Multimedia: Sutra Dance Theater Brings a Timeless Love Story to Vivid, Kinetic Life

Malaysia's Sutra Dance Theater presented "Krishna: Love Re-Invented" at Asia Society New York on November 6 and 7, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Ramli Ibrahim (L) and Geethika Sree (R) as two devotees on Nov. 6, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Members of Sutra Dance Theater onstage at Asia Society New York on Nov. 6, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Ramli Ibrahim (top) and members of Sutra Dance Theater at Asia Society New York on Nov. 6, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Jagatheyswara in the role of Krishna at Asia Society New York on Nov. 6, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
The members of Sutra Dance Theater take a collective bow at Asia Society New York on Nov. 6, 2014. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
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NEW YORK, November 6-7, 2014 — Led by internationally known choreographer/dancer Ramli Ibrahim, Malaysia's Sutra Dance Theater presented two performances of Krishna: Love Re-Invented, a new interpretation of the love between the Hindu deity Krishna and Radha, his human devotee, on Asia Society's stage. Ibrahim's program notes accompanying the performances offer some helpful context:

The moods, feelings, and emotions of this love affair — and embodiment of Rasa (highest emotional state) — become a sublime allegory expressing and affirming the highest love the individual soul has for God. In this manner, love is able to transcend many levels and is "re-conceived" and "re-invented" to accommodate our real, imagined, and fantasized desires.

Watch the complete performance, along with Ibrahim's post-show dialogue with Asia Society Director of Global Performing Arts and Special Cultural Initiatives Rachel Cooper, below.

 

Related Links

Download the program notes (PDF)
Asia Blog interview with Ramli Ibrahim
Malaysian dance icon steals hearts in New York’s Asia Society (The Star, 11/8/14)

 

Video

Krishna: Love Re-Invented (complete performance) (1 hr., 16 min.)

Post-show Q & A with Ramli Ibrahim (22 min., 3 sec.)

Sutra Dance Theater's performances at Asia Society were supported in part by Rajika and Anupam Puri. Major support for performances at Asia Society is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helen and Will Little, and the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.