See the classical dance of India

LAKE ARIEL — There will be a performance workshop of Indian Classical Dance, Saturday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m., at Lacawac Sanctuary, in Lake Ariel. Viji Rao, of Philadelphia, and Eswary Sriram, of Scranton, will speak about and demonstrate the ancient art form of Bharatanatyam. Historians placed the origins of this art form as sometime between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. Bharatanatyam is a highly nuanced art form that gives equal importance to pure dance (through movement, rhythm and geometry), and also to emotion (through facial expressions and hand gestures). Often invoked for story-telling, the art form is noted for tenderness, grace, purity and the use of staturesque poses. Trained in India, Viji Rao has an active career as performer and teacher of Bharatanatyam and has performed with several international dance and theatre companies. Eswary Sriram, studied her art in Malaysia and has performed in Malaysia, India and the United States. She is now established in Scranton as performer and teacher. General admission is $25. For information, call 560-689-9494 or visit info@lacawac.org.