SIlambam Programs offered through Young Audiences of Houston:

(several of these programs are offered in conjunction with Kalaangan, a school of Odissi in the Houston area)

Performances

Dance Across India

Grade Level: K-12 | Single Performance: $750 | Back-to-back performances: $925 | Participant Limit: 350 | Curriculum Guide

This program will engage students through performance interspersed with narrative. A typical 45-minute presentation will present several repertoire pieces (typically 5-7 minutes in length) and will trace a route through the cultural history and geography of India through four of its classical dance forms – Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi (South India), Kathak (North and West India), and Odissi (East India). In this interactive performance, students learn about Indian culture, traditions, and mythology through the stories or themes depicted, and are introduced to the nuances of Indian dance vocabulary (gestural and facial expressions). Performances can be tailored to grades K-12 and can be effectively targeted to an audience composed of 3 to 5 consecutive grade levels.

Kavya: Poetry in Motion

Grade Level: 3-12 | Single Performance: $750 | Back-to-back performances: $925 | Participant Limit: 350 | Curriculum Guide

Kavya is a Sanskrit word that conjures the idea of sagas unfolding, of wondrous storytelling and painting with the poetic voice. In this performance, poems from all over the world and across the ages, set to music spanning a range of classical and contemporary genres, describe what it means to be human. Classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Odissi, as well as contemporary dance, interpret each theme through a rich language of movement and gesture. Through this confluence of dance, music, and poetry, we explore the feelings and experiences that unite us at our very core.

Dancing Into STEM

Grade Level: K-5 | Single Performance: $600 | Back-to-back performances: $800 | Participant Limit: 350 | Curriculum Guide

Dancing into STEM is conceptualized, scripted, and choreographed by Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan. This series, produced and presented by Silambam Houston, uses gestures, expressions, and rhythms from Indian classical dance and music to explore various STEM concepts. The growth of a plant from a seed into a fully grown plant with leaves, flowers, and fruits. The concept of gravity, and how different objects exert a pull on other objects based on their mass. The importance of water for life, and about how water moves through our environment. Or all about factors in math! Performances can be tailored to grades K-5 and can be effectively targeted to an audience composed of 2 to 3 consecutive grade levels.

Storytime with Silambam

Grade Level: K-5 | Single Performance: $350 | Back-to-back performances: $475 | Participant Limit: 350 | Curriculum Guide

Through Storytime With Silambam, we aim to bring to you a treasure trove of stories from Indian mythology and folk culture, presented in a unique narrative style that incorporates facial and gestural storytelling (abhinaya), the hallmark of Indian classical dance tradition. We hope you enjoy learning about these stories and cultural traditions as much as we enjoy bringing them to you! The interactive performance also incorporates an original story created by audience members and performed by our artists, with audience participation welcome! Performances can be tailored to any grade level, and can be effectively targeted to an audience composed of 3 to 5 consecutive grade levels.

Workshop

Exploring Indian Classical Dance

Grade Level: 3-12 | $115 / 45-min session; $125 / 60-min session | 2+ sessions same day: $95 / 45-min session; $115 / 60-min session | Participant Limit: 25

This workshop will allow students to explore the vocabulary of movements, gestures, and facial expressions that form the basis of Indian classical dance (focusing on one of the three dance styles we offer), and use this vocabulary to create their own piece of artistic expression. Our workshops can be modified to fit into one class period (45 minutes) or can be extended up to 2 hours. Over the course of the workshop, students will

• learn about the history and origins of Indian classical dance

• see photographs of historic temple sculptures showing dance poses

• view videos and images of Indian classical dance through the centuries

• try out basic technique and gestural vocabulary, progressing from simple to intermediate

• use expressive facial and gestural movements to interpret a favorite poem, passage, or rhyme

• learn a simple choreography sequence*

Our workshops can be tailored to grades K–12, and can be most effectively targeted to participants from 2 to 3 consecutive grade levels. 
*This portion of the workshop can be modified to integrate a STEAM activity – our instructors will guide students to explore, express, and visualize grade-level-appropriate STEM concepts through the choreography sequence.

Residency

Exploring Indian Classical Dance

Grade Level: 3-12 | $115 / 45-min session; $125 / 60-min session | 2+ sessions same day: $95 / 45-min session; $115 / 60-min session | Participant Limit: 25

In the residency format, students will be able to explore in more detail the various aspects outlined above. Our residency programs can be tailored to grades 3–12, (we recommend grades 6–12) and can be most effectively targeted if participants are from 1 or 2 consecutive grade levels. A typical 8-week residency will focus on one or more of the four dance styles we offer, with part of each session devoted to exploring cultural history and learning vocabulary, and the rest of the session focused towards creating choreography and learning a repertoire piece for an end-of-residency showcase.