*Event moved indoors due to weather.

San Francisco International Arts Festival will present a combination live in-person and livestream program that culminates in a two-day outdoor program to take place at the Fort Mason Center (on the weekend of October 23-24). The weekend will feature over 30 dance, theatre and music ensembles and companies in more than two dozen separate concerts.

Tickets available for single concerts and Festival Passes for multiple shows.

The 2021 program celebrates the (cautious and health-conscious) reopening of San Francisco’s performing arts industry and seeks to reconnect individual artists with their audiences in a live performance setting. The program will follow Federal Health and Safety guidelines (attendees must be vaccinated/tested negative and wear face coverings).

Indian Classical Dance Showcase

Abhinaya Dance Company (30 min)
Abhinaya Dance Company presents Bharatanatyam, a classical dances nurtured in the temples of South India. Through intricate rhythm, and a unique language of gestures, the dance presents vivid stories from Hindu mythology. Two young dancers from our Junior dance Company will present pieces worshipping the Goddess and seeking her grace. The central piece depicts the graceful yet fierce Goddess Shakti who wields weapons as she destroys the demons representing the evil of the mortal world.

SISK Dance Ensemble (25 min)
Kathak is an Indian classical dance form that originated from the traveling bards of North India, called ‘Kathakaars’ or storytellers. Like the early Greek theatre, these Kathakars wandered around and communicated legendary stories via music, dance, and songs. In fact, Kathak is closely associated with the Hindu God Krishna and many of the stories are about Krishna’s legends. Over the years, along with storytelling, the technical dance element also gained prominence. The present-day Kathak is a beautiful amalgamation of story-telling with nuanced expressions, stylized hand movements, vigorous footwork to go with complicated rhythm patterns, and fast pirouettes or spins!