Sep 27, 2016
New York and Los Angeles-based Indian dance company AATMA Performing Arts has released its first semi-classical dance cover called “The Fifth,” which explores the five elements of Hinduism: prithvi (earth), ap (water), vayu (air), agni (fire) and akasha (ether). The video has been set to “Dhanashree Thillana,” a well-known track rendered by Bangalore-based contemporary Carnatic progressive rock band Agam. The video was shot in a day and features choreographed dances by 10 dancers dressed up in traditional Indian finery. The dancers, whose performances are marked by intricate footwork and fluid hand movements, are professionals in the medical, legal and business field. “Our mission was to promote the pursuit of passion in the South Asian arts and re-introduce Indian classical dance to the audience of today,” Amit Shah, founder and creative director of AATMA Performing Arts, said in a press release. The company previously performed sold-out shows of “Mystic India,” a Bollywood dance extravaganza demonstrating ancient India’s transition to modern India.