Troupes & Virtuosos: Foreign & Indigenous
Diksha Arts also proudly serves as a non-exclusive agent to promote extraordinary foreign artists & performance groups in North America.
The following have extensive teaching backgrounds, available time slots in 2023~24 and are open to collaborative workshops, performances and other innovative projects.
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THE LEGEND OF ILA
– India’s ancient gender wisdom musically illuminates the modern stage
Indian theater fest sensation, The Legend of Ila resurrects a millennia-old mythic tale of gender fluidity and its surprising relevance to our era.
Born as a girl to a mighty heir-desperate king, Ila was ritually transformed into a temporal bisexual forced to live out every alternate lunar cycle as a woman, then a man. Their complex inner spirit however remained undivided and this play explores their’ dual plight and the social absurdities compounding it. See trailer, plot/player intros and Indian reviews here.
GUSTAVO CALDAS
Master Capoera performer, teacher, choreographer
Born into a lineage of capoeira masters in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Gustavo began studying his nation’s famed Afro-Brazilian martial dance art as a child. In 2003, the world-renowned Bale Folclorico da Bahia dance company recognized his exceptional talent and drafted him into their premier touring troupe with whom he delighted sold-out audiences across Brazil, Europe and over 100 US cities. He continued his studies with Capoeira’s most illustrious virtuosos both on the road and at Bahia’s Cultural Academy of Dance & Music.
In 2007 he moved to the US where he’s been performing, teaching and choreographing Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian Dance throughout the country ever since recently playing featured roles with Nego Gato, the Blankenship Venice Ballet Company, Viver Brasil, Vanaver Caravan and many other prestigious ensembles
BHARAT VERMA
– Body percussion master, choreographer & evangelist
Long before his recent fame from TV gigs and Bollywood choreography, Bharat began his career teaching Udaipur street urchins who flocked to his aolo roadside practice sessions. Some became his finest teachers years later when he founded the city’s first contemporary dance school. Bharat went on to master many folk & modern dance genres, teach/study with Vanaver Caravan in the US and become the first Rajasthani to ever dance at Lincoln Center. He also discovered there the wonders of indigenous body percussion which inspires all his creative dance work now. See a charming example here: Bharat Beat Show
JOEL HANNA
– Multi-cultural master of tap, flamenco & martial artistry
An early lead star in Riverdance’s US & UK tours, Joel Hanna branched into advanced martial artistry, innovative dance collaboration & multi-genre festival design & choreography.
A Vancouver native with beloved Irish, Chinese & Filipino ancestry, Joel has toured the world performing, teaching, learning and inspiring thousands with his ever-increasing skills. He’s worked with us many times in India where students would call him a modern Nataraj.
See Joel’s graceful gifts on his youtube channel as well as joelhanna.com.