Classical Indian dance performed Feb. 10 at Elizabethtown College

Bharatanatyam tells stories from Hindu literature in dance form

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Shohini Banerjee

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (01/15/2016)(readMedia)-- Bharatanatyam, a popular form of Indian classical dance that originated in southern India and was inspired by the depictions of Shiva Nataraja-Lord of the Cosmic Dance-at the famous Shiva temple at Chidambaram, will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Gibble Auditorium at Elizabethtown College.

One of four traditional schools of Indian classical dance, is complex gestures convey symbolic meaning, allowing the dancer to tell stories from Hindu literature in dance form. Every move the dancer makes, even the facial expressions, have significance. Though not all Bharatanatyam dancers are women, the overwhelming majority are.

Shohini Banerjee of Lititz, Pennsylvania, will perform Bharatanatyam in Gibble Auditorium. She is the daughter of Satyajit and Madhurita Banerjee, members of the Hindu community in this region. Shohini attends Warwick High School and is already, at her young age, a highly accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer.

She has studied under Rasmita Amin for the past 11 years -- since she was about four or five years old. A Bharatnatyam dancer is considered fully qualified once she has performed at a special graduation called arangetram. Shohini performed her arangetram in October, 2012!

Admission to the program is free. Contact Jeffery Long at longjd@etown.edu or 717-361-1507.

Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

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