[> UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Mandala Arts and Culture Society was incorporated as a non-profit society on January 18, 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Artistic Director of Mandala Arts and Culture Society is Jai Govinda.

The Society's mandate is to present traditional Indian classical dance, to create new choreographic work incorporating classical Indian, ballet and modern dance in collaboration with other artists in the community, and to ensure high-quality standards in the teaching and mentoring of students in the art, practice and performance of Indian classical dance.

Mandala means a circular form, a center of focus and attention, the relationship between man and the universe. It is under that banner that its artistic director Jai Govinda brings together his various artistic activities. Created in 1999, "Mandala" continues to evolve and expand.

Since 1995, Jai Govinda has been fusing his various dance training, which includes ballet, modern, jazz, and Bharata Natyam. He has since collaborated with many other dancers, musicians and visual artists of various genres, techniques and traditions. Some of these collaborations include: NARCISSUS, OM NAMAH SHIVAYA, BLUE GOD, WINDS, KAMA, and TALES OF THE RAMAYANA.

 

Click here to find out about Mandala's current events

 

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NARCISSUS
The famous Greek legend choreographed on an original score by David Embry with dancers Quinton Bennet, Rukshana Engineer and Jai Govinda, with mask and sets by Sydney Sparling Jr. Narcissus was premiered in Toronto as part of the Kalanidhi Fine Arts 3rd Dance Festival. (see reviews)

 

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA : A solo commissioned by Dance Arts Vancouver for their "Kiss Project" dance festival. A collaboration with Jai Govinda and multidisciplinary artist Patrick Pennefather linked to Shiva, the embodiment of the five elements and the five basic rhythms of Bharata Natyam. It was again presented at Vancouver's Dancers for Life

 

BLUE GOD : Inspired by the poetry of Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda, the erotic nature of the love of the woman of Vraja for Krishna (the Blue God) is portrayed by dancer Andrea Gunnlaugson, Marthe Leonard, Marla Waal, and Jai Govinda. It was choreographed on the richly textured musical score by Joseph Pepe Danza with costumes by Marla Waal and sets by Michelle Moss. The Blue God was premiered in 1999 and also performed in Ottawa for the yearlong exhibit at Musee des Civilisations; "India the Living Arts". The music for the Blue God was also recorded and performed for the Sacred Music Festival in Vancouver. (see reviews)

 

WINDS : A solo by Jai Govinda, especially choreographed for the Single Dance Festival 2000 in Vancouver, on the many influences brought by the winds of Life. (see reviews)

 

KAMA (part 1) : A duet created for the 2001 Millennium Commissions for the official opening of the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Choreographed on Beethoven's 7th Symphony; music rearranged by Sathia Aruliah, and danced by Isabelle and John Ottman. Kama is part of a larger production to be premiered in 2003. (see reviews)

 

TALES OF THE RAMAYANA : Collaboration with Vancouver Moving Theatre based on the famous epic Ramayana. It is touring the schools of B.C. and will also be recreated for public performances in the fall of 2002.

 

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MANDALA also serves as a resource and information center for the culture and classical arts of India. It is a non-profit organization.

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Jai Govinda in "Winds"

Andrea Gunnlaugson in "The Blue God"

Isabelle and John Ottmann in "Kama"

Jai Govinda in "The Blue God"