(upbeat music) - Kaladharaa Dance promotes and preserves Indian classical dance, and spreads awareness about this beautiful form of art.

And here to tell us about the dance school and an upcoming performance, founder and artistic director, Sonali Loombaa, and dancer, Sujanya.

Hello, ladies, thank you for being here.

So first, why don't you give us a general introduction to Indian classical arts?

- So there are eight Indian classical styles, and with this production, we are representing four styles on September 15th.

And we represent one of the classical styles, it's called Kathak.

It comes from the northern part of India.

And there are four classical styles, which are from the southern, one from the east, and one from the northeast.

- Okay, great.

And why don't you talk about the artists in the dance school?

- So the dance school, Kaladharaa Dance School, was established in 2017.

It's a nonprofit organization with an aim to preserve and promote Indian classical art in Utah with a specific focus on Kathak, the style that we practice.

And we also encourage music, Indian classical music, as part of our school curriculum.

- Okay, great.

And let's talk about the big production on the 15th.

Okay, what will people see at that?

- So this production is called "Ganga to Kaveri."

So Ganga is one of the rivers, sacred rivers in India, and Kaveri is also a river in India, so we are representing the history, and the heritage, and the story of five different Indian rivers, which starts from the northern part of India down to the south, and we are representing these, the story of these five rivers through four different classical dance styles.

So in India, rivers are considered very sacred, and it has a very spiritual significance where we pray to the water.

So you know, we take dip in the river Ganga, for example, to sort of wash away our sins, so it's considered a way spiritual practice.

- All right, well, it sounds wonderful.

Looking forward to seeing you both, and thank you for being here.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming production of the Kaladharaa Dance, "From Ganga to Kaveri," it's September 15th from 3:00 to 5:30 at the Mid Valley Performing Arts Center, Studio 5400.

Just go to kaladharaa.com.

That's kaladharra.com.

(upbeat music) I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

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Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

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