Under sparkling blue veils and tumbler-shaped skirts, four Indian women are performing the traditional raas lila. Suddenly, Time, wrapped in red silk, decimates the dancers with his unforgiving machete. And that is only the first scene in Ratan Thiyam's stunning and passionate Nine Hills One Valley. He and his 26-member Chorus Repertory Theatre traveled from their remote hill state of Manipur, India, to Brooklyn, N.Y., to share their worry about losing sacred ritual in the face of modernity. Thiyam fears even more for the coming generation's safety and happiness in our violent world.
After the raas lila, seven wise men are roused from hibernating slumber by visions of the world's woes. War, famine, and the destruction of culture inspire them to rewrite their puyas (books of wisdom). Thiyam — who is responsible for the script, music, design, and direction — has an artful manner of creating a simple but profound stage image that is often enchanting. Without a set, the 30-year-old company relies on props — staffs, candles, newspapers — and rich lights of red, light green, yellow, and blue to convey its message.
Manipur is a long way from Mumbai, tucked into the far northeastern region bordering Burma. (As such, Nine Hills One Valley may seem familiar to Western audiences who know the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet from The King and I.) Haunting flutes and thunderous drums underscore this contemporary Asian presentation.
Performed in Manipuri, Nine Hills One Valley utilizes English surtitles, which seem to capture the original's allegorical undertones with laments like "Our orchids whither on the tree — enchanted flowers wasted in vain" and cautions like "Teach your babies songs of love before they learn to walk." Wars may blaze on and traditions may wither, but as the four women finally exclaim, "Dusk has fallen, but the hills of many ages still stand."
Presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of the 2006 Next Wave Festival at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NYC. Oct. 11-14. Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. (718) 636-4129 or www.bam.org.
