Schedule

Saturday, March 26, 2022
7–8 p.m. Performance
8 p.m. Conversation With Audience

Inspired by the resilience shown by artists during the pandemic, A Story, a Song, and a Dance tells the story of how we – as individuals, communities, and artists – face profound hardships, ultimately delivering a message of hope inspired by the Buddha’s message “from darkness to light.”

Transcending barriers of language, religion, and geography, this cross-cultural performance combines storytelling by African American actor Jean Donatto, flamenco by singer Irma La Paloma and guitarist Jeremy Garcia, Indian music by Houston violinist Abhishek Balakrishnan and percussionist Naga Srinidhi, and Indian classical dance by Rathna Kumar and members of her Anjali Dance Company.

The performance, which makes its world premiere at Asia Society Texas, will be followed by a conversation with the audience.

Credits

Concept and Choreography
Rathna Kumar

Storytelling
Jean Donatto

Flamenco Music
Irma La Paloma, Jeremy Garcia

Indian Music
Abhishek Balakrishnan, Naga Srinidhi

Indian Classical Dance
Rathna Kumar, Venugopal Josyula, and the Anjali Dance Company

Performing Arts and Culture programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Syamal and Susmita Poddar. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, and The Brown Foundation Inc. Generous funding also provided by AARP, The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, and Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Additional support provided by the Wortham Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Airlines, and through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center.

A Story, a Song, and a Dance is a Samskriti project made possible by a Groundwork Grant from Dance Source Houston, an Organizations Grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and partially funded by the Texas Commission on the Arts through its Art Respond Project Grant.

Performing Arts and Culture Presenting Sponsors

Syamal and Susmita Poddar

Official Airline Sponsor

Performing Arts and Culture Program Sponsors

Presenting Partner

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.