Ramayana’s Reverse Journey from New York to India

India’s iconic epic Ramayana has had many avatars across the world starting from its birthplace of India. Rarely though does Ramayana travel from America to India! This is for the first time American artistes are going to India to perform their version of Ramayana – a mix of several east and west dance styles and music. The cast has the many colors of America, from white to black and brown and all the songs and dialogues are in English – but the heart of Ramayana remains the same. Musical theater actors from the US including Jeff Brackett, Jonathan Power, Andrew Leonforte, and Giselle Bellas will fly to India for this collaboration.

 

New Jersey based Rimli Roy Founder and Artistic Director of Surati for Performing Arts is taking her dance drama to India presented by the International Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)- Govt of India. Surati’s original production Ramaavan- A Musical will be performing in 3 cities in India including Bengaluru.

A press conference and reception hosted by the Consul General at the Consulate gave guests an opportunity to see some of the performances live and meet some of the cast members who will be traveling to India.

Ramaavan is a labor of love developed over the years and it’s last showing was off-Broadway. Ramayan Transforms into Ramaavan – an Off-Broadway Musical

 

It is an evolving piece that showcases Indian classical dance and music alongside musical theater, opera, jazz and contemporary genres, After a successful opening in New York’s off-Broadway and several shows in Jersey City, Surati’s interpretation of Ramaavan has now been invited to perform in India. The cultural body of the Government of India at the forefront of cross-cultural exchange ICCR (International Council for Cultural Relations) will be hosting performers of Surati for Performing Arts from the US will workshop and present excerpts from the full production, together with artists in India.

During this tour, Surati will also scout for talented special needs children in India to train and include them in their artistic endeavors. It will be teaming with local non-profit organizations working with underprivileged and special-needs children in India. Surati has recently been recommended for funding by the National Endowment for the Arts for Ramaavan-A Musical for Musical Theater.

Rimli Roy and the Surati team have performed at the United Nations, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and now are homewards bound to share Ramaavan with the audiences in India.  An East-West collaboration!

https://www.suratifpa.org/