A Festival of the Arts and Culture

PERFORMANCE GUIDES FOR EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS

Unity in DiversityTo begin to appreciate the wonders of India, just look at the

word on this cover. Notice the different scripts (letters) within

each letter of “India.” They come from India’s many languages

and represent the diverse peoples, beauty, complexity,

history, and traditions that fuse together to form the unique

entity called India. It is the unity seen in this artwork, this

singular identity that has inspired people for centuries.

The land itself offers magnificent sights, from the Himalaya

Mountains to the Indian Ocean and stunning architecture,

from ancient Buddhist temples to the Taj Mahal, one of the

world’s most recognizable structures. The culture, one of the

world’s oldest, has given us music and classical Indian dance,

major religions, yoga, colorful fabrics and tapestries, intricate

crafts, distinct cuisines, and performances on stage and film

that mesh words, music, and dance.

Through maximum INDIA, we invite you to discover, experience,

and savor India’s cultural and artistic wonders, in vibrant color.

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

maximum INDIA is presented in cooperation with Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhiand Embassy of India, Washington, DC.

Co-ChairsIndra K. Nooyi

David M. RubensteinStephen A. Schwarzman

Dr. Romesh and Kathleen Wadhwani

Presenting Underwriter

The HRH Foundation

Executive Council

Major support is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein.

Additional support is provided by the Trehan Foundation, Dr. Romesh and Kathleen Wadhwani,Amway Corporation, and RB Properties Inc.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of theKennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by The U.S. Department ofEducation, The President's Advisory Committee on the Arts, and The Clark Charitable Foundation.

Cuesheets are made possible by the U.S. Department of Education, AT&T, the Carter and MelissaCafritz Charitable Trust, James V. Kimsey, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Newman’s

Own Foundation, and Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. Stolwijk, and the Verizon Foundation.

www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org

© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Cover photo: Ragamala Dance, Photo by Ed Bock

‘‘India is a geographical and economic entity,

a cultural entity, a cultural unity amidst diversity,

a bundle of contradictions held together by

strong but invisible threads.’’—Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister

Hallmarks of India’s Culture

‘‘A nation’s culture resides in the heart

and in the soul of its people.’’— Mohandas K. Gandhi, considered the father of the

Indian nation and worldwide icon of nonviolent protest

At the festival, you’ll experience India’s visual, wearable, culinary,

literary, cinematic, and performing arts (that means everything

from pottery to poetry, music to movies). Across this rich and

varied artistic landscape, you’ll find some notable characteristics:

� Melodic and Rhythmic Music—Strong

melodies backed by a drone (a note held

steady) rather than harmony and a wide

variety of complex rhythms

� Signature Instruments—Traditional

instruments include the sitar (a stringed

instrument, pictured here) and the tabla

(a pair of drums)

� Intricate Dance—Classical dancers move

the entire body (including facial muscles)

and use complex footwork to create

elaborate stamping rhythms

� Spirituality—Many classical dances and

art originate from religious worship

� Colors—fabrics, tapestries, and artwork

feature bright solid colors

� Cuisine—Fragrant and colorful spices

and distinct ingredients distinguish

cooking from India’s different regions

� Interrelated Arts—Sculptures might be of

dancers; films or puppetry often combine

spoken words, music, and dance