Bankhead Presents

Traditional. Contemporary. Dance.

Experience Encounters with Beauty, a mesmerizing performance inspired by the mystical poetry tradition of 16th-century India. This cross-genre work brings the poetry of saints like Kabir, Surdas, and Meera to life through kathak dance, contemporary chamber music, and North Indian classical vocals and percussion. Created by Leela Dance Collective Artistic Directors Rukhmani Mehta and Seibi Lee, with music by Reena Esmail, Encounters with Beauty promises a visceral and transcendent experience. Join us at The Bankhead for a night that celebrates love, devotion, and unity across cultures. Secure your tickets now for this unforgettable event, and we encourage you to plan on arriving early: just outside The Bankhead doors at 7:15pm, there will also be a complimentary pre-show performance by Leela’s youth company, the Leela Youth Dance Company!

Artists:

Artistic Direction: Rukhmani Mehta, Seibi Lee
Music Curation: Reena Esmail
Dancers: Seibi Lee, Principal Soloist
Rachna Nivas, Principal Soloist
Rukhmani Mehta, Principal Soloist
Joanna Meinl, Soloist
Sonali Toppur, Ensemble Dancer
Ahana Mukherjee, Ensemble Dancer
Seema Barua, Apprentice Dancer
Musicians:
Hindustani Musicians
Saili Oak, Vocals
Satyaprakash Mishra, Tabla
String Quartet
Sahana Shravan, Violin
Dylan Hamme, Violin
Sunjay Jayaram, Viola
Jackie Hager, Cello
Lighting & Set Design: Matthew Antaky

*Livermore Valley Arts performances are generally approximately 90 minutes, in addition to a 20 minute intermission.
Lobby doors open 1 hour before showtime, with theater seating open 30 minutes before curtain.
(Run times subject to change.)

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