| The Triveni School of Dance, in
Brookline, Massachusets, was founded in 1971 by Neena Gulati, an acclaimed dancer
from New Delhi, India. Triveni is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
education and performance of Classical Indian dance, social awareness and the
celebration of cultural diversity.
Neena has 175 students ranging in
age from five to fifty-five. She teaches three forms of classical Indian dance:
Bharat Natyam from Tamil Nadu, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, and Odissi. Neena
and her students have brought the dance, music and storytelling of a culture
to thousands of people in New England. They perform in festivals, cultural events
and benefit performances throughout the year.
Indian classical dance began thousands
of years ago as the art of temple dancers. In this century it has become a performance
art outside of the temple and is respected throughout the world. Classical Indian
dance has two basic elements pure dance and expressional or narrative dance.
The pure dance incorporates each part of the body into an intricate rhythmical
pattern, building on the natural geometry of the body and the complex patterns
of Indian music. Expressional dance uses an intricate and stylized system of
gesture and facial expression to praise and tell the stories of the Gods and
Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon.
The Triveni Dance Ensemble consists
of Neena and her senior students. The company performs professionally throughout
New England.
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