By Mabel Pais

Flushing Town Hall (flushingtownhall.org) invites guests to revel in the spirit of Holi, heralding the arrival of spring and the promise of new beginnings. On April 6th, Flushing Town Hall will present its annual Holi Dance Concert (flushingtownhall.org/holi-dance-concert), a joyful event that centers peace, harmony, love, and the triumph of good over evil.

Curated by Rajasthan native and professional dancer Abha Roy, the celebration will feature classical Indian dance performances by Srijan Dance Company and Anup Das Dance Academy, where she teaches. They will be joined by tabla and sitar musical performances, by Naren Budkar and Abhik Mukherjee, food vendor Queens Curry Kitchen and a card making workshop.

In celebration of Spring and new beginnings, Flushing Town Hall (flushingtownhall.org) will present its annual Holi Dance Concert on Saturday, April 6. Curated by Abha Roy, the artistic director of Srijan Dance Company and a teaching artist at Flushing Town Hall, the afternoon will feature dance, music, and food.

PROGRAM

SAT, APRIL 6 — LOCATION:  Flushing Town Hall Theater

Card Making Workshop: 12:30 PM

Dance Concert: 2:00 PM

The program will begin with a card making workshop at 12:30 p.m. where participants will create a mixed media Holi card by printing with carved wood block designs from India on colorful cardstock. Traditionally, people “paint” each other with powdered pigment. In that spirit, participants will create vibrant cards with pop-up Holi messages.

At 2:00 p.m., with lively colors and movements, the Srijan Dance Company and Anup Das Dance Academy (ADDA) will introduce audiences to folk and classical dances from India’s diverse states. They will be accompanied by Naren Budhakar, master of the Indian tabla drums and a vocal artist, and by Abhik Mukherjee, Indian classical sitar player. Queens Curry Kitchen, founded by Nupur Arora, will be selling their delicious Indian food and snacks.

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of Spring, as well as the concepts of love, new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil, and the end of conflict. The festival is predominantly celebrated in India, but is also widely celebrated in other South Asian, Caribbean and North American countries. Traditions vary from country to country, but popular festivities often include bonfires and the throwing of colorful powders. In 2024, Holi will be celebrated on March 25, but the date changes each year as the festival always falls on Purnima, or the day of the full moon during the lunar month of Phalguna.

“Holi has been celebrated in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, marking the beginning of a colorful spring after a long, dark winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. We are delighted to again bring together incredible artists and delicious food to offer an authentic, colorful and lively Holi celebration for all to experience,” said Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall. “We encourage audiences of all ages to come welcome spring at our Holi celebration this April.”

“Our full focus for this year’s Holi celebration at Flushing Town Hall is on peace, harmony and love. Holi is a time where friends, families, and villages come together to share their happiness with each other,” said Abha Roy, teaching artist and curator of the Holi Dance Concert at Flushing Town Hall. “I am delighted that my dancers and I will share the space with skillful musicians Naren Budhakar and Abhik Mukherjee, and talented chef Nupur Arora.”

TICKETS:

For individual events and the tiered level of tickets, visit flushingtownhall.org 

For those unable to attend events in person, Flushing Town Hall has launched Culture Stream (culturestream.tv).

Abha Roy

Abha Roy is the artistic director of Srijan Dance Center and Flushing Town Hall’s annual Diwali Festival. Learn more at flushingtownhall.org/abha-roy.

Naren Budhakar

Naren Budhakar is a versatile tabla player who has accompanied prominent vocal, instrumental and dance maestros. Learn more at anandaashram.org/NarenBudhakar

Abhik Mukherjee

Abhik Mukherjee is an Indian classical sitar artist known for his passion, charisma, and spontaneity as a performer and improviser. Learn more at abhikmukherjee.com.

Queens Curry Kitchen

Nupur Arora is the owner of Queens Curry Kitchen. Fashion designer-turned chef, Nupur started Queens Curry Kitchen as a way to explore her creative endeavors with food and a diverse palette. Learn more at linkedin.com/in/spicequeen or instagram.com/indianfoodqueens.

Anup Das Dance Academy

Anup Das Dance Academy (ADDA) was founded in 2020 by the late Guru Anup K. Das. ADDA promotes and preserves South Asian music, arts and dance. It also aims to promote and teach South Asian languages, literature, and culture among the younger generation of South Asians living in the U.S.

Flushing Town Hall

Learn more at flushingtownhall.org

(718) 463-7700 x222

137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)