The Indian Classical Music Circle of Hawaii will show a film chronicling the poignant birth and journey of the ground-breaking collaboration between Kathak icon Chitresh Das and Emmy-winning tap star Jason Samuels Smith on Wednesday in Hilo and Thursday in Honokaa.
The Indian Classical Music Circle of Hawaii will show a film chronicling the poignant birth and journey of the ground-breaking collaboration between Kathak icon Chitresh Das and Emmy-winning tap star Jason Samuels Smith on Wednesday in Hilo and Thursday in Honokaa.
“Upaj: Improvise” will be presented at UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. On Thursday, it will be shown by the Musical Circle at 7 p.m. at Honokaa People’s Theatre. Tickets range in price from $5 to $12 and can be purchased at the box offices.
The showing will include a lecture/demo/dance opening and Q&A with the film producer Antara Bhardwaj. Bhardwaj brings her two worlds of film and classical Indian dance together. “Upaj: Improvise” was the Best Documentary winner at the Dance Camera West Film Festival (2014) and has screened at festivals throughout the world, including the Mumbai International Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival (U.K.) and Byron Bay Film Festival (Australia). It was also broadcast nationally in the U.S. on PBS World in 2014.
Bhardwaj, a disciple of renowned Kathak master, Pandit Chitresh Das, is a solo Kathak artist, and was a member of the internationally renowned Chitresh Das Dance Company.