The Hare in the Moon
The Storyteller's Toolkit
In the video above, Preetis different facial expressions, or "saatvika abhinaya," and hand gestures, or "mudras." Each video includes the name in Sanskrit (the classical language of India) along with examples and applications.
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Kartarimukham (scissors)
Matsyam (fish)
Mukulam (bud)
First we'll look at the mudras. Every culture uses its hand gestures for expression: in bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) these gestures are classified in minute detail. Each gesture has specific meanings and applications.
Adbhutam (amazement)
Veeram (valour)
The techniques an Indian classical dancer uses to create an emotional mood are grouped under the term "saatvika abhinaya" (SAAT-vika ab-in-EYE-a). In particular, the face is a key tool for communicating emotion—Indian dancers train for years to perfect these expressions!
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Watch how Preeti manipulates different aspects of facial expression (eyes, lips, eyebrows) to create the emotional effect.
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(Note: These videos do not have voiceover/subtitles.)
Commentary & Analysis
In the video below Preeti demonstrates how she uses the classical gestural vocabulary of Indian dance to tell the story.
Some gestures look quite similar. Are they the same?
How does a performer choose which gesture to use?
So how would you perform a modern story?
RCP Challenge!
Now it's your turn—we challenge you to create a story of a deer, and record a short video of yourself performing it!
The story could be from your imagination OR a story from your own culture. The only rules are that you MUST:
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Use the MUKULAM ("bud") gesture at least once
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Use either (or both) facial expression ADBHUTAM (amazement) and VEERAM (valour)
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(Extra points if you manage to include a red curtain somewhere in the video!)
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Send your videos (via a link to YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram or equivalent) to info@threshdance.org. We'll publish as many as we can on this site!
Hares around the world!
Did you know hares are depicted in stories around the world? Click through to see how other cultures represent this clever creature in their own stories and legends.
Perhaps the most famous hare of all: the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland, published in 1865 (illustrated by John Tenniel)
A picture book called "Masquerade", published in England in 1979 offered clues to buried treasure—a golden hare. Thousands of people tried to find it. In the end it was found...but only by someone who cheated!
Michabo, the Great Hare is guardian of all of the tribes, Lord of the Dawn and ruler of the weather. This photo (from the Kennedy Center) shows Rose Powhatan (Tauxenent/Pamunkey) in her traditional Algonquian buckskin dress, telling the story of Michabo, engraved on the shaft of her Powhatan totem.
Perhaps the most famous hare of all: the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland, published in 1865 (illustrated by John Tenniel)
Global Collaborators
Mal Stein, Composer
New York City
Mal is a much sought-after collaborator for choreographers around the world both as a percussionist and composer. In this video, he talks through his creative process—how he came up with themes and textures to support Preeti's storytelling.
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Mal lives in the East Village of Manhattan with his partner Judy and a large collection of percussion instruments from around the world. You can groove to more of his sounds on SoundCloud here.
Bhumenjoy Konsam, Illustrator
Manipur, India
Bhumenjoy is a multi-talented illustrator and animator based in Manipur, in the far North East of India. He's worked with Preeti on many previous projects, and also works with major corporations as a commercial animator.
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In 2008 Bhumenjoy directed a feature-length animated feature film called "Tiger Head", based on an epic tale from his native Manipur (see trailer here). His website is www.oomaibi.com.
Learn Interactive partnered with RCP on The Hare in the Moon. They deliver industry-leading manager development programs focused on key transitions in any individual's career.