythms Of Rahman
• Avatar: The Ten Incarnations

Contemporary and Story Based Works:

• Alakshaya: The Invisible Veil
• Inside/Outside
• The Flowering Tree (premieres at the Harris Theater of Music and Dance, March 2011)
• The Magic Ring
• Katha

Collaboarative Works:

• Ritu: The Four Seasons
• Encountering the Other
• Amma

Ahimsa: Toward Nonviolence

Premiere: 1999, Triton College Performing Arts Center, River Grove, IL
A compelling work that synthesizes traditional and contemporary dance techniques and movements to examine the pain that we inflict on others, sometimes unknowingly. Hailed as a "triumph" and "superb" by The Chicago Reader, this evening-length dance theater work focuses on humankind's struggle against violence while striving toward peace. Through all these struggles, Asha or "hope" is portrayed as self-confidence, inner strength and faith. NDT received a 2003 Chicago Dance Award for Ahimsa, marking the first time an Indian company had ever received this prestigious award.
Critic's Choice, Chicago Reader2003 CHICAGO DANCE AWARD

Alakshaya: The Invisible Veil

Premiere: March 2007, The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Alakshaya asks the question, "Are we in control of our desires or are desires in control of us?" Using the traditional movement vocabulary of Bharata Natyam, the piece invites the audience to react to such contemporary realities as genocide, terrorism and war. An original musical score integrates classical Indian ragas and Western jazz music. Natya was the first Indian company ever presented as part of the season at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.

Amma

Premiere: 1997, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL
Developed in collaboration with Hedwig Dances, Amma explores the relationship of immigrant mothers and their daughters here in the United States. This critically acclaimed production for seven dancers follows the journey of the immigrant mother and daughter into a world that is foreign yet becomes home, to foster understanding and appreciation of everyone's cultural experiences in a new world. 
Critic's Choice, Chicago Reader

Avatar: The Ten Incarnations

Premiere: 1982, McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Experience a dance performance that explores divinity manifested as avatars or incarnations to pursue righteousness at various stages in human evolution. According to Hindu theology, Vishnu the creator takes the form of a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a man-lion and other forms to restore righteousness or dharma. The tenth avatar, Kalki, has yet to appear among us, and the mystery of the life cycle continues.

Dance of Life

Premiere: 1986, commissioned to commemorate the World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago

In this dance theater work, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism converge and travel the same path, leading to one destination. Stories from each philosophy are depicted and all are shown in harmony with the world. Lyrics in different Indian languages are set to music from diverse genres.

Expositions of Rhapsody

Premiere: 1985, North Central College, Naperville, IL
An innovative evening-length work of visual poetry.

Inside/Outside

Critic's Choice Award, Chicago Reader
Premiere: October 2004, McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Innovative and thought-provoking, Inside/Outside takes audiences on a journey through five evolutionary stages of human experience: contact, experience, reflection, arrival, and return. Complex emotions and experiences couple with diverse contemporary movements and music as the work unfolds. Hema Rajagopalan developed original movement vocabulary through an exploration of the charis, a 3,000-year-old system of movements that reveals both the roots of Bharata Natyam and its most contemporary-looking aspects. In contrast with more traditional Indian works, Inside/Outside is performed to music that is without lyrics.

Katha

Premiere: Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL
A family performance with 3-10 dancers that engages children of all ages.  Natya brings to life the legends and history of India with dance and demonstration under the able guidance of the Sutradhara (storyteller).  This 1hour and 15 minute performance, geared specifically for parents and children has toured widely and bring a wonderful experience of Bharata Natyam to all. 

Love Beyond Reach

Premiere: October 2007, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago
Love Beyond Reach celebrates 60 years of India's independence by theatrically fusing Bharata Natyam and Kathak, two of the classical dance forms of India. Led by NDT principal dancer Krithika Rajagopalan, members of the NDT Company explore the eternal saga of love in its myriad forms, through rich expression and dynamic footwork.

Magic Ring

Premiere: McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
This two hour evening length production is an adaptation of Kalidasa's Shakuntala.  The story of King Dhushyanta and Shakuntala's love for each other unfold as the much loved gift of the king - The Ring is lost.  This production has over 15 dancers, plus a community cast of up to 50, with recorded music and a voice over that allows the audience to know exactly what is happening in the story. 

Manifestations of Siva 

From the many episodes of The Sivapurana, narrations are woven into a fabric of movement and expression that portray how Siva intervenes on behalf of what is right.

Margam: The Sacred Path

Premiere: April 2006, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, IL
Performed by the full NDT Company, Margam: The Sacred Path transforms this traditional solo performance form into an evening concert that fuses music, poetry of different languages to explore the different forms of love and the quest for ultimate truth. Based on the repertoire of a traditional Bharata Natyam solo performance, Margam invites the audience into a sacred space by means of an invocatory dance. The main piece, as in any Bharata Natyam repertory, is a virtuosic solo known as Varnam, which means "colors.," followed by several expressional dances that operate as visual poetry. The final section is a tillana, a high-energy group finale of pure dance.
Critic's Choice, The Chicago Reader

Maryada Parusha Rama

Premiere: 1978, Museum of Science and Industry Auditorium, Chicago, IL
Based on the Indian epic, Ramayana, Maryada Parusha Rama brings to life the idealistic, righteous acts of Rama's life on Earth as a king. This dance work follows the story of Rama the prince as an avatar or incarnation of the god Vishnu, as Rama journeys on the quest from banishment to redemption. Ultimately, righteousness prevails and Rama is crowned king.

Rhythms Of Rahman

Premiere: September 2009, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, IL  

This high energy evening is a series of works in 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 includes 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.

Ritu: The Four Seasons

Premiere: April 2005, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, and North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL
A tribute to Mother Nature, this tale of romantic love depicts jealousy, separation, and final union. The changing seasons affect the inner emotions of the lovers. The vibrant spring makes the birds sing and inspires the lovers to unite, but the cold winter dulls their moods and their hearts seem frozen like the fish in the pond. Based on the twelfth-century poem, Gita Govindam, by Jayadeva, this work features Bharata Natyam and Kathak, two of the great dance forms of India.

Shakti Chakra   The Energy Cycle

Premiere: 1995, McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL 

In this breathtaking program, NDT's signature work, nine dancers interpret stories from Hindu mythology through movement and expression, metaphorically exploring humanity's place in the cycle of creation and destruction. The work is structured in sections to represent the six evils, Lust, Desire, Greed, Pride, Anger and Jealousy as obstacles in the spiritual evolution of man. Accessible yet artistically crafted, each story is preceded by a narrative summary using English voice-over and movement, bridging for audiences this interpretive portrayal of the relationship between humanity and divine forces.
Critic's Choice, Chicago Reader