One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
Think the Little Mermaid is just a Disney movie? Or a rather somber fairy tale penned by Hans Christian Anderson? Think again! Dances of India is preparing to put a whole new twist on this classic tale with its production, “The Little Indian Mermaid” 4 p.m. Oct. 5 at Duane Smith Auditorium.
Dances of India Director Alina Deshpande explained her version of the “Little Mermaid” incorporates elements from the classic story but also weaves in some modern-day themes such as AI. In addition to telling the story through dialogue, this production will integrate Kathak dance, which is the classical dance of northern India, Bharatnatyam dance, which is the classical dance of southern India, and several Indian folk dances.
Kathak dance, Deshpande explained, originated during the Mughal Empire. Persian story telling was fused with India’s temple dances.
This form of dance, she added, features a lot of intricate footwork, symmetrical hand movements, and pirouettes. Its style is influential; Deshpande said flamenco is heavily inspired by Kathak dance.
Bharatnatyam dance follows the characteristics of statues in Hindu temples, Deshpande added.
“Both classical dances have ornate costumes, and both have a lot of storytelling in them,” she said.
Deshpande has organized, choreographed and directed Dances of India since 2011. Her first production was “Snow White” but she has offered renditions of “Cinderella”, “Aladdin”, “Alibaba”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Wizard of Mumbai”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Rapunzel”.
The performances are a chance for her students enrolled in Kathak dance classes, which Deshpande offers through The Family YMCA, to show off what they have learned. This year, Deshpande said she has 20 Kathak students in the show, and several other guest dancers.
The productions are a lot of work; Deshpande said as soon as one production ends, she immediately begins work on the following year’s show but added it is work she thoroughly enjoys.
“This is one of the things that gives me so much energy,” she said, explaining it is an opportunity to exercise her creativity, and it gives her the freedom to try new things.
It has also been great to share these dances with the Los Alamos community, Deshpande said.
“What I like about the Los Alamos community is everyone is so open and willing to learn… people want to be aware of different cultures,” she said.
Deshpande also applauds her students.
“It means a lot to showcase my students and share how they have been working so hard,” she said.
Not only is the spotlight shone on the performers but also the high school students who are working behind the scenes. Deshpande said she employs high school students to be stagehands as well as to work on the show’s sets and props.
“This is a passion,” she said. “This is really a passion for me.”
It’s a passion that started at a young age. Deshpande said her mother enrolled her in dance classes when she was 10 years old. Deshpande explained that she was uninterested in sports but loved drama and the theatre and her mother thought that dance would be a fit.
At 10 years old, Deshpande said she wasn’t so sure.
“At the time I thought it was the most uncool thing,” she said.
But as she took classes, Deshpande said she changed her mind.
“It started growing on me and became a passion,” she said.
In fact, it became such a passion that Deshpande joked that her mother worried she spent too much time dancing and wouldn’t graduate school.
In addition to celebrating dance and indulging in her passions, Deshpande uses Dances of India as an opportunity to raise funds for different service organizations. This year, the selected organization is ELEVA, the Y Latin America’s program for youth mental health. Deshpande said she felt this was a timely and very worthy cause.
“It is good to support an organization that focuses on youth mental health because they are our future,” she said.
Admission is free but donations to ELEVA will be accepted and welcomed!
Whether to enjoy the performances or support a good cause, Deshpande said she welcomes everyone to check out the “Little Indian Mermaid”.
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo
One of the dancers in ‘The Little Indian Mermaid’. Courtesy photo