Watch: Stars of New York City Ballet, Indian Kathak Dance, and Chinese Kunqu Opera Share Stage | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Arts
    • Asia Society Museum
      • Visit
      • Exhibitions
      • Programs
      • Learn
      • Support
    • Arts & Museum Summit
    • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • About
      • Honorees
      • Ceremonies
      • Photos
      • Support
    • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • Resources
      • Exhibitions
      • Videos
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Performing Arts
  • Education
    • Center for Global Education
      • Professional Development
      • Educator Resources
      • Our Ideas
      • Asia Society at Home
      • Education For Equity
      • About
  • Policy
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Topics
      • Regions
      • Events
      • About
      • Support Us
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Initiatives
    • Arts
      • Arts & Museum Summit
      • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
      • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • U.S.-China Museum Summit
      • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
    • Education
      • Center for Global Education
      • China Learning Initiatives
      • Global Cities Education Network
      • Global Learning Beyond School
      • International Studies Schools Network
    • Leadership
      • Asia Game Changer Awards
      • Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative
      • Global Talent Initiatives
      • U.S.-China Dialogue
    • Policy
      • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Center on U.S.-China Relations
    • Sustainability
      • Coal + ICe
  • Countries & Regions
    • Column One
      • Afghanistan

      • American Samoa

      • Armenia
      • Australia
      • Azerbaijan
      • Bahrain
      • Bangladesh

      • Bhutan

      • Brunei

      • Cambodia

      • Central Asia
      • China
      • Cook Islands

      • Cyprus
      • East Asia
      • East Timor
      • Fiji

      • French Polynesia

      • Georgia

      • Guam
    • Column Two
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kiribati
      • Kuwait

      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Laos
      • Lebanon
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Marshall Islands
      • Micronesia

      • Mongolia

    • Column Three
      • Myanmar

      • Nauru

      • Nepal

      • New Caledonia

      • New Zealand

      • Niue
      • North Korea

      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman

      • Pakistan

      • Palau
      • Palestine

      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar

      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore

      • Solomon Islands

    • Column Four
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey

      • Turkmenistan

      • Tuvalu
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vanuatu
      • Vietnam
      • Wallis and Futuna
      • West Asia
      • Yemen
  • Current Affairs
    • Topics
      • Business
      • Environment
      • Governance
    • Programming
      • Beyond the Headlines
      • Business of Asia
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Look & Listen
    • Asia Blog
    • ChinaFile
    • Podcasts
    • Video Gallery
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Visit
    • Visit Us
      • Hong Kong
      • New York
      • Texas
    • Global Network
      • Australia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Northern California
      • Philippines
      • Southern California
      • Switzerland
      • Washington, DC
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Mission & History
    • Co-Chairs and Trustees
    • Senior Leadership
    • Global Staff
    • Experts & Fellows
    • Global Council
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Financial Statements
    • For the Media
      • Press Releases
  • Support
    • The Campaign for Asia Society
    • Corporate Engagement
      • Business Council
      • Global Talent and Diversity Council
      • Rising Executives Network
      • Enhancements to Membership
      • Corporate Membership
      • Global Corporate Leaders
    • Membership
    • Donate
ASIABLOG
Search
Search
  • Arts
    • Asia Society Museum
      • Visit
      • Exhibitions
      • Programs
      • Learn
      • Support
    • Arts & Museum Summit
    • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • About
      • Honorees
      • Ceremonies
      • Photos
      • Support
    • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • Resources
      • Exhibitions
      • Videos
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Performing Arts
  • Education
    • Center for Global Education
      • Professional Development
      • Educator Resources
      • Our Ideas
      • Asia Society at Home
      • Education For Equity
      • About
  • Policy
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Topics
      • Regions
      • Events
      • About
      • Support Us
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Initiatives
    • Arts
      • Arts & Museum Summit
      • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
      • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • U.S.-China Museum Summit
      • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
    • Education
      • Center for Global Education
      • China Learning Initiatives
      • Global Cities Education Network
      • Global Learning Beyond School
      • International Studies Schools Network
    • Leadership
      • Asia Game Changer Awards
      • Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative
      • Global Talent Initiatives
      • U.S.-China Dialogue
    • Policy
      • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Center on U.S.-China Relations
    • Sustainability
      • Coal + ICe
  • Countries & Regions
    • Column One
      • Afghanistan

      • American Samoa

      • Armenia
      • Australia
      • Azerbaijan
      • Bahrain
      • Bangladesh

      • Bhutan

      • Brunei

      • Cambodia

      • Central Asia
      • China
      • Cook Islands

      • Cyprus
      • East Asia
      • East Timor
      • Fiji

      • French Polynesia

      • Georgia

      • Guam
    • Column Two
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kiribati
      • Kuwait

      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Laos
      • Lebanon
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Marshall Islands
      • Micronesia

      • Mongolia

    • Column Three
      • Myanmar

      • Nauru

      • Nepal

      • New Caledonia

      • New Zealand

      • Niue
      • North Korea

      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman

      • Pakistan

      • Palau
      • Palestine

      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar

      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore

      • Solomon Islands

    • Column Four
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey

      • Turkmenistan

      • Tuvalu
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vanuatu
      • Vietnam
      • Wallis and Futuna
      • West Asia
      • Yemen
  • Current Affairs
    • Topics
      • Business
      • Environment
      • Governance
    • Programming
      • Beyond the Headlines
      • Business of Asia
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Look & Listen
    • Asia Blog
    • ChinaFile
    • Podcasts
    • Video Gallery
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Visit
    • Visit Us
      • Hong Kong
      • New York
      • Texas
    • Global Network
      • Australia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Northern California
      • Philippines
      • Southern California
      • Switzerland
      • Washington, DC
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Mission & History
    • Co-Chairs and Trustees
    • Senior Leadership
    • Global Staff
    • Experts & Fellows
    • Global Council
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Financial Statements
    • For the Media
      • Press Releases
  • Support
    • The Campaign for Asia Society
    • Corporate Engagement
      • Business Council
      • Global Talent and Diversity Council
      • Rising Executives Network
      • Enhancements to Membership
      • Corporate Membership
      • Global Corporate Leaders
    • Membership
    • Donate

Watch: Stars of New York City Ballet, Indian Kathak Dance, and Chinese Kunqu Opera Share Stage

July 21st, 2015
Performers Qian Yi, Chinese kunqu opera star; Parul Shah, celebrated performer of India’s kathak dance; and Wendy Whelan, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet share the stage at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Parul Shah at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Parul Shah at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Qian Yi at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Qian Yi at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Wendy Whelan at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Wendy Whelan, Parul Shah, Qian Yi, and Asia Society’s Director of Global Performing Arts Rachel Cooper share a discussion at Asia Society New York on June 24, 2015.  (Elsa M. Ruiz)
Enlarge Hide captions

Renowned former ballerina Wendy Whelan, explosive dynamo Indian Kathak dancer Parul Shah, and effervescent Kunqu opera star Qian Yi came together on stage in New York last month to explore the connections of their performing arts forms. The program took place as part of Asia Society’s annual Viewpoints series, which highlights new ideas in the creative world.

Each of the three performers represented a rich classical tradition. Ballet is the quintessential Western classical dance form; Kathak is one of eight classical forms of Indian dance which originated with Sanskrit storytellers in ancient India; and Kunqu opera, one of the oldest forms of classical Chinese opera, combines dance, music, and theater. Each form incorporates rigorous physical training, requires incredible aestheticism and aesthetic understanding, and embodies the history of power in its respective culture over hundreds of years.

For the program, the three performers each gave demonstrations of their respective forms, including two presentations of exquisite footage featuring Qian and Whelan in Slow Dancing, a video installation by photographer and videographer David Michalek. The demonstration finale included all three performers on stage together.

Viewpoints: Classical Connections explored aesthetic beauty, the female form, and innovation as manifested across cultures: from Qian’s serious performance and humorous anecdotes, to Whelan's rendition of the 18th century French courtiers putting on airs and stuffy walks in well heeled feet that was the precursor of ballet, to the Persian influence of the Mughal Court where the dynamic Kathak dance was born.

The three women who shared the stage have shaped the dance world and now use their art to redefine dance. For those who might have wondered how their dance forms could ever be related, it became clear in their strict classicism, rigorous technique and aesthetic language.

The program was followed by a patron dinner, where the conversations continued. Attendees included choreographer Shen Wei, dancer Rajika Puri, and American Dance Festival Founder (and 1960 curator of performing arts at Asia Society) Charles Reinhardt, capping off an evening in which the history of the Asia Society’s work in the world of dance was vividly on display. 

Video: Watch the full program (1 hr., 23 min.)

Related Links

  • Viewpoints: Classical Connections
arts
dance
dance
performing arts
wendy whelan
qian yi
parul shah
rachel cooper
china
india
asiablog
david michalek
about partners subscribe

About the Author

Profile picture for user Rachel Cooper

Rachel Cooper is Director of Cultural Diplomacy at Asia Society.

Rachel Cooper is the Director of Culture as Diplomacy initiative at Asia Society, a global not-for-profit institution devoted to building bridges of understanding across policy, arts and culture and education.   She is widely recognized as a leader in arts and culture and was the head of Asia Society’s renowned performing arts and cultural programs department for 27 years prior to taking this new position. She has produced and toured over 600 performances and developed new collaborative projects between Asia and the United States. She is a fierce advocate for the live arts and the artists who create in real time on a spectrum across definitions, from contemporary to traditional, from culturally specific to globally inclusive.   Some of the major projects she has helped create include New Voice in Screenwriting Fellowship, India, Dance the Spirit of Cambodia, Creative Voices of Muslim Asia, and NY City-wide Muslim Voices: Arts and Ideas Festival, Crossovers: the Performances of Asia America; Festival of Song; India Pakistan. She has worked with a wide range of artists – from hip hop to classical, from those based in heritage to the most experimental, including Yin Mei, Malavika Sarrukai, Bun Ching Lam, Yoyo Ma, Vijay Iyer, DJ Spooky; Shahram Nazeri, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Meryl Streep among many others.  Culturally  traditional performanceshave included Korean Chindo Sikkim Kut, Indonesia’s Court of Yogyakarta, Burmese Saing Waing.Asian American artists such as Ma-Yi Theater, Keo Woolfrod, Roberta Uno, Jon Jang, Brenda Wong Aoki, Mark Izu, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Parul Shah, among others.

Cooper’s work focuses on process, cultural context, and relationship, exploring the connections between arts, culture, community and contemporary society. She is a frequent participant at major conferences and a commentator in the media from CNN to the NY Times. She has also served as an advisor or panelist for major international projects and institutions in the United States and Asia, including the Smithsonian Institutions, including the One Shared World, National Endowment for the Arts, US State Department, CenterStage ,Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts, Aga Khan Music Initiative, Jaipur Literary Festival, among others.

Cooper received the Global Citizen Diplomacy Award for Best Practice in the Arts Award, Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence from the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Manhattan Award for Preserving Cultural Diversity in New York City, and a Rockefeller MAP award for choreography. From 1989-1993, she directed the Festival of Indonesia In Performance, bringing over 200 artists from Indonesia on 12 different tours across the United States.  She serves on the boards of Cambodian Living Arts, American Indonesian Cultural Foundation. Cooper is the co-founder and former director of the California-based Balinese music and dance company, Gamelan Sekar Jaya in1979. She lived in Indonesia from 1981-88. She studied at UCLA in World Arts and Cultures and Dance Ethnology.

Rachel Cooper directs the Culture as Diplomacy Initiative at Asia Society as leader in global culture.  Cooper’s explores the connections between culture and contemporary society. She is a frequent participant at major conferences and a commentator in the media addressing Asian performing arts, international arts exchange, and cultural diplomacy. She served as advisor and panelist for major institutions, including the  US State Department CenterStage, Duke Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, NEA, Aga Khan Music Initiative.

Cooper has received numerous awards including Borough of Manhattan Award for Preserving Cultural Diversity, a Global Citizen Diplomacy Award for Best Practice and Award for Sustained Programmatic Excellence from APAP. She directed the Festival of Indonesia InPerformance, bringing over 200 artists from Indonesia on 12 different tours across the United States. She did her undergraduate and graduate studies at UCLA in World Arts and Cultures and Dance Ethnology. Cooper conducted research in Indonesia from 1983-1988.

 @rachelanncooper

Contents

  • Arts
  • Business
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • Food & Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Multimedia
  • Policy

Featured Posts

Suharto
Q&A: Vincent Bevins on How Indonesia’s Anti-Communist Campaign Shaped the Modern World
Doctors treat a patient infected with COVID-19
A Pulmonary Physician on What It's Like To Treat COVID-19 Patients
A scene from Never Have I Ever
'Never Have I Ever' Star Poorna Jagannathan on Saying No to Roles Portraying Indian Caricatures
Alan Yang Asian In-Depth
Asia In-Depth Podcast: A Conversation With Writer and Director Alan Yang
Facebook
We Know Asia,
Get to Know Us

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC