Soorya Performing Arts

AAPAHA (water) is the source of Life of all living beings.

The dance production revolves around two rivers - River Ganga in India and LA river in Los Angeles.
The story of GANGA is of divine origin and it is believed (and science has proved) that bathing in this river
will rid one of all sins and is a life-giver. Witness to human civilization since times immemorial, Ganga has
been enriching the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years, and is home to a multitude of flora, fauna,
and social and cultural life.

LOS ANGELES River was a life giver to the TONGVA Indians and had many villages along the river. The
river was a source of water and food for the locals until urbanization and expansion altered the river’s
course. As the city shaped, so did the river. Sadly, industrialization, urbanization, and pollution destroyed
vital animal, bird, marine and human lives.

Fortunately, recent cleaning measures have given a new lease of life to both rivers. Over the last few years,
activists and the city itself recognized the Los Angeles River as offering huge potential for natural,
community, and economic resources. Ganga has been revived by the government of India. The revitalized
rivers are home to a variety of living creatures.

AAPAHA- shows the lives and journey of two rivers using traditional Indian dance technique, Indian
instruments and Drums. The dancers enact the life, path and revival of the two rivers in Bharatanatyam style
of dancing.

Verses in Sanskrit have been chosen from “Apah Suktam” chapter from Rig Veda, the oldest existing text
in the world, dating to 1500 BC. AND from Mike Sonksen's poems from his book, Letters to my city

GURU Sushma Mohan along with Soorya dancers and guest artist Samanvita Kasthuri (St. Louis teen talent
winner) will undertake this dynamic yet traditional story of the divinity and importance of rivers in today's
world and why it is important to restore rivers and to bring them back to life. This dance production will
connect today's youth of both US and Indian ancestry, to their history and heritage.