Poornam

Total, complete, whole. That’s the translation of “Poornam,” the Sanskrit word chosen by choreographer Rathna Kumar as the title for the dance performance today at the Jewish Community Center. The show explores themes of triumph in the face of physical adversity. Kumar is the founder and director of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, the first Indian dance school in Texas. Previous works have exhibited traditional Indian dance forms like Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, as well as mime and African and Middle Eastern dance. Kumar, who has performed and taught all over the world, is focusing her energies on bringing the world of Indian arts to Houston. “Poornam” brings Kumar’s Anjali Dance Company together with musicians from Houston and India, hoping to prove, through kinetic beauty, the truth of the saying “mind over matter.”

Mon., Sept. 3, 4 p.m.

This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2007.