Holi Dance & Music Celebration: Festival of Colors
Advance Tickets: $15 General Admission | $12 Members | $12 Children 12 and Under
Day-of Tickets: $20 General Admission | $15 Members | $15 Children 12 and Under
Celebrate Holi with ullas (joy), sahbhaajan (sharing) and prem (love) at our dance concert as we invite you to experience India’s rich folk-dance legacy with live musical accompaniment. Abha B. Roy and dancers from Srijan Dance Company perform lively dances from Bengal, Jammu-Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh. Featuring the renowned classical Hindustani vocalist, Sanjukta Sen alongside Tapan Modak on tabla and Mirashi Gulam on harmonium. Delicious Indian food, drinks and more for sale by Chef Nupur Arora and Queens Curry Kitchen.
Weather permitting, there will be a throwing of colors in the garden at the close of the event.
About the Artists
Sanjukta Sen (vocals), is a dedicated disciple of Padma Vibhushan Dr. Girija Devi of the Benaras Gharana, is a distinguished performer, music teacher, composer, and musicologist. With over 40 years of experience teaching at Bhavan USA, she has played a vital role in nurturing the next generation of musicians. Her performances span across the USA and India. Among the notable highlights of her illustrious career, Sanjukta composed and rendered a song penned by the late Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his visit to New York in September 1998. She performed the opening chant at the International Yoga Day at the United Nations on June 2015. She also performed at the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust at the UN on December 14, 2022, in the presence of the Indian Ambassador, the Foreign Minister, and the Secretary-General of the UN. Her album, Rishi Vani: Celestial Vedic Hymns & Verses, is a musical offering of selected hymns from Vedic (ancient Sanskrit) scriptures, reflecting her deep devotion to preserving and promoting classical Indian music.
Mirashi Gulam (harmonium) learned harmonium from his father. Coming from a family of musicians, Mirashi was a part of the music faculty in Sukhadia College in Udaipur, India. He accompanied many renowned artists such as Kankana Banerjee, Pt. Rajan & Sajan Mishar, Savita Devi, Nizamuddin Khan and others.
Tapan Modak (tabla) had his initial training from Ustad Phool Mia of Bangladesh at a very early age followed by Pandit Birendra Hazarika. He was a disciple of illustrious tabla player Pandit Kishan Maharaj of Banaras. A well-known teacher and performer, Tapan has accompanied many renowned artists of the Indian subcontinent such as Ustad Bahadur Khan, Ustad Ashish Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Manna Dey, and Anup Jalota. Currently in New York, he is continuing his work as a dedicated teacher and successful performer.
Abha B. Roy, the artistic director of Srijan Dance Center and FTH teaching artist, has led the annual Diwali and Holi at FTH programs since their beginnings. A master of Kathak dance, she studied under the guidance of the late great Guru Kundan Lal Gangani and attained professional precision under the training of Pt. Durgalal when she completed her specialization in Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She represented the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and has taught and performed in South America, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. She has also performed throughout Europe and venues such as Lincoln Center, Flushing Town Hall, Queens Museum, NYC Cultural Festival, and many more.
Sarika Persaud (dance) is a student of Abha B. Roy and is the Assistant Director of Srijan Dance Center. She has danced and performed Kathak for more than 25 years. Sarika is a psychologist and a professor at Montefiore-Einstein and is also a teacher of Indian philosophies.
Shruti Sen (vocals) is a New York-based singer-songwriter whose music is rooted in a unique blend of Indian Classical, Jazz, and R&B. A graduate of Hunter College with a Bachelor of Music, Shruti has had the opportunity to perform on prestigious stages including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. With an extensive background in music education—having taught at Brooklyn College’s Music Preparatory Center—she now focuses her time on writing, producing, and recording her original music. Shruti remains an active performer throughout the Tri-State area and abroad, sharing a sound that reflects her diverse musical heritage.
Fashion designer-turned chef, Nupur Arora is owner of Queens Curry Kitchen which she began as a way to explore her creative endeavors with food and a diverse palette. What started as a hobby soon became hugely popular amongst Indian students at a prestigious New York university who loved her home-style food that reminded them of food made by their moms. Chef Arora is the author of a book, “The Vegan Indian Home,” with many others in the works, but continues to share her flavors with her food through catering and events, and weekly meal delivery service, all from her Queens Curry Kitchen.
This event is generously sponsored by The Guru Krupa Foundation.