Rhythm Rewritten
With Jason Samuels Smith and Seema Mehta

Date: Thu, May 16, 2019 08:00PM
Price: $50, $45 Friends, $37.50 students and seniors
Includes same-day Museum admission (redeem at Ticket Desk)

Don’t miss this performance of a captivating new cross-art form, featuring Emmy Award-winning tap-dancing phenomenon Jason Samuels Smith and acclaimed classical Indian kathak dancer Seema Mehta.

Celebrating the musical dialogue between an African-American dance form and one that traces its roots to India’s Mughal Courts, the performers create an energetic chemistry full of improvisational flair.

Their unique artistic conversation is a powerful exchange of rhythm, music, and storytelling that showcases the similarities between cultures and the ability to adapt to the changing beats. This performance is part of our 2018/19 season, The Other Side of Fear, featuring acclaimed artists who have transcended fear through music, dance, and spoken word.

*Jason Samuels Smith and Seema Mehta will hold an open studio dance class at the Museum on May 15, 2019, teaching their unique blend of tap and kathak dancing. No experience or special footwear required.

Bios:

Seema Mehta is a Mumbai-born kathak dancer, who trained under the renowned dancer Pandit Chitresh Das. She is also the Director of Chhandam Nritya Bharati-India, where she teaches hundreds of dancers in Mumbai and Kolkata, and she works in collaboration with the New Light Project, Akanksha Foundation, and SMILE Foundation in Mumbai to empower children through kathak. Mehta holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specialising in painting and sculpture, from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Jason Samuels Smith is an Emmy Award-winning tap dancer, choreographer, and director from New York. He’s held leading roles in several critically-acclaimed productions including the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk; the film Tap Heat; Outkast’s film Idlewild; the AMC television series Cool Women; and Soul Possessed alongside Patti Labelle. Smith is the founder of the tap company A.C.G.I. (Anybody Can Get It) and the JaJa Productions band that tours across America. He has also performed in India Jazz Suites in collaboration with kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das.