Theatre & Dance: Special Series; Ivan Pulinkala

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Dec 6, 1999

SPECIAL SERIES

Ivan Pulinkala, 25
Dancer-Choreographer

THE FUSIONARY
At 14 he played Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son, in an elaborate production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. At 25 he is completing a master's degree in dance at Mills College, California. Then he will train with legend Paul Taylor. After that he wants to set up his own dance company that would "introduce Indian audiences to western concert dance that has roots in India".

It is this belief that concert dance, or musicals, in India needs to go in for a thematic overhaul that sets Ivan Pulinkala apart. Pulinkala, who has been trained in ballet and jazz dancing and has choreographed productions of Evita, Tommy, West Side Story and Grease, wants to marry classical Indian themes with modern western dance. His current project, which premieres at Mills next March, is based on the Hindu concept of karma and rebirth, the style ballet-rhythmic. The fusion, it's happening.

-Anna M.M. Vetticad

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