DESI DIARY
What’s on in MARCH
Pictured: Jiva Dance presents The Four Horsemen, March 7, 8, 10.
Avataar in a double bill with Surefire Sweat. For the first time, Indo-jazz group Avataar shares the evening with another band, Surefire Sweat. A mesmerising confluence of Avataar’s hypnotic rhythms and soaring melodies, and Surefire Sweat’s amalgam of Funk, Jazz, Brass Band, Blues and Afrobeat. 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm, March 14 at Hugh’s Room, Toronto. Advance: $20, doors $25. Hugh’s Room is at 2261 Dundas St West, Toronto. Call 416-533-LIVE (5483).
Sweet sixteen! Looking at Cierra’s smiling, healthy face, her mother Kiran Benet finds it hard to believe this time five years ago she was undergoing tests that revealed she was suffering from a rare blood disease. “Amazingly, thanks to the support of family, friends, medical professionals and of course the generosity of blood and stem cell donors willing to help a complete stranger – here she is looking and feeling fantastic and anxiously waiting to apply for her G1 licence, thinking she’s getting behind the wheel of my car... such an optimist!” In celebration of Cierra’s 16th birthday Kiran and Cierra would like to invite you to attend their annual blood donation drive. “Your participation in donating or encouraging others to donate is the most meaningful gift to us,” says Kiran. “There are still over 800 Canadians waiting to find a matching donor.” Where: March 23, 10 am to 12 pm at Heartland Blood Donor Clinic, 765 Britannia Rd. W., unit 2, Mississauga. More at www.StemCells4Cierra.com.
The Four Horsemen. March 7, 8, 10. Jiva Dance presents The Four Horsemen. An innovative production, exploring symbolism from the story of the Apocalypse through Indian classical dance, music, and Sanskrit poetry. Four female protagonists – a woman shackled to the life of a courtesan (conquest), a woman reminiscing the night she spent with her lover who is at war (war), a mother searching for nourishment for her child in a sandstorm (famine), and a woman at the end of her life recalling memories that span youthful joy to hardship and loss (death). Choreography by Maya Kulkarni and Sonali Skandan, music by Rajkumar Bharathi (Chennai, India) and Bala Skandan (NYC). At Dixon Place, New York. Tickets: $30 advance; $35, door at https://web. ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1004759. More info at www.jivadance.org.
Inspirations. March 16. Parampara Sangeet presents Inspirations: A Modern Approach to Ancient Indian Music. An exclusive and intimate concert featuring Dr Vinay Bhide, one of the leading exponents of the Patiala gharana. Dr Bhide obtained his taleem from Pandit Eknath Kulkarni who was a direct disciple of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He has performed with legends like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Jasraj. Dr Bhide and his students will present an evening of rich expositions of traditional renditions with flavours of stylized modern interpretations. At the Maja Prentice Theatre in Mississauga from 6 pm. Tickets: $20. For more info and tickets, visit https://parampara.eventbrite.ca.
Classical to contemporary. April 27. Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE) presents classical Indian art forms and their contemporary arrangement in an ensemble format. Original compositions by artistic director Ritesh Das from their recent album Bhumika as well as new works. They will be joined by guest Kathak dancer Labonee Mohanta and Odissi dancer Anindita Nanda. California-based mridangam player Sekhar Sarukkai will also join TTE. At Harbourfront Centre. Tickets: $25-$35. Visit torontotabla.com or call 416-973-4000.
March 14-16: Sawitri Theatre Group presents Hindi Shorts 2019 – 9 micro plays in Hindi by Tanuj Khosla. At Sampradaya Theatre, Mississauga. A collection of nine different plays that unleash a plethora of human emotions ranging from light-hearted comedy to dark vengeance: Aulaad (Children), Coolie (Porter), Home Delivery, Humaare Beech (Amongst Us), Mili, Project Admission, The Sacrifice, The Date and Third Wheel. Shruti Shah is lead Director along with Nitin Sawant. Featuring 14 actors; some of whom take on multiple roles. Many of these are new generation and newcomers to Canada. Tickets: Adults, $25; seniors/students (25 and under)/arts workers, $20. Box Office: www.eventbrite.ca/e/hindi-shorts-2019-tickets-56733769231. More info at www.sawitri.ca.
Mar. 14-16: DanceWorks Main-stage Series event. Jaberi Dance Theatre presents No Woman’s Land at Harbourfront Centre Theatre. Choreographed by Roshanak Jaberi, No Woman’s Land is a multi-disciplinary performance piece that explores the real stories of women in refugee camps. More info and tickets at 416-204-1082.
March 16, 17: Sigma by Gandini Juggling. A spectacular new cross art-form production from Gandini Juggling, Sigma explores where two rhythmical practises meet: Juggling and Bharatanatyam dance. Developed in partnership with dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel the work showcases exuberant rhythms, patterns and colours, celebrating the dialogue between the worlds of juggling, music and classical Indian dance. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Tickets $66.75. More info at www.stlc.com/event/sigma1.
Until March 23: P. Mansaram: The Medium is the Medium is the Medium. At Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, 7 Hart House Circle. More info at artmuseum.utoronto.ca/exhibition/p-mansa ram-the-medium-is-the-medium-is-the-medium.
April 27: Raag-Mala Season opener. An evening of North Indian Classical music with Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande (vocal), Pandit Ramdas Palsule (tabla) and Siddhesh Bicholkar (harmonium). Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande is a leading vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She has earned much acclaim for her tonal sweetness and an unerring ability to captivate the hearts of listeners. She will present rare and complex ragas characteristic of her gharana. 7 pm at the Aga Khan Museum. Tickets: $40, $30. Call Manoshi (416-276-5616) or Rishi (647-521-3816).
• Free Desi Diary listings. List your event for free in Desi News and e-desinews. com. E-mail: desinews@rogers.com. Deadline for April listings: March 20, 2019.