An acclaimed bharata natyam dancer in India in the 1950s and early 1960s, Chandralekha (1928-2006) left the dance world for more than two decades before emerging as an acclaimed new choreographer in 1984. Based in Madras, she was dedicated to reinvigorating traditional forms with contemporary energy, fusing classical dance with martial arts. Her full-evening production Yantra was created on the occasion of Pina Bausch‘s visit to India in 1994, and this is the work that was presented for her company’s U.S. debut at Jacob’s Pillow that same year.
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