Presented as an alternate take on the Indian epic Ramayana, I am Ravana engages the audience to consider the shades of good and evil. It is framed by the last moments of Ravana's life when Ravana asks humanity, "why do you rejoice in my death?". The quest for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment is timeless and universal. Ravana's hubris is ours today - personally, politically and globally.
Why?
"Why do you rejoice in my death?"
- Ravana
I am Ravana, is one of the headlining events of the DiverseCity KL International Arts Festival (KLIAF) 2018 and is staged by Australian-based arts and culture organisation Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya (SMV) in collaboration with The Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) Inner Space Dance (ISD). I am Ravana will be staged for just three nights from Sept 6 to 8 at the Shantanand Auditorium, The Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur.
Legend tells the story of Rama, King Dasharatha’s oldest son. Rama and his young wife Sita were banished to a life of exile for 14 years in the forest as a result of his father’s promise to his queen Kaikeyi. SMV’s take on this epic begins at the time of the demon King of Lanka’s death, in that split second of losing his life, encased within the liminality between death and the afterlife, he experiences an existential moment, questions humanity and his sense of Self, and reflects upon his actions. The production is shaped by the insights of several cultural performance styles, from dance, music and text and using Valmiki's text as the basis for interpretation.
I am Ravana premiered last July in Australia to rave reviews – the West Australian remarked that it was "a true feast for the senses" – and marks the first show that SMV is staging outside of Australia. Over 100 cast and crew from both Kuala Lumpur and Perth will be involved in production, which is further brought to life by colourful sets and costumes and both live and pre-recorded music.
DATES / LOCATION
06 Sep - 08 Sep 2018 | 7.30 pm
Shantanand Auditorium, The Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur
TICKETS
PRE-SALE EARLY BIRD
- Pre-sale Early Bird available on 04 - 29 July 2018.
- 30% discount for all ticket categories.
- Applicable for Internet Purchase ONLY.
GENERAL RELEASE: 30 July
- Category 1: RM 150
- Category 2: RM 100
- Category 3: RM 80
- Category 4: RM 50
- Prices exclude processing fees.
Organisers and Sponsors
About Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya (SMV)
Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya (SMV) was founded by Swami Shantanand Saraswati, who expounded the principle of ‘Arts for Art’s sake’ and ‘Serving humanity through arts, culture and education’. SMV is dedicated to the promotion of culture and fine arts in Australia and beyond; transcending age, cultural, social and geographical boundaries. It offers courses in dance, music, linguistics, culinary sciences and Ayurveda (Vedic approach to health). Over the past 25 years, SMV has staged internationally acclaimed dance and music productions such as Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady White Snake, Ramayana, The Legend of Mahsuri, and Naad Brahma in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India and the USA. SMV collaborates with various artistes within Australia and internationally on joint works and productions. SMV now seeks to produce a new work annually as an emerging professional performance institution.
For more information, visit http://www.smv.org.au
About The Temple of Fine Arts - Inner Space Dance (ISD)
In 1981 a lamp was lit to symbolise the beginning of something very beautiful for the Malaysian arts and culture scene. The aim was to guide Malaysian youth to rediscover the cultural and artistic wealth of their forefathers and to make it relevant to themselves and for future generations to come. With the guiding principle of “Art Just for the Love of It”, The Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) was born through the vision of H.H. Swami Shantanand Saraswati and with the support of two extraordinary dance icons, Gopal Shetty and Sivadas, and their respective spouses, Ratha and Vatsala.
Conceptualised as the performing wing of The Temple of Fine Arts International, TFA Inner Space Dance is an award-winning performing arts company that aspires to push the boundaries of traditional norms of dance creation and presentation. ISD explores and innovates on well-loved themes and ideas in a totally original and contemporary manner that spills beyond traditional boundaries, breaking down habituated perceptions and notions of what dance is so as to capture the attention and abiding interest of art lovers of all races for our unique genre of dance. ISD seeks to produce new and creative works annually in collaboration with diverse artistes and arts forms with the intent to inspire young artists, engage the community at a grass roots level and finally to create a platform that will provide artists the ability to become wholly available for the creation of innovative forms of artistic expression.
For more information visit, https://www.facebook.com/InnerSpaceDance/
About the KL International Arts Festival
Launched in 2015, the KL International Arts Festival (KLIAF) is building a reputation as a major annual international celebration of the Arts. Held in the third quarter of the year, the Festival features artistes across a variety of genres in more than a dozen venues throughout Kuala Lumpur. Festival performances are also complemented by educational workshops and activities. This year’s Festival (KLIAF 2018) will be officially launched on 31 August 2018 and will take place throughout the month of September. KLIAF 2018 will feature more than 50 music, dance, theatre, visual arts and literature events in over 12 venues in and around the city. For more information about KLIAF 2018, email: media@diversecity.my
About DiverseCity
DiverseCity advocates, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across genres from theatre, digital art, and music to literature, fine art and crafts. Its philosophy embodies the belief that arts and culture impact people, health and well-being, education, society and the economy in many positive ways. Arts and culture inspire and bring diverse communities together; they educate us about ourselves; and help us to appreciate other cultures around the world. Arts and culture enrich quality of life and promote harmony.
DiverseCity gives equal opportunity to renowned artistes as well as budding talents of tomorrow, both local and international, balancing tradition and contemporary. DiverseCity is a non-profit organization and receives funding from the government, box office sales as well as sponsorships and donations from corporations, individuals and charitable foundations.