The annual Ramayana Dance Drama continues a 45-year tradition at Ananda Ashram, celebrating Indian classical dance while promoting cultural and spiritual exchange between East and West.
The East-West School of Dance at Ananda Ashram will present its annual Ramayana Dance Drama on Saturday, July 25, marking another year of one of North America’s longest-running productions of the Indian epic.
The performance will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ananda Ashram Amphitheater, located at 13 Sapphire Road, Monroe, New York. Admission is $20 for general attendees and $25 for families, with organizers also requesting donations in support of Ananda Ashram.
The production is directed and choreographed by Pandit Satya Narayana Charka, founder of the East-West School of Dance, who has led the annual Ramayana presentation at Ananda Ashram for 45 years.
The event also celebrates the anniversary of the East-West School of Dance, which was established in 1981 with the blessing of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, founder and spiritual guru of Ananda Ashram.
According to organizers, the school was the first in North America to present traditional Indian epic dance dramas, placing a strong emphasis on classical Kathak dance and innovative theatrical storytelling rooted in Indian spiritual traditions.
The school’s mission extends beyond performance, aiming to foster greater cultural and spiritual understanding between Eastern and Western traditions through dance. Organizers said the Ramayana Dance Drama reflects the vision of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati by promoting cultural exchange and universal values through artistic expression.
The annual production has become a longstanding tradition at Ananda Ashram, bringing together students, performers, and audiences to celebrate one of India’s most revered epics through classical dance and drama.
Additional information about the performance is available through the East-West School of Dance at Ananda Ashram via [email protected] or by phone at 845-782-5575 and 646-489-7790.
