Yollay - B'Rhythm: Carnatic Inspired Percussion with Urban Dance

Bala Skandan
Music
Bala Skandan is a performer, educator and composer of Carnatic music. He performs both on the Mridangam (double-headed drum) and violin (Carnatic style). He also highlights the beauty of Kanjira (frame drum) and konnakkol (vocal rhythm) in his compositions as well as in performances. He is the lead artist and composer of Akshara Music Ensemble, a NY based Indian-classical music inspired band. Bala Skandan lives in Manhattan and teaches actively. Bala Skandan started his music training at the age of 6 in both Mridangam and Violin; He received training from the legends of Carnatic music Guru Karaikudi Mani on Mridangam and Vidushi T Rukmini on Violin. Noted for his superb musical accompaniment by the NY Times, Bala Skandan has accompanied established international musicians and dancers and has performed in prestigious venues in Chennai, Europe and North America throughout his musical career. He is the lead musician and composer for Akshara, an Indian percussion ensemble based in NY. In 2007/08 Balaskandan had the distinction of teaching and conducting the first Carnatic student recital at the prestigious Juilliard School of music.

Kabilan Jeganathan
Music
Kabilan Jeganathan started learning mridangam at the age of 10 including kanjira for six years under the tutelage of Sri A.R. Balaskandan. Under his gurus guidance, Kabilan has been performing in many cultural programs such as Sruthi Laya, Bala Shruti, Hindu Temple Society of North America and solo performance at Orikkai, Kanchipuram. He also accompanies dancers from organizations such as ShivaJyothi Dance Academy & Jiva Performing Arts. He is vocally trained by Smt. Savithri Ramanand and has accompanied several upcoming artists such as Aparna Balaji, Delhi Muthukumar, T.S. Krishnamurthy, Flute Raman, Sikkil Gurucharan, and the Chinmaya Sisters. In 2015, Kabilan was placed first in kanjira at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.

Rich Stein
Music
Originally from Virginia, Rich Stein began his studies of percussion at age 11 focused primarily on rudimental, orchestral, jazz, and rock drumming styles, under the guidance of John Brewington and Bill Pease. Further studies led him to Ghana, West Africa, in 1999 to study the drumming styles of the Ewe, Dagomba, and Ga people with Emmanuel Agbeli, Alhaji Abubakari Lunna, and Shamsuddin Adeji. In 2003, he learned Carnatic percussion, from maestro Guru Karaikudi R. Mani. Some of the artists, Rich has shared the stage with are Lauryn Hill, Richard Stoltzman, Lila Down, Steve Smith, Zakhir Hussian among others. He has also performed at some of the prestigious stages including Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall to name a few. Rich has also been deeply involved in the creation and co-development (with master ceramicist Walter Heath) of an innovative original percussion instrument called the Hydra, which will be available to the public in 2020. Rich currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Arielle Rosales
Dance
Arielle Rosales is a Bessie nominated Social Engagement Performance Artist and Native New Yorker with a 15-year career as a professional Flamenco Dancer, Choreographer, and Teacher. She is the Founder & Director of @HouseOfDuende, Co-Director & Principal Dancer of @SolesOfDuende, and Repique Player with @BalataNewYork. Arielle's most recently commissioned work explores concepts of creative inspiration through the lens of the feminine divine using improvised movement & rhythm as a means for human connection. "Becoming Mother Duende: #PermissionToBe" debuts Summer 2019 at Brooklyn Bridge Park with support from Gibney Dance Company and a space-grant through ChaShaMas Space to Create Program. Visit www.ariellerosales.com and follow @ariellerosales for more!

Brinda Guha
Dance
Brinda Guha has primarily trained in Indian Classical Kathak, as well as Manipuri & Flamenco, and has now developed her own movement vocabulary entitled Contemporary Indian dance. She teaches, choreographs and performs with her ensemble Kalamandir Dance Co & performs nationally & internationally. More recently, Brinda works with a percussive trio featuring Flamenco, Tap and Kathak called Soles of Duende which just earned the artist-in-residence position at Gibney 2020. Her ultimate dream of having art meet activism was realized when she created a live art event called WISE FRUIT, a seasonal benefit for Planned Parenthood, which just completed its 8th iteration in NYC & will debut in Nashville on June 2020.

Emi Yamashita De Olio
Dance
Born and raised in Japan. Worked in TV shows, commercials and Cheerleading for a professional baseball team then moved to NY in 2012. She joined Kalamandir Dance Company directed by Brinda Guha in 2019 and is performing in several shows.

Rashmi Rajendran
Dance
Having studied & trained in two styles of Indian Classical dance namely Mohiniattam & Bharatnatyam for 20 years, Rashmi has had the opportunity to perform at various reputed dance festivals across India. She has also successfully completed the ISVP 1-year certificate program at Broadway Dance Center, New York with a concentration in Contemporary. She is passionate about teaching young students and works towards making Indian dance styles (classical & folk) accessible to everyone.

B'Rhythm: Carnatic Inspired Percussion with Urban Dance