T 



Events 



-*\ 



Fesrival of India 1985-1986 is a joint India-United States effort to increase Americans' knowledge of India 

 and develop goodwill and understanding between the peoples of the two countries. 



Pung cholam (acrobatic drumming) with nupi pala (women's songs) — performance by the Meitei oj Manipur. Photo courtesy Aditya Patankar. 



Meitei 



Dance, Song, and Martial Arts from Manipur 



Sunday, May 11, 3:00pm 

 James Simpson Theatre 



Celebrate the performing arts of Manipur with acrobatic 

 drum dancing, mesmerizing devotional songs, and ritualis- 

 tic ancient martial arts. Manipur, located in northeast India, 

 is a lake and stream-filled valley surrounded by mountains. 

 The Meitei are the valley peoples, once separated into 

 many clans. Thirteen Meitei performers bring a rare 

 glimpse of performances seldom seen outside the confines 

 of Manipur. The Nupi Pala (women's devotional songs) 

 begin the performance with mesmerizing rhythms, falsetto 

 voices, and serpentine body movements. Pung Cholam 

 (acrobatic drumming) drummers continue with slow, 

 graceful movements and, as the beat of the drums in- 

 creases, leap and twirl through the air. The ancient martial 

 arts, Thangta, combine animal-like movements used in 

 ritual with the swords, spears, shields, and knives used in 

 warfare up to the end of the 19th century. 



This performance is offered in cooperation with the Amer- 

 ican Institute of India Studies Committee on the Perform- 

 ing Arts. 



Tickets: $5.00 (Members: $3.00) 



Fees are nonrefundable. Please use coupon to order tickets. 

 Seating is general admission. Theatre doors open one hour 

 prior to performance. 



Classical Violin of India 



L. Subramaniam, violinist 



Saturday, May 3, 3:00pm 

 James Simpson Theatre 



Field Museum's celebration opens with a performance by 

 one of India's premiere classical violinists and leading 

 authority on South Indian music, Dr. L. Subramaniam. 

 South Indian classical music is a complex musical style that 

 combines unique melodic forms (ragas) and rhythmic cy- 

 cles (talas). Like Western jazz, it owes its distinctive essence 

 to improvisation. Dr. Subramaniam celebrates Festival of 

 India at Field Museum with a unique violin performance 

 featuring the classical Indian forms of "Varnam," "Kriti," 

 and "Ragam, Taman and Pallavi." 



Tickets: $7.00 (Members: $5.00) 



Fees are nonrefundable. Please use coupon (p. 4) to order 

 tickets. Seating is general admission. Theatre doors open 

 one hour prior to the performance. 



CONTINUED  



