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Ranjana Warier is a 2012 winner of Knight Arts Challenge Miami. Below, she writes about her project, which showcases classical Indian dance through adaptations of Western fairy tales. How would you describe cultural fusion in a word? “Magical” and “exotic” were among the adjectives used by those who attended the recent staging of “Anvita” presented by Rhythms School of Dance. The production, held Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Davie, was the culmination of months of planning, choreographing and rehearsing. The beloved fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” provided the backdrop for “Anvita,” but it was transformed through the complex technical framework of classical Indian dance. The work was a collaboration of six Indian dance schools: Rhythms School of Dance, Nrutyanjali School of Dance, Vanee School of Dance, Nritya Surabhi School of Dance, and Narthana Dance Academy, all from South Florida, and Navarasa Dance Academy, of Tampa. They retained their individual styles but worked together to adapt their skills to present the familiar story in an engaging East-meets-West theme. The dances and costumes delighted the audience, even bringing toddlers to the aisles of the auditorium as they mimicked the moves of the 60 performers.
