Mandala Makers Festival is an annual celebration that supports multidisciplinary South Asian performing artists. The festival provides a professional platform for artists to progress and renew traditions of the South Asian diaspora.
Events take place throughout the Devon Avenue neighborhood in “Little South Asia”, Chicago. Experience art at community spaces such as parks, shops, street corners and social service centers.
This year the Devon Avenue free festival culminates with the finale of music at Harris Theatre on June 27 led by Ambi Subramaniam.
This festival is made possible with major support from DCASE and The Richard Driehaus Foundation.
JUNE 2
WORKSHOPS
Maya Rau Murthy 10am- 10:45am
Vaneetha Veeravalli & Sutikshna Veeravalli 11:15am- 12pm
DANCE PERFORMANCES
Maya Rau Murthy 1:30pm
Varsha Vijayan 1:55pm
Sonali Skandan (Jiva Dance Collective) 2:20pm
Ishami Dance Company 2:45pm
Mandala Ensemble 3:10pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
Lauren Warnecke | Ameera Nimjee | Pranita Nayar 3.30pm – 4.30pm
JUNE 9
Samarth Bhat & Jaydeep Kulkarni 1pm
Bhargavi Thakur 1:15pm
Saurabh Kumar & Arun Sabapathy 1:30pm
Maninder Singh 2:30pm | 3:05pm | 3:55pm
Jayashree & Venkatesh Padmanabhan (Monsoon Showers) 1:50pm
Association of South Asian Cappella 2:10pm
Sonny Singh (Red Baraat) 2:40pm
Mandala Music Circle 3:15pm
Riyaaz Qawwali w/ Markeyta Sconniers (Qawwali & Gospel) 4:05pm
JUNE 16
Indira Frietas Johnson w/ Devon Community Advisory Council
Mural Opening at 1pm
Artist Line Up 2024
Sonali Skandan (Jiva Dance)
Jiva Dance explores the intersection of classicism, modernity, and experimentation. Unrestricted by Bharatanatyam's cultural specificity, the company creates performances that reflect the lives of a diverse urban community. They believe that the language of movement and expression transcends time and culture, breathing new life into classical pieces with innovative staging concepts. Jiva Dance has made significant strides in the dance world, being the first Indian classical dance company to be featured at the Victory Dance Series at New Victory Theater and being part of the CUNY Dance Initiative at Queens College. The company has also received recognition through various grants and awards, including from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs. Jiva Dance continues to thrive through ongoing support from patrons and the community.
Ishami Dance Company- Amit Patel & Ishika Seth
Ishami is an Award-nominated South Asian Contemporary dance company, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who combine elements of South Asian Classical and Folk dance forms with Western dance forms, treading the line between traditional and modern. Ishami was founded by Amit Patel & Ishika Seth to spark conversations through art. After four sold-out shows in Oakland, they toured their original production “Pehchaan,” to New York earlier this year. Ishami's mission is to explore, unite and amplify the diverse voices, stories and histories of the South Asian diaspora and dismantle social and cultural constructs. They aspire to show the beauty, depth and immense range of South Asian Contemporary movement locally and across the globe.
Maya Rau
Maya is a Konnakol artist, rapper, Bharatanatyam dancer, mridangist, composer, performer, choreographer, curator based in NY and California, co-directing Natya Anubhava Dance Academy with her mother, Dr. Nalini. She has performed and showcased her compositions and choreographies at various prestigious venues nationally and internationally. Maya has directed, choreographed, and composed for dance ballets covering traditional and contemporary themes, including social justice. Additionally, she enjoys creating rhythmic compositions for productions by other directors and has co-taught over forty students. Maya also co-organizes and curates Chitkala, promoting Indian Classical musicians. Her gurus have played a significant role in shaping her skills across various disciplines, including Bharatanatyam, Mridangam, Vocal, Karnas & Natya Shaastra, and Chhau.
Varsha Vijayan
Varsha has trained in various styles of Indian classical dance in Oman dance in Oman. She has participated in various competitions and performed at many events in USA, India and Middle east. Her YouTube channel called Malhaar showcases her performances. Her achievements include:Winner at Dance Mania Muscat; Popular Choice Winner at Khafif international Dance Festival; Runner-up at Natya Idol Championship 2017; Popular Choice Winner for Dance Muscat Dance
Vanitha Veeravalli & Sutikshna Veeravalli- Bharatam Academy of Dance Arts
Vanitha Veeravalli is the founder & Artistic Director of Bharatam Academy of Dance Arts, Naperville, Illinois. Her dedication to teaching Bharatanatyam has earned her honor grants from the Govt. of Tamilnadu, India, and the Master Artiste Award from the State of Illinois multiple times. She is also a recipient of the 'Acharya Kala Vipanchee' award for excellence in arts education. Vanitha’s mission is for students to not only learn Bharatanatyam but also to nurture a life-long joy for this art, making them recognized ambassadors of the rich culture. Sutikshna Veeravalli, a gifted Carnatic vocalist and Bharatanatyam artiste from Brookline, MA, has been learning vocal music under the tutelage of Sri R. Suryaprakash. She was a finalist in the Carnatic Music Idol USA in 2011 and has won several Carnatic music competitions. Sutikshna, also a special education teacher, is deeply passionate about these traditional arts and strives to pursue them lifelong.
Sonny Riyaz
As an award-winning American artist, Sonny Mehta utilizes qawwali music, compositions, and videos to share immigrant narratives. He co-founded the ensemble Riyaaz Qawwali in 2006, using qawwali, a form of motivational spiritual music rooted in South Asia and Islam, as a medium for his artistic expression. Mehta's work as a community advocate is reflected in his productions that emphasize our shared humanity. Fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and English, he serves as a cultural ambassador for South Asian Americans and first-generation immigrants. Recognized for his contributions, he has received grants from various organizations and has been featured in prominent media outlets such as NPR, Huffington Post, and The New York Times. His art serves as a message about community and spirituality, aiming to engage audiences and highlight shared humanity regardless of background.
Shanta Nurullah
Shanta Nurullah is a renowned storyteller, musician, and teaching artist with over four decades of experience. She has dedicated her career to promoting African and African-American folklore, spoken word performance, and improvisational music. Shanta has performed across the U.S. and abroad, receiving numerous awards, fellowships, and grants for her work. As a storyteller, she presents programs of stories with music for various audiences in schools, community centers, libraries, and festivals. Her repertoire includes traditional folktales, personal stories, and historical lore. Shanta is also an accomplished musician, known for her improvisation on sitar, bass, and mbira. She has collaborated with esteemed musicians and co-founded all-women bands. Additionally, Shanta owns the independent label, Storywiz Records, which released her band's debut album, Sitar Black, categorized as Spiritual Jazz, available on various platforms.
Sonny Singh
"Steeped in Sikh devotional themes, with an anthemic Punjabi sound." - NPR Music. Sonny Singh's debut solo album, Chardi Kala, embodies the Sikh concept of revolutionary eternal optimism. His music, simultaneously spiritual and rebellious, serves as a reminder that hope, love, and devotion are crucial to our struggles and collective survival. As a singer and trumpet player, Sonny has been central to the sound and raw energy of Red Baraat since the band's inception in 2008, touring globally and recording 5 studio albums. His new music, a return to his Punjabi & Sikh roots, has been featured on GRAMMY.com, NPR Music, Rolling Stone India, HuffPost, Songlines Magazine, and WNYC’s New Sounds. Sonny’s band has performed at prestigious venues such as the Brooklyn Museum, MASSMoCA, O+ Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and The White House for President Joe Biden’s 2023 celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage.
Mandala Music Circle
The Mandala Music Circle, led by multifaceted musician Chethan Anant, is an eclectic jam group that weaves a tapestry of cultural harmony through music. This multicultural ensemble blends traditions from the soulful melodies of Hindustani classical to the vibrant rhythms of African drums and Western folk harmonies. Their sessions transcend typical performances, transforming into immersive experiences where the audience actively participates in the evolving soundscape. Emphasizing spontaneity and unspoken dialogue, the Circle showcases music’s power to transcend cultural barriers and unite diverse traditions. It’s a celebration of diversity, unity, and the infinite possibilities that emerge when the world’s musical traditions converge in one circle—a Mandala.
Jayashree Venkatesh and Venkatesh Padmanabham
Venkatrama Shastri and Shri. RK Shriramkumar are renowned violinists from the Chowdiah school. Jayashree Venkatesh, a senior management professional, also teaches vocal music in Chicago. Trained by Smt. Shantha Visvanathan and Smt.Savithri Sathyamoorthy, she emphasizes bhava in her teaching style. She has performed in India and the USA and accompanies Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dances. In 2009, Jayashree released the Carnatic album 'Amruthavarshini'. Together, they founded the Sampradaya Foundation to promote Indian Classical and Contemporary Music through live performances, live-streaming, recordings, and training in Indian vocal music and Carnatic violin.
Maninder Singh
Born in Punjab, raised in Canada, and now rooted in Chicagoland, Maninder is a multi-instrumentalist, percussionist, producer and digital artist who has been performing, recording and creating for over two decades. Maninder is one of the founding member of Chicago’s very own Afro-Indo-Caribbean band Funkadesi. Maninder’s passion for collaborating with various artists from different backgrounds and delving into different genres led Maninder to found IO Records, LLC in 2020. Maninder is also a collaborator with Kochuveettil Beats wedding and events entertainment company. As a perpetual student, Maninder has studied with tabla masters including Zakir Hussain, Samar Saha, Shyam Kane, and Arshid Sayed. As a seeker, Arhatic yogi, Pranic healer, musician, digital artist, empath, and tech geek, Maninder’s personal mission is to build bridges between people, technology, and cultures through music
Indira Freitas Johnson
Award winning artist, Indira Freitas Johnson’s art practice has evolved as part sculptor, cultural worker, peace activist and educator. Johnson grew up in Mumbai, India and received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Johnson is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the Illinois Arts Council, PEW Charitable Trust, the Illinois Governor’s Award for the Arts and Chicago Magazine named her the 2013 Chicagoan of the Year. Johnson has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her work is represented in numerous private and public collections including the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, RI, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL. Chicago Veteran’s Home, City of Evanston, Loyola University Museum of Art and the Chicago Transit Authority.
Ameera Nimjee
Ameera Nimjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music, focusing on citizenship, race, and gender in transnational South Asian performance cultures. She is working on projects related to creativity in South Asian contemporary dance economies and performance traditions of migrating Muslims in South Asia, East Africa, and North America. Her work has been published in journals and funded by fellowships and prizes from various organizations. Ameera holds a PhD and MA in Ethnomusicology from the University of Chicago and University of Toronto, and a BMus from the University of Toronto. She is also a kathak dancer and a member of Toronto-based Chhandam Dance Company. Ameera previously worked at the University of Puget Sound as an Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology in the School of Music and in Asian Studies.
Lauren Warnecke
Lauren Warnecke is a reporter for WGLT, an award-winning NPR member station in Bloomington-Normal, IL. She is also a freelance culture critic, reviewing dance for the Chicago Tribune and contributing to Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Plus, Chicago Magazine, St. Louis Magazine and Milwaukee Magazine. Lauren is the founder and editor-in-chief of Art Intercepts, a cultural criticism blog on Midwestern live arts.
