”Dances of India”, performed by internationally acclaimed performer Dr. Maha Gingrich and her group of more than 40 dancers, will premier at Central Piedmont Community College’s Dale F. Halton Theater (located on the Central Campus) on Saturday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. Dr. Gingrich, Assistant to the Executive Vice President for Student In-Take at CPCC, will lead the performance of classical South Indian and North Indian dances. Tickets are $5 for school-age children and $8 for adults and can be purchased through the CPCC box office at 704.330.6534. Free parking is available in the faculty/staff deck on Fourth Street.

In its 7^th year at CPCC, the “Dances of India” performance will include numerous distinct dance styles performed to live music. Internationally acclaimed performer and choreographer Dr. Maha Gingrich will showcase the 2000-year-old traditional Indian classical dances from South and North regions of India, namely Bharatha Natyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak, along with folk dances of India. This year, “clapping” dances from different countries will be the focal point of the performance. More than 40 performers will share the stage wearing colorful silk and cotton costumes with elaborate jewelry depicting the native regions. Each dance is carefully choreographed to represent the ancient dances in their purist form.

The show will conclude with the rhythms of international dance styles performed to live orchestra with the “Unity in Diversity” theme. The dance styles used in this international performance include Indian classical, Russian gypsy, American ballet, and a combination of Flamenco.

Gingrich, who danced professionally in her native India, has been teaching dance in Charlotte since 1986. Trained in three different dance traditions, she has a great love for this dance form and keeping the heritage alive in this community. “The Dances of India performance is a way to celebrate unity and diversity within this community while at the same time supporting Central Piedmont Community College,” states Gingrich. “Charlotte is an international community, and this performance is another way the community can come together in support of the arts and diversity. We promote this as a family show, and we make the event as educational as possible providing background information and history on each dance before it is performed. Dances of India has been selling out each year and has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults alike.”