World Renowned Soorya Festival Makes U.S. Debut
The art of Sumudra Natanam by the award-winning Madhu Gopinath and Vakkkom Sajeev will be a part of the Soorya Festival this Sunday at the Stafford Civic Center
Soorya Krishnamoorthy’s Sangamam premiers in Houston May 5
By Ian Staff Reporter
HOUSTON: This weekend, Padmashree Dr. Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the founder-director of the Soorya Stage and Film Society, is making his first visit to the United States as he presents his highly-acclaimed Soorya Festival in Houston. The Soorya Festival is the longest and among the most prestigious cultural events in India, conducted annually and now lasting for more than a hundred days in which the finest and most accomplished artists in Indian classical dances and music participate.
Krishnamoorthy has the professed aim of disseminating Indian culture and achieving “Integration through Culture” – he remains the only artist to have received the highest artistic honors from three state governments: Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The highly-decorated artist was named Man of the Year 2003 by the Limca Book of World Records, who also appointed Soorya as the largest cultural society of Asia.
He served as the director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation for three terms, as a member of the India National Film Award committee, the Kerala State Film Award committee, the NFDC Script Committee and the National committee for selecting Indian Panorama films. He has also been a member of the Expert Committee of the Department of Culture for the Government of India where he was instrumental in advancing the cultural policy of the country.
Krishnamoorthy’s Sangamam brings together several accomplished artists who promise an unforgettable visual experience on May 5 at Stafford Civic Center (1415 Constitution, Stafford, TX 77477).
They include Madhu Gopinath and Vakkkom Sajeev (Samudra Natanam), Sonia Gupta (Kathak), Dakshina Vaidyanathan (Bharatnatyam), Ziya ul Huk (vocal), and Manipur Dancers presenting Dhol Dholak Cholam.
Various percussionists and classical musicians also join the troupe directed by Krishnamoorthy for his American version of the Soorya Festival, which is touring 15 cities in one month, courtesy of Houston-based production company Freedia Entertainment.
For tickets: www.sulekha.com/houston.