As in previous shows, Neena Gulati masterfully narrated the story behind the different dance pieces at the beginning of every piece. This narration allowed members of the audience without a background in Indian culture or dance to understand the underlying story. In this show, the dances pieces were "seven deadly sins" -- Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Greed, and Wrath. Neena Gulati’s contribution to the show is more than her narration and performance on stage -- all the dancers have received training under her tutelage at Triveni.

The seven sins were stories from ancient Hindu mythology and the dances were a combination of Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. The background music was a fusion of Indian classical and western instrumental -- Alarippu, Drums of Victory, Jathis for Opening Numbers, Boundless & Crown Jathi Mix, Boat to Nowhere, Shiva Ganga, Adenamma, Serpents. These annual shows by Triveni appeal to the modern audience in part because of the seamless interweaving of the classical (dance) and the contemporary (music). The lighting and sound are integrated very nicely, adding grandeur to the performance.

Here are some comments from people who attended the show:

“I thought that I had already seen the best of the Triveni Ensemble, but looks like each year it is even more spectacular than the last! Every act was a beautiful poetry so well enacted-we were completely awestruck! Thank you for inspiring us and our children everyday! ”

“Over the past years, we have been joined by family and friends to enjoy this truly unique cultural experience. We are so fortunate to have a chance to attend these events each year, we love every moment of it.”

“It was a complete delight to see an amazing combination of dance, choreography and music. Above all we were all in awe seeing Neenaji, both performing and narrating. She is truly a legend.”

At Triveni, students are taught the strict language of classical dance, and this gives them the foundation needed to perform dance repertoires that are integrated with modern music and styles. This modernity is often necessary to appeal to a broad audience with little classical training. For more information regarding Triveni, please visit https://www.trivenidance.org/.