TakeChicagoDance.com

Kalapriya Dance was founded in 1994 by critically acclaimed dancer and teacher Pranita Jain, Kalapriya seeks to promote Asian Indian dance, music and culture through performances, workshops and training programs. Kalapriya specializes in Bharata Natyam; an ancient dance form that uses stylized hand gestures, theatrical facial expressions, intricate footwork and complicated rhythms and counter rhythms to visualize poetry, mythology and universal themes. The purpose of these activities remains two fold: to provide a venue for Asian Indian immigrants and their families to practice and maintain their cultural identity and secondly to promote a better understanding of Asian Indian art and culture amongst the general population. In recent years Kalapriya has developed and produced several cross-cultural events incorporating various forms of music and dance including artists from Africa, Spain, Indonesia, China, Japan and Korea in contemporary and traditional formats showcasing the similarities between the cultures. Underscoring the belief that world cultures do not exist in a vacuum. They are constantly evolving, influenced by current issues and cross-cultural exchanges. To grow and remain relevant in today’s transnational society is to stay open to these influences and evolve as a culture or art form.