A Modern Rendition of the Ramayana Comes to Hayward

This Saturday the stage at Hayward’s HUSD Performing Arts Center will showcase elaborate set designs and colorful costumes, as dancers portray one of the most well-known tales in the world.

The PAMPA Dance Academy‘s modern rendition of the Ramayana, titled “Rama Katha,” also boasts unique dance moves and fierce emotions, says chief choreographer Nirmala Madhava.

“There is a hero,” she says, explaining the role of Rama in the tale, adding that “there is a heroine and a villain … birds and a monkey god.” Through these characters’ facial expressions and body language, she says, audience members will connect with their very human sentiments.

Nirmala explains that the word “Navarasa” means nine emotions in Sanskrit. In the show, certain characters depict happiness, sadness, jealousy, revenge and more. “The story will be combined with all the emotions,” she says, noting that the characters’ raised eyebrows, cutting eyes and hand gestures accentuate the ancient tale.

“There will be 80-plus dancers performing,” adds Bindu Madhava, Nirmala’s husband and the performance’s tech lead. The unique choreography will bring audiences into Lord Rama’s journey, as the protagonist leads his devotees (or Vanaras), saves the heroine Sita and illustrates how a human beings should live, Bindu says.

Although the story has been condensed to 90 minutes, Nirmala says the combination of dance styles will give audiences a full understanding of the epic poem.

“I have trained in two Indian classical dance styles,” Nirmala says, explaining that this show will feature Bharatanatyam, which comes from southern India, and Kathak from the northern part of the country. She’s also adding her own contemporary freestyle movements that speak to the music and mood of the characters. With a slight laugh, she says she calls it, “Nirmala’s style.”

A student as well as a teacher, Nirmala has worked with scores of young children at her academy and led college courses at De Anza College. She’s also presented at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and trained students for a performance at the San Francisco Opera’s production of “Aida.”

A dancer since she was a child, Nirmala earned her undergraduate degree at Bangalore University in India. Afterwards, Nirmala and Bindu moved to the South Bay in the early ’90s and launched their academy. They fell fast in love with Bay Area culture. And while that affinity lingers, they agree that the region is drastically different now from how it was back then.

In those days there were very few schools that taught Indian dance, Nirmala reflects. Now there are 200 to 300 institutions in the greater Bay Area. When they first started, it was easy to find venues. “Now we have to wait for the whole year to book that theater,” she says.

PAMPA Academy has graduated dozens and dozens of students, skilled in both practice and theory. The group holds yearly productions at community centers, libraries and even retirement homes. And when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited San Jose in 2015, they performed in front of him as well.

“There were about 25,000 people there,” Bindu says, describing the scene at San Jose’s SAP Center. “So we did the opening welcome for him, the dance production.”

Carrying on Indian traditions through dance is at the heart of what the PAMPA Academy is about, but deeper are the lessons that translate to other aspects of life.

“I have seen great achievements from my students,” Nirmala says, referring to not only dance but discipline, commitment and confidence as well. “Some students are very shy, they don’t open up,” the dance instructor says. But through stage shows, the pupils learn that they have to “stand up for themselves,” a lesson that is universally applicable.

“Nirmala gives them the time,” Bindu says, explaining his wife’s teaching style. He notes that public speaking and stage presence are just as big as dance techniques, as it pays dividends for the maturing young person. “I have seen some kids, now they’re doctors,” Bindu says. “And I always tell them, ‘I saw you when you were a kid, when you came to this school … You were shy, now you’re a doctor.'”

In some cases, as students continue their pursuit of medical degrees or PhDs, they also keep on dancing. “That makes me so happy to see they’re continuing this Indian culture of dance,” Nirmala says.

PAMPA Dance Academy‘s “Rama Katha” has two shows on Saturday, April 4, at Hayward’s HUSD Performing Arts Center (2390 Panama St., Hayward). For more information, check here.