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The Bankhead Theater stage will host a lively performance of dance that takes audiences on a journey of celebration through “Bollywood & Beyond”.
Dancers with Joya Kazi Unlimited are set to close out their national tour of “Rhythm India” next week at the downtown Livermore theater after the show was rescheduled from February due to the Southern California wildfires.
The namesake of its founder, award-winning director and choreographer Joya Kazi, the company has embarked on a 14-city tour around the country, sharing the history and culture of classical and contemporary South Asian dance styles.
The show – set for Wednesday evening – features vibrant costumes, dynamic music and soulful rhythms of the “ghungroo” dancing bells from the echoing heartbeats of royal palaces and sacred temples to the swaying voices of desert villages and modern stages, according to a statement from the Bankhead.
“We are simply delighted to be bringing Rhythm India to Downtown Livermore,” Bankhead officials told Livermore Vine in an email. “This vibrant, gorgeous show not only welcomes new audiences from our Bay Area to The Bankhead, but also bridges the cultural gap with our current audiences through the universal language and beauty of costumes, music, and dance.”
The upcoming performance in Livermore is significant not only as the finale show but it’s also sort of a homecoming for Kazi, who grew up between Hayward and Fremont. She told Livermore Vine in a recent interview that next week will mark the first time her parents get to see the show in person, which she’s excited about.
Following the performance, the group will host a meet and greet in the Bankhead lobby. “I hope people stay back afterwards to say hello and take photos,” Kazi said.
With this production, Kazi said she is “really focused on trying to expand the accessibility and trying to expand the representation” of these traditional dance forms. Incorporated in the show are various dance styles set to the backdrop of music in 10 different languages.
Kazi said the show is suited for a multicultural audience because although many may not understand the languages, “people can understand the beauty of the history and keeping traditional dance styles alive.”
“Art really connects the entire world,” she added, noting that her goal is to bridge the gap between education and entertainment as she often categorizes the production as “edutainment”.
While Kazi originally hails from the Bay Area, she is currently based in Southern California along with her dancers. She shared how the recent fires impacted the logistics and casting of the show, which ultimately led to the rescheduling of the Livermore stop.
Between Jan. 7-31, a series of destructive wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Diego County. There were several fatalities and homes and structures destroyed as a result. Most of the damage was caused by the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, both of which were fully contained on Jan. 31.
Many residents of the affected areas were displaced as they were forced to evacuate from their homes. Kazi said this included some of her dancers and even those who weren’t directly impacted had family or loved ones who were.
Reflecting back, Kazi shared how at one point she was faced with the decision of what boxes of costumes and other show materials she could realistically save in order to move forward with the tour. Some dancers also had to be recast due to their changed circumstances.
Kazi, who first started her entertainment company at just 16 years old, said that through the unexpected turmoil, her “No. 1 responsibility is to her dancers.” She said that she’s extremely proud of how her dancers have worked through all of the chaos and navigated the emotional and mental affects.
In the weeks since the fires first struck, the dance company has entered into a “different era of gratitude and joy”, Kazi said. The tour kicked off in February in Southern California and although there were many fans and industry friends from the area who could no longer make it to the “Rhythm India” shows, Kazi said they received an outpouring of supportive messages and encouragement for pushing ahead.
They’ve since made their way through more than a dozen stops throughout the U.S. before their grand finale appearance in Livermore.
Kazi hopes overall that the audience will gain an understanding and appreciation of how diverse and rich the Indian culture is. And for South Asian viewers in particular, she said she aims for her group to be an example that a career in the arts is viable.
“There can sometimes be an immigrant mentality that is not always supportive of careers in entertainment,” she said. “I hope to light a spark in the younger generation – and even older folks – to realize it’s not too late to pursue the arts.”
“Rhythm India: Bollywood & Beyond” is set for 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday (April 2). For tickets and more information about the show, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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