A woman of South Asian heritage rising to meet the challenge of leadership seems to come straight from American news headlines, but it was also the story 167 years ago in India. In 1857, the young queen of a Northern Indian kingdom stood up to the British Empire.
The story of how Jhansi Ki Rani (meaning Queen of Jhansi) — a motherless girl that grew up in a patriarchal society — became an icon of women’s empowerment and the Indian independence movement will be performed by the Natyalaya School of Arts from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Tobias Theater at Newfields. Tickets are $20.
“Jhansi K Rani” is the fourth artistic collaboration between choreographer and art director Vrinda Sunil and scriptwriter, vocalist and physician Lekshmi Natarajan.
Born in 1828 as Manakarnika “Manu” Tambe, Jhansi Ki Rani had an unconventional upbringing, learning not only reading and writing, but also archery, horse riding and sword fighting. She was married at age 14 to Gangadhar Rao Newalkar — the king of the Maratha Empire. She took the name Lakshmibai.
The life of the Queen of Jhansi has inspired poetry, music and movies. Sunil, Natarajan and their crew of 45 dancers, musicians and voice actors will incorporate dance, music and English narration to make the story accessible for local audiences.
Natyalaya School of Arts was founded in 2006 by Sunil, an accomplished dancer in the classical Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam styles of South India. Indian dance traditions typically incorporate storytelling from Hindu scriptures and Natyalaya’s approach is an immersive experience in culture and heritage.
Sunil and her students have presented several programs, all over the U.S., many in support of charitable organizations. They also won first place at an international dance festival in Barcelona, Spain, in March.
The timing of this performance, on Oct. 6, is especially significant as it takes place during the nine-day Hindu observance of Navaratri, which celebrates the power and creative energy of the Divine Feminine.
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