Hooray for Bollywood

 

What you’ll experience Aug. 6 and 7 at 8:00 p.m., on Indiana Repertory Theatre’s Main Stage, is a representation of India’s popular film topics in dance. And be prepared for something extraordinary. “Lots of hips in this concert,” quips Gregory Hancock. Also lots of subtle head, shoulder, arm, hand, finger, leg, feet, and facial movements associated with classical dance of India.

“It’s been a challenge physically and mentally,” confides Christine Colquitt-Smerdel. “We’re used to moving in a style [that is vintage Gregory Hancock]. You’re feeling different muscles. Your body has to readjust. It’s like a new language.” The other veteran members concur with challenges of learning new movement on top of new choreography. Muscle memory has to be rewired, but they agree there are positives. “When the body is pushed to do something new, you’re thinking much more about the piece, processing all the time,” summarizes Colquitt-Smerdel.

“It puts me back on the level with the corps of younger dancers, and that’s not a bad thing.”

The program features a full-length tragic story of family feuding separating young lovers. “Devdas” has been filmed in at least eleven versions, according to Hancock. It’s incredibly easy to follow, with Fate showing the sequence of events in the prologue. The action comes to the fore with clarity grounded in fine acting. Getting caught up in events, one wants to throttle Fate to alter them. While we can see what’s coming, there are sufficient surprises to heighten the drama, and moments of slapstick to provide relief.

And before assuming it’s a knock-off from Romeo and Juliet, it’s good to remember that India is considered the original home of all folktales, according to many authorities. What sets these stories and India’s mythology apart from the West is that in India they are still part of the living culture.

The shorter pieces include a delicious spoof of Bollywood gone Hollywood, or is it the other way around? Be prepared to laugh. “The Sari” is a delicate piece reminiscent of Balanchine’s classroom exercises. “Lagaan” is an abstract piece to music of India, with a feel of a production number.

At a time when there’s public debate centering around outsourcing to India, Hancock thinks it’s good to become acquainted with one of the oldest civilizations and one of the most recent to emigrate to Indiana.

The chapter on Asian Indians in Peopling Indiana: The Ethnic Experience, edited by Robert M. Taylor, Jr., and Connie A McBirney provides an excellent overview of the growing Indian American population in Indianapolis.

For tickets call 635-5252.