To provide insight into the nature of human creativity, the
world arts and cultures department has recruited an exclusive music
group from western Rajasthan, India, that will demonstrate its
unique culture through vibrant song and dance.
RajRang, an ensemble of eight artists from the vast desert of
western India, will be joining UCLA for a special performance
sponsored by the UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance, the
Cultural Affairs Commission and the ethnomusicology department.
The group, which includes three vocalists, three musicians and
two dancers, is preparing to perform today at noon in the Glorya
Kaufman Dance Theater.
RajRang originates from Rajasthan, a state where extraordinary
musical developments have occurred. Music from this region splits
into two categories of professional musical communities: Langa and
Manganiar. The resonant melodies of the two styles transform
language and dig deep into the subconscious.
Dancers rely on the steady pulse of these musicians to surprise
audiences with their dexterity and passion. Bhavi ““ one of
the traditional dances of Rajasthan ““ consists of women
balancing seven to nine brass pitchers on top of their heads as
they demonstrate acrobatic movements along to music.
Teratali ““ the second dance RajRang is set to perform
““ is a religious dance to honor Ramdeo, the god of the
downtrodden. The women in this dance have small copper cymbals tied
to various body parts, and they hit the cymbals and produce an
interesting sound pattern as they move. The dancers’
acrobatic skills along with the talent of the vocalists and
musicians convey their heritage and spirituality.
“Their style is very exuberant. It’s joyful.
It’s celebratory. It’s very direct. The performers are
very skilled, yet they are not formally trained like in an
academy,” said Judy Mitoma, director of the WAC Center for
Intercultural Performance.
Rajasthan traditions in dance and music serve as a celebration
of culture and life’s journey, which reflect the past,
present and future.
“We sing for the generations to come. We sing of things
like childbirth and weddings,” said Anwar Khan Manganiar, a
RajRang vocalist.
Family ties are one of the most important parts of Rajasthan
culture. The music and dance not only serve as outlets of worship
but also as reminders of the strong cultural relationships within
the family.
“They are taught by family lineage, and this makes them
really important heritage carriers of their tradition,”
Mitoma said. “Their tradition is very strong.”
In the desert, where the sky and the sand are the backdrop, the
Rajasthanis gather in festivity to honor their community through
its music and dance, singing in small groups or in large
gatherings. Anyone in the community can participate during these
festivities, dancing and singing traditional works or creating
their own.
“If you are capable enough to absorb the music’s
technicality, you can improvise and transform the music into your
own that still come from the traditional roots,” said Kuldeep
Kothari, director of Rupayan Sansthan, an Indian institution that
promotes studies in ethnography.
Even through these musical changes, RajRang’s traditions
have given it the foundation to survive and the enthusiasm to
learn. Ensemble members believe that their performances have opened
opportunities for incoming generations and encourage younger
Rajasthanis to bring their culture’s traditions into the
future.
RajRang is also scheduled to hold Indian dance workshops for
students in various world arts and cultures courses.
Guest artists will work with interested students outside the
department today in specific courses taught by Professors Mitoma,
Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy and Lynn Vally.
“It’s important for me that my students recognize
the strength of (the Rajasthan) community and artistic factor and
that they are strongly tied to each other, which makes their
performance really remarkable,” Mitoma said.