COMPANY BIO:Co-founded by choreographer Wendy Jehlen, and composer Nandlal Nayak, Akhra: the dancing grounds, is a collective of performers who are bound to one another by a shared desire to explore innovative means of communication through works which stretch the boundaries of their art forms.The word "akhra" in the Nagpuri language means "the dancing grounds".It is the place where people come together to share their music, their dance, and their lives with one another. The strength of Akhra lies in the diversity of its members - Akhra combines folk and classical, modern and traditional, secular and religious, aural and visual.The group changes as new members bring their individual philosophies and training to the ensemble.With each synthesis, a language is created.Akhra communicates in a unique and constantly evolving language. Akhra's performances weave together music, dance and storytelling.In most cultures, throughout the world and throughout history, these disciplines have been and are inextricably intertwined.Akhra continues in this ancient tradition.
HANDS: Rhythm Project
DeAnna joined Akhra in 2005 to work on "Hands: Rhythm Project", a multi-disciplinary performance piece bringing together musicians from Japan and India and dancers from the US. The performance includes folktales, poetry and other texts from Japan, India and the West. These texts are spoken, sung, signed (in American Sign Language) and danced, juxtaposing ideas and images from these three traditions. The artists working on this project include choreographer Wendy Jehlen, composer Nandlal Nayak, dancers Jim Banta, Alissa Cardone, Genevieve Hyacinthe, DeAnna Pellecchia & Ingrid Schatz and musicians Hibiki Toen, Atsuko Kida, Kentaro Uchida, Takashi Sakai, Norihiko Akagi & Dani Dalinian. Nandlal Nayak is a composer of Contemporary World Music, born and raised in Jharkhand, India. He is a member of the Ghasi tribe and grew up surrounded by the rich musical tradition of this people. Since 1996, he has been working and composing with musicians and dancers of many traditions in the US, Europe, Japan and his native India.
"a percussive feast...a smorgasborg of sound" – Seattle Times
