Katha Dance Theatre Presents "Concert of the Legends" June 25 at O'Shaughnessy
Auditorium

Grammy Award Winner Tabla Artist Ustad Zakir Hussain,
Kathak Dance Marvels Pandit Birju Maharaj and Saswati Sen to Perform
in the Twin Cities in a Special One-Night Only Performance


Show Date: Saturday, June 25, 2005

Venue: O'Shaughnessy Auditorium at the College of St. Catherine
2004 Randolph Avenue,Saint Paul, MN 55105

Show Time: "Sadhana" - Special Student Performances 5:30pm
to 7pm
Concert of the Legends Performance 8pm to
10:30pm

Tickets: $25, $35, $45
Students and Seniors receive a $5 discount

To order tickets visit www.sulekha.com/minneapolis or call Katha Dance Theatre
at
763-533-0756.

The Katha Dance Theatre, an organization devoted to creating innovative
performances of the classical Kathak dance with emphasis on
access, community and audience development, is proud to bring three musical
masters of South Asia to the Twin Cities. Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary
tabla
performer, Pandit Birju Maharaj, the king of Kathak Dance, and 2005 Sangeet
Natak
Akademy Award Winner Saswati Sen will perform at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium on
June 25, 2005.


• "Stunning! Exquisite! One of the top ten performances of the year!" - Los
Angeles Times
• "Pandit Birju Maharaj, a creative genius" - Pandit Ravi Shankar
• "In 1988, Ustad Zakir Hussain became the youngest percussionist to ever be
awarded the title of "Padma Shri" by the Indian government"


Grammy-award winner Ustad Zakir Hussain is considered to be one of the finest
tabla
players in the world today. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his
consistently brilliant performances have not only established him as a national
treasure of India but gained him worldwide fame. Widely considered a chief
architect
of the contemporary world music movement, Zakir's contribution has been unique,
with many historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded with John
McLaughlin and L. Shankar, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music, Planet Drum with
Mickey Hart (winner of the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album of the
Year), and recordings and performances with artists as diverse as George
Harrison,
Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, Billy
Cobham,
the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans Symphony.

Today, whenever Kathak is discussed, Pandit Birju Maharaj's name is always
raised.
Maharaj's choreography on traditional themes is bold and intellectual, whereas
his
contemporary works are entertaining and refreshing in concept. He has
choreographed, composed music, and sung on two classical dance sequences in the
film, The Chess Players, directed by Satyajit Ray. Most recently, he wrote the
lyrics,
tuned and choreographed one of the song sequences in the award-winning movie
Devdas. He is the recipient of India's second highest civilian award, the Padma
Vibhushan.


Winner of the 2005 Sangeet Natak Academy Award, dancer Saswati Sen is also a
world-renowned advocate of Kathak. She has established herself as of the finest
Kathak performers and teachers in India and internationally. Sen has traveled
extensively conducting workshops, lectures and master classes. In recognition to
her
major contribution to Kathak she has received innumerable awards.


Rita Mustaphi, the award-winning performer and director of the Katha Dance
Theatre
is excited about bringing this performance to the Twin Cities.


"We are very fortunate and thrilled to have these true legends in the Twin
Cities," said
Mustaphi. "Ustad Zakir Hussain is phenomenal to watch and of course it is a
tremendous honor to have my mentor and my guru, Pandit Birju Maharaj, perform
his
world-renowned skill of Katha Dance. We invite theatre goers of all ages to take
advantage of this amazing opportunity to learn more about classical Indian music
and
dance from the masters themselves."

Although a preset performance is planned, Mustaphi admits the magic in this
event is
the spontaneity or unplanned moments of amazement that are bound to occur.

"It's the improvisation of the artists that will bring the most excitement,"
said
Mustaphi. "The expressions and grace found in Kathak dance accompanied by the
fiery emotions evoked by the musicians will bring strokes of brilliance and
fully
unique `jam sessions' making this concert a one-of-a-kind experience."

In addition to Hussain, Maharaj and Sen, other performing artists include dancer
Mahua Shankar, tabla artist Utpal Ghosal, vocalist Debashis Sarkar and sitar
artist
Chandrachur Bhattacharjee.

The Katha Dance Theatre will also present "Sadhana" – a special performance by
65
students from both the Rochester and Minneapolis schools beginning at 5:30pm.
Attendees may also participate in a silent auction to bid on autographed pieces,
Kathak dance lessons, classical Indian art and other items. All proceeds will go
to the
Katha Dance Theatre. For more information please visit www.kathadance.org.


This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided the St. Paul
Travelers,
individual contributions and the Katha Dance School.