Sujatha Srinivasan: Shades of the Mind

Akron Soul Train is pleased to present the work of resident artist, Sujatha Srinivasan, founder and artistic director of Shri Kalaa Mandir - Center for Indian Performing Arts.  As a master artist, choreographer, performer, and teacher in Bharatanatyam dance, a beautiful classical Indian art form, Sujatha has been a tireless advocate for the history and depth of South Asian artistic culture for 30 years.  She has presented on several stages including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Public Theater, Maltz Performing Center, and Playhouse Square. Sujatha recently won the prestigious Cleveland Arts Prize in 2022 for her contribution to the vitality and stature of the arts in our region.

Her work spans from the traditional to modern, often focusing on socially relevant issues.  In “Shades of the Mind” she unpacks gradations of human existence. It explores emotions of the mind navigating the desires and temptations that surround them. Classically trained dancers in aesthetically designed costumes will showcase through the rich technique that speaks to the storylines. The choreographic work will feature traditional Bharatanatyam dances that highlight the rich tapestry of this ancient dance form and take on social issues such as communal harmony, unity in diversity and enemies of the mind such as greed and desire, delusion and anger, exploitation, and immigration, tying each larger problem to its deep systemic roots in every individual.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this international treasure and enjoy Sujatha’s narrative in Shades of the Mind as she “brings creative compositions to life with dynamic rhythm, evocative mime, and inimitable choreography”.