The Table Sessions: Sattriya Dance Company

MAY 2, 3, and 4 at 7 PM

Trinity Center for Urban Life

2212 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Stories are our connection to our ancestors and our descendents.  They transform us, transport us and inspire us. Join sisters-in-law Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan of Sattriya Dance Company as they weave together the personal and the mythological into an entirely new tale. This powerful evening of live music, movement, and images draw from Sattriya, a living dance tradition that originates from the Hindu (Vaishnav) monasteries of Assam, Northeast India that are now threatened by rising river waters. Experience a rich tapestry of emotions woven through intricate choreography and evocative melodies as the women spin the legacy of generations into a hope for the future. Your ticket for the evening includes dinner from Chef Babi Borah of Chef BB’s Kitchen.

Getting There

Please note: Street parking is extremely limited near the venue. The closest parking garages are located at 2401 Walnut Street and 1912 Walnut Street, and both are about a 6-7 minute walk from the venue.

The venue is within one block of stops on bus routes 7 and 12, and about an 8-10 minute walk from the 22nd Street Trolley Portal.

ABOUT SATTRIYA DANCE COMPANY

Sattriya Dance Company (SDC) is a labor of love for sisters-in-law Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan. SDC seeks to preserve, present, and promote Sattriya—a 550+ year old sacred ritualistic dance and music tradition originating from the Vaishnav monasteries of Assam, India. Rooted in the principles of social justice, SDC uses Sattriya as an agent of change, spreading messages of peace, equality, love, and universal kinship, while also creating inclusive spaces that allow for conversations, deep investigations, learning, connecting, and healing. SDC offers private classes and workshops to a diverse age range, from children to senior citizens, and we are available for ritual performances that appeal to contemporary and diverse audiences in both private and public venues.

Learn more about at www.sattriyadancecompany.com and on Instagram.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Madhusmita Bora is an Assamese American dancer, teacher, writer, filmmaker and cultural producer. She grew up to the rhythms of Sattriya practiced routinely in her village prayer hall in Assam. She made her debut as a performer before she turned four, dancing at her village temple for the annual raax festival, dedicated to Lord Krishna. She curated and produced the first U.S. tour of The Dancing Monks of Majuli, and is the director and producer of Dancing the Divine, a documentary on Sattriya. Madhusmita’s awards include a Pew Center for Arts and Heritage Grant, Leeway Foundation’s Transformation Award and Art & Change Grants, the Nritya Saradi Award, the IIDF Award, and awards from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  Performances include The Library of Congress and Indian Embassy in Washington DC; Symphony Space, Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, 14th Street Y,  New York University in New York City; Nehru Centre London; Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre in Mexico City; India Habitat Centre New Delhi, and Kalaghoda Festival, Mumbai.

Find Madhu on Instagram and Facebook.

Prerona Bhuyan was introduced into the world of dance by her mother. She has studied Sattriya under the guidance of multiple masters, as well as contemporary movements with Santosh Nair, Jazz at Danceworx and yoga with Navtej Johar’s Studio Abhyas. Prerona is an empaneled artist with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Prerona is also a producer with Folk Beats, a music production company dedicated to promoting and preserving Assamese folk music. She has worked on a documentary film “Borgeet- Eti Dhrupad Sampad” by National Award winning film critic, Utpal Dutta, based on borgeets written by Srimonto Sankardev and Madhavdev. Prerona has presented Sattriya all across India and abroad in the USA, UK, Mexico and Singapore, and has received the National Nritya Shiromani Award, the IIDF Award, and awards from Nritya Jyoti Puraskar and Nritya Pratibha Puraskar. She divides her time between the USA and India for the cause of promoting Sattriya.

Find Prerona on Instagram.

What is a Table Session?

It's a gathering. A place of exchange. A time to be still and listen or get up and dance. To eat delicious food. To connect with other people about art, food, and life. Intercultural Journeys brings artists and audiences around the table to share a performance, meal, and conversation as we work to rekindle our connections to one another.

Lead support for The Table Sessions is provided by the William Penn Foundation.