Electrifying and immensely original. – The India Times
The dancers’ versatility, prowess and finesse are remarkable. – The Star
Few spectacles are so global in appeal. – The Morning Call
These are just a few reviews from critics, and if this is anything to go by, Mystic India will be a treat for South African audiences, It is not everyday that a world-class Dance production comes to South Africa. This festive Bollywood music and dance spectacular will be back to captivate audiences on the 23rd of April at the Durban ICC and from 29th April to 1st of May 2016 at Montecasino in Johannesburg.
Seen by over half a million people during countless worldwide performances and tours, Mystic India is an internationally acclaimed Bollywood dance spectacular based on the concept of ancient India’s transition into modern India. Featuring some 22 talented musicians, brilliant dancers, mind-boggling aerialists and acrobats, as well as 750 lavish costume changes, the show is bound to keep you at the edge of your seat. The flamboyant costumes and extravagant sets have been custom-designed in India’s film capital by a team of 40 creative designers and collaborators over the course of four years.
This production intertwines a mesmerising combination of Traditional Indian, the urban streets of Mumbai and New York. It is hip and trendy with all the glitter and bling to make it an all-out sensory sensation. This feast showcases Bollywood at its finest and audiences can brace themselves for an explosion of colours and energy. Audience members will be invited along for a festive journey through Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, and even through the evolution of Bollywood films via a visual display that fuses dance, theatre and special effects.
The celebratory production is directed and choreographed by the prominent choreographer and production master, Amit Shah, and produced by US-based AATMA Performing Arts, of which Shah is the founder and creative director. Shah is known for his critical eye and creative disposition, and has many years of experience in the world of dance, theatre and media. He has worked on Bollywood film sets with top actors and his choreography has been featured on stage with Miss World Priyanka Chopra, as well as in several films and music videos.
Talking about Mystic India, Amit says, “If you have ever wanted to visit India, this production is your direct flight there. Mystic India will blow you all the way to the small villages of India to the fast-paced streets of Mumbai and New York. Audiences will get it all!” The female lead of Mystic India, Kruti Shah, is an internationally distinguished dancer and choreographer who shot to fame as a Top 10 finalist on the dance reality show, Just Dance. While intensively training in modern forms of movement, such as ballet, pointe, tap, hip-hop, jazz and modern, Kruti also developed an interest in more ancient Indian forms of dance, particularly Bharatnyatam and Kathak. She joined the AATMA as a principal dancer in 2010 and has since been promoted to choreographer and dance trainer for the popular troupe.
Mystic India’s narrator, Sanjay Sahini, is originally from Delhi, India, and received his professional actor’s training at the acclaimed HB Studios in New York City. His breakout role was in the movie Khel Shuru in 2006, and since then he has gone on to perform in numerous films, theatre and off-Broadway productions. One of his most notable performances was in Qurbaani, a short film for which he received a Best Actor Award. He also received numerous awards for his one-man show, in which he performs incredible imitations of Bollywood’s big stars.
Bringing the element of adventure to Mystic India, are the specialty acts, like the ancient sport of Mallakhamb and the aerial arts. The choreographer, trainer and performer in charge of constructing these stunning pieces into the show, is Rajesh Mudki. He hails from Mumbai, India, where he has devoted his life to these spectacular sports. Mudki has trained in Mallakhamb since the age of six, and has since mastered the aerial mediums of silk, hoop, harness and rope. In 2007 he was honoured with the Shiv Chattrapati Award from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for Best Athlete of the Year.
The larger-than-life Bollywood music and dance spectacular, Mystic India, will run at the Durban ICC on 23 April 2016 and at Montecasino between 29 April to 1 May 2016. Book your tickets via COMPUTICKET.
