Centre for Dance Reseach, and MA Programme in South Asian Dance Studies, Roehampton University, London and Department of Drama and Theatre, Royal Holloway, University of London, invite you to
	Sattriya Dances of the Celibate Monks of Eastern State of Assam, India; An illustrated talk by dance historian and scholar DR SUNIL KOTHARI
	Friday 27th April at 5pm, Room F3, Royal Holloway, 11 Bedford Square, London WC1B Co-Chairs Dr Avanthi Meduri, Reader Dance Programmes and Convener MA in South Asian Dance Studies at Roehampton University Dr Matthew Isaac Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Department of Drama and Theatre, Royal Holloway

Sattirya, a dance form from the far eastern state of Assam in India, is located in a matrix of an interesting system of belief, ritual and faith. Specifically it emerges from a five hundred year old comprehensive theatre tradition nurtured in the Vaishnava
Monasteries of Assam. Thus, though it has been preserved and practiced in more recent times by the consecrated monks, most of hem celibate, the dance form of Sattriya, like many other classical dance forms of India, has been extracted from a larger body of theatrical practices.

Shankardeva, the spiritual saint and leader of the Neo- Vaishnavite movement, and his principle disciple Madhavdeva, propagated bhakti, devotion, as an all pervading religious belief in praise of Lord Vishnu in his various manifestations. He brought a revolutionary change and established monasteries, Sattras, across the length and breadth of Assam, which in the late 15th Century was going through political upheavals. In place of idol worship, Shankardeva placed the religious text, Shrimad Bhagavata purana. He being a vastly gifted poet, possessing the knowledge of dance, music, literature, introduced Brajabuli, a hybrid language that people could follow.
The themes of the dance naturally centre round mythological stories, extolling the victory of the good over the evil. The predominant sentiment remains f devotion to the Lord.

Sattriya dances were brought to the notice of people in the post independence era in the year 1956,when the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi documented he rare dance forms. However, precious little was known till recently about the classical nature of this dance form. Recently it has been accorded a classical dance form status on par with the other seven classical dance forms and widely known in India and has been accepted as the eighth classical dance form. It has moved form monasteries to the metropolitan stages, and practiced by the female dancers also.

Dr Sunil Kothari, arguably one of the leading dance historians and scholars from India, has to his credit more than 14 books on Indian dance forms. His researches have been well acclaimed for his fieldwork visiting the centres of traditional dance forms in India. He was a Fulbright Scholar, and has toured and lectured extensively within USA, and India. He recently visited the monasteries on Majuli Island, the largest river island in the world, where the celibate monks continue to practice dance as a form of religious practice. Dr Kothari will share with us with visuals the recent developments in this rare dance form.