Photo: Karen Scheffers
This year Samadhi will be presenting a most unique and entirely different production titled ‘Mohini’, a performance filled with light, love and laughter. After an intense and emotionally charged year due to the passing of Samadhi’s mentor Marutvati Keilman-Jorquera, artistic director Vraja Sundari Keilman felt a strong urge to create an enlivening and playful production counterbalancing the deep and intense production ‘Saranágati’ as well as to celebrate the spirited, colorful and truly inspiring character of Marutvati, embracing another side of the company’s vision. For this production Vraja decided to work with a smaller cast of performers and also to introduce more elements of mime, gestural and comical theater. Also, the addition of colorful decor and characteristic music will surely lift up both the audience and dancers and bring all to a whole new world!
‘Mohini’ – Sanskrit for ‘illusion personified’ – is inspired by poetry of the Persian poet Rumi and the performance tells the vivid story of an absurd yet touching dream. The theme deals with the individual interpretation of events and the illusive quality of this temporary and deceptive world. The viewer is taken on an energetic journey through the unconsciousness of the main character, complimented by an innovative combination of contemporary ballet, break-dance, acrobatics and as mentioned, a touch of comical drama and theater. ‘Mohini’ is dedicated to the Indian goddess Srimati Radharani, the original source of inspiration according to Vedic knowledge and has a total length of 50 minutes. ‘The production is suitable for all ages and promises to leave all viewers with a warm heart, a tickled mind and a generous smile on their face!
This years cast will consist of dancers Annlydie Groenen, Rasarani Keilman, Jeffrey Stuut, Vraja Sundari Keilman, Liam O’Callaghan and actor/singer Chris Kuijken/Caitanya Caran Das known from the charismatic music group Isophone. The performance will contain music tracks of Cirque du Soleil, Bon Iver, Bonobo, Takagi Masakatsu, Little Dragon and Alexandre Desplat including excerpts from the series ‘Matchless Memories- The Journey Home’ (1996) spoken by HH Tamal Krishna Goswami. Samadhi’s fabulous light designer Ronnie van Kempen will be in charge of Mohini’s light design and the performance will also include a live music performance of the song ‘Are We There Yet’ written by Ingrid Michaelson sung live by Chris Kuijken/Caitanya Caran Das. Costumes will consists of unique items from Leo NG’s Airfashion collection designed by Upper Mansion, a unique and high quality fashion label based in Hong Kong.
‘Mohini’ will perform its try out on Friday May 18 to premiere on Saturday May 19, both evenings at the Podium Mozaïek in Amsterdam. The performances will commence at 20:30 hr and tickets are €16,- per person. Reservations can be made by emailing name, performance, amount of tickets and phone number to samadhidancecompany@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting www.samadhidancecompanymohini.paydro.net
So all we can say is: don’t miss this magical new production and buy your tickets now!
