Common American Indian and Asian Indian stereotypes are theme of Katha Dance Theatre's “Dots and Feathers”
The cultural bridge is getting stretched across continents in a new dance collaboration between Katha Dance Theatre and Native Pride Dancers.

“Dots and Feathers” uses the theme of identity as a way to bridge the Native American and Asian Indian cultures. Through humor, innovative dance and music and involving more than 20 local and international artists and musicians, the dance collaboration illustrates the misconceptions society holds of these two cultures. The show has performances Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. in The O'Shaughnessy on the College of St. Catherine St. Paul campus, 2004 Randolph Avenue. Tickets may be reserved at The O'Shaughnessy Box Office at 651-690-6700 or at ticketmaster.com

“Respect and tolerance for others is the greatest community need today,” said Rita Mitra Mustaphi, artistic director of KDT, who created this project to follow her dreams of breaking cultural barriers. “Many of my students ask about the difference between the two cultures. We thought – why not explain it through dance and music?”

Mustaphi approached her colleague Larry Yazzie, founder and director of the Native Pride Dancers for his opinion on the idea.

“I was definitely intrigued,” said Yazzie. “This image of Native Americans that kids have in their schemas is an image not at all in correspondence with the American Indian culture. It is an image that the media has implanted through movies and stories. This performance will definitely help educate and open their minds – we're very excited about bringing these two unique groups on stage together.”

Yazzie is a World Champion Fancy Dancer who consistently takes top honors at American Indian powwows. Through his cultural dance, Yazzie will lead the audience beyond the everyday stereotypes of Native Americans. In collaboration, Mustaphi defines her culture through live music and traditional Kathak dance that tells stories of the Asian Indian traditions. This performance will bring the audience a deeper understanding of both cultures and correct common misconceptions.

“When we think of Asian Indians we think of dots on their forehead, as we associate American Indians with feathers in their hair,” said Mustaphi. “This performance is our humorous attempt to go beyond those two stereotypes.”

To help educate and increase tolerance for one another, KDT is paying the ticket price for select schools to view the show Friday, September 28 at 10:30 am .

Biography: Rita Mitra Mustaphi
Artistic director, choreographer and dancer, Rita Mitra Mustaphi has been teaching and performing dance in the Twin Cities since 1978. A graduate of Rabindra Bharati University of Performing Arts in Calcutta, India she is a disciple of the living legend Pandit Birju Maharaj in Kathak style of Indian classical dance. Mustaphi, in her 27 years of professional dance, has choreographed more than 50 new works and performed locally, nationally and internationally.

Her selected awards include several McKnight Fellowships for choreography, dancer fellowships, and cultural collaboration awards from Minnesota State Arts Board and leadership award from the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans. In 1994, Mustaphi was the company member of the Guthrie Theatre in Minnesota and has performed as a troupe member of Pandit Birju Maharaj at Carnegie Hall, New York. Her choreographic credits include innovative productions such as: Sister India , Souls   Lament, Chandalika – the Untouchable Maiden, Living Tapestry, Unveiling, Mehfil-e-Darbar - The Royal Concert, The Courtesans – Ornaments of the Royal Court, Mother Daughter On the Border, Temple to Court, Black Candle, The Hungry Stones .  She performed at the prestigious international Kathak Dance Festival , New Delhi, India in 2003 organized by the Kathak Kendra, the National Institute of Kathak dance in India. Her presentation of Sudha's Story , a poetry enactment was reviewed by India Today, the newsmagazine as 'A poetry in motion - the piece de resistance' .  Hindustan Times in India writes 'From Minnesota with magic in her steps she creates a spirit that sets her apart at the festival' .  Mustaphi is also a roster artist for Minnesota State Arts Board, COMPAS and Young Audiences of Minnesota, the organizations that promote global education of multicultural arts.

For additional information about Katha Dance visitwww.kathadance.org/



Biography: Larry Yazzie (Meskwaki/Dine)
Larry Yazzie is a International Lecturer, Educator, Performer, and a World Champion Fancy Dancer. Raised on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement in Central Iowa, he began dancing at the age of 7. Throughout his childhood Larry was instructed on the traditions of the Meskwaki People, including the flamboyant and energetic fancy dance and the northern Plains style of singing.

“Through my dancing and singing, I experience a zone of free spirit, where everyday problems and worries are left behind. As a performer, it makes me feel good to share this positive energy with other people”

Larry began dancing competitively at powwows in his early teens. A renowned fancy dancer who consistently takes top honors at American Indian powwows throughout the United States and Canada, he won the World Championship for the Northern Style Fancy Dance in 1995. In addition to competing at powwows, Larry has been called upon to serve in a variety of positions, including Arena Director, Singing Judge, Dancing Judge, and Head Man Dancer.

“I have to give thanks to my grandmother, my grandfather, who bestowed the pride of the fancy dance, of my culture, of my language . . . I have to give thanks to my culture, to my way of live, for allowing me to travel, to experience the world”

As a dancer and singer, Larry has performed throughout North America as well as South America and Europe. His current solo show, “Native Pride Dancer,” balances entertainment with education and features the high-energy Fancy Dance. Larry performs this show for a variety of audiences from K-12 to colleges and universities, to corporate gatherings and community festivals. Notable performances include at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, the 1999 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, and most recently in 2005 at the Belo Horizante International Cultural Festival in Belo Horizante, Brazil. Larry and his seven year-old son Jessup were also seen performing in the 2005 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Since the 1980s Larry has performed with several notable performance companies, including the Woodland Singers and Dancers, the Discover Native American Dance Troupe, Lakota Dance Troupe, Foxwoods Dance Troupe, and the Kevin Locke Trio. Recently, while still continuing his successful solo show and duo show with his Jessup, he formed his own company, the Native Pride Dancers. Also, Larry is a member of the American Indian Committee on the Ordway Theater's Cultural Advisory Council.

In addition to dancing and singing Larry has also appeared in the motion pictures his first film was “Grey Owl,” which starred Pierce Brosnan. He is currently appearing in the independent film “Come and Get Your Love.”

For Additional Information about Larry Yazzie and his work visit: www.nativepridedancers.com

This activity is made possible in part by grants provided by the McKnight Foundation, COMPAS, Medtronic's Arts Access Fund, Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the MInnesota State Legislature. In addition this activity is supported in party by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Young Audiences of Minnesota sponsors the student matinee.