Nandanik Dance Troupe presents Shyama: The Royal Courtesan, a dance ballet April 28, 2007 at 7:00 pm Richard E. Rauth Theater at the Shadyside Academy, Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, PA

One of the best known dance dramas by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Shyama is an intricate tale of passion and guilt, love and sacrifice, sin, forgiveness and retribution. Bajrasan, the hero, is falsely accused of stealing a priceless necklace. He is sentenced to death. Salvation comes in the form
of Shyama, the most beautiful and desirable lady of the royal court, who falls passionately in love with Bajrasen.

In her desperation to save his life, Shyama devises a dangerously selfish plan with her ardent young admirer Uttiyo, who offers to take the place of Bajrasen at the scaffold. Shyama and Bajrasen leave the country, and are blissfully lost in each other's love. They live happily, but not ever after. At Bajrasen's insistence, Shyama ultimately discloses the truth. A horrified Bajrasen is instinctively repulsed. Though, the couple separate, their love
survives their individual penance. Do they reconcile despite all adversities? You need to come to see the ending for yourself.

The music for Shyama was produced and recorded under the direction of Pramita Mullick, an eminent Rabindra Sangeet Singer and a regular artiste on

All India Radio and television, and Rahul Chattopadhyay, an accomplished Sitarist. A variety of traditional Indian instruments, such as Sitar, Sarod, Flute, Esraj, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Ghatam, Mridangam, etc., has enriched the musical score. The dances in the drama have been choreographed in Bharatanatyam (one of the classical dance forms of India) and folk style by Nandini Mandal.