Mela Festival 2004 in Oslo
Tehreema Mitha
Raqs-e-Rooh(The Dance of the Soul)
 Tehreema Mitha, dancer and choreographer, grew up in Pakistan in a home full of music, dance, paintings, books and lively debate. Dancing under the tutelage of her mother, Indu Mitha, since the age of seven, she performed her first full evening of Bharatanatyam in Lahore under the most severe period of cultural repression in the country, introduced by Gen Zia-ul-Haq. Her first classical piece was choreographed in 1986 and first contemporary piece in 1990.
Since then Tehreema has continued to bring her dance to audiences in Pakistan and several other countries: performing at the NGO forum on Women in Beijing in 1995, in Delhi India in 1996, at the Summer Theatre Festival in Hamburg Germany in 1997, as well as in England, Guatemala and the United States. Tehreema Mitha’s choreography is considered to be on the “cutting edge.” She has created over forty-five dances, solos as well as ensemble pieces.
Tehreema participated in the American Dance Festival’s International Choreographers Workshop in Durham, North Carolina in 1990, as an invitee under the International Visitor's Program of the United States Information Agency.
She is the subject of the documentary  “And she dances on…” by the eminent woman documentary filmmaker, Shireen Pasha. It premiered in Pakistan at the American Center in Islamabad in 1996. This documentary was selected among other documentaries presented at the 1997 Asian Film Festival to tour Europe, Asia and North America.
Tehreema Mitha, is the Artistic Director of Tehreema Mitha Dance Company, a multi-cultural troupe resident in Greater Washington DC in the United States of America. This dance ensemble is known for its signature presentations: starting with dances from its Classical Bharatanatyam repertoire and then moving along to its Contemporary work.
Tehreema Mitha’s Classical items are different to the traditional Bharatanatyam. While adhering strictly to the Kalakeshetra technique and framework, she uses North Indian music as accompaniment to this South Indian dance form. Moving away from Hindu Mythology, she imbues her choreography with universal themes of love and lore.
Breaking away from the strictures of the classical there is more freedom of movement in her contemporary items and a variety of topics that touch on literature, science, philosophy and our everyday lives; the joys and complications, confusion and despair of our modern times.
This emotionally charged and theatrical Contemporary style stands in sharp contrast to the classical items, yet at the same time it echoes the culture it originates from. Seeing both styles on the stage in the same evening shows the progression of a generation unwilling to leave its past behind, and while respecting it, moving forward with it with no loss of identity.
The dancers in this ensemble come from different backgrounds of dance and then train in the company style. They bring to the troupe the richness of the cultural diversity that makes the United States.
Musicians and vocalists trained in the Indian Classical styles specially compose the music for each dance for TMDC. The music, the costumes and the lights are all an integral and important part of the choreography.
Inaugural concert at Universitets Aula 20th August 2004 - Mela Festival in Oslo.
For more information about Tehreema Mitha Dance Company,
a non-profit 501-c3 organization incorporated in the State of Maryland, U.S.A
Email: tehreemamitha-dancecompany@starpower.net
Telephone: (301) 581-9520
www.tehreemamitha-dancecompany.org
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