HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - COTA - Council of the Arts Agenda Attachment 11/02/20152015-20162015-20162015-20162015-2016 Commission On The ArtsCommission On The ArtsCommission On The ArtsCommission On The Arts '''' Grant for the India CulturalGrant for the India CulturalGrant for the India CulturalGrant for the India Cultural
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Usha SivaskandanUsha SivaskandanUsha SivaskandanUsha Sivaskandan to:Brian Phillips 10/16/2015 12:02 AM
Cc:Rosie Stanley
To : The Commission on the Arts (COTA)
cc: BPhillips@city.ames.ia.us
From: India Cultural Association, Ames, IA
Greetings,
The India Cultural Association (ICA) was privileged to receive a grant of $5,300 from the Commission On The Arts
for the year 2015-16. We are deeply grateful for your benevolence and continued support of our programs.
The grant was received for Natyanjali, an Indian classical dance form called "Bharatanatyam" performed by dancers
who are blind. This group is based in India and we were working with other cultural associations to bring them to the
United States. Unfortunately, the visas for the group were denied and they were unable to make the trip to the United
States.
Subsequently ICA came to know that Leela Samson and her dance group called Spanda are in the United States and
were performing in several cities. Spanda performs the "Bharatanatyam" dance form with an evolving repertoire that
is conceived and choreographed by Leela Samson. Leela Samson of Spanda is known for her technical virtuosity and
is a world acclaimed proponent of the Bharatanatyam dance form. She has been the chairperson of the Sangeet Natak
Akademi, the national academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. She was also a former
director of Kalakshetra, a cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional Indian art forms, especially in
the field of Bharatanatyam dance. Attached below is a website link that provides more information on Leela Samson
and Spanda.
ICA has extended an invitation to Leela and Spanda and they have graciously accepted. The event is scheduled for
the 20th of November 2015 at the Ames City Auditorium.
We request your kind consideration in allowing us to apply the grant money we received for Natyanjali towards
Spanda. ICA is very confident that Leela Samson and Spanda will provide the City of Ames with a Bharatanatyam
dance performance that is both culturally enriching and delightfully entertaining as well. We are very excited about
this unique opportunity and we earnestly request your support.
Thank you once again for your kind consideration.
Yours Sincerely,
Usha Sivaskandan, RPh
Acting Interim President,
India Cultural Association
encl.: More Information about Leela Samson and Spanda can be found at this link
http://www.leelasamsondance.com/spanda.html