Kuntala Ray will perform October 24

UNC Asheville will celebrate the culture and heritage of India with two special events on October 24. Both are free and open to the public.

"Passport to India" will be held 11 a.m.-noon in UNC Asheville's Alumni Hall, lower level of Highsmith University Union. The event will feature informational booths devoted to Indian food, clothes, music, dance and art presented by UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff.

Accomplished classical Indian musicians Kuntala Ray and Dibyarka Chatterjee will perform at 7 p.m. in the Grotto, lower level of Highsmith University Union. Ray, who holds a degree in science from Calcutta University, has studied music since childhood. The most senior student of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, Ray is the only female hansa veena player in India. She performs traditional ragas, which are Indian classical music melodic modes. Ray has performed throughout India and the southeastern United States. Tabla player Chatterjee was recognized as a child prodigy in his home state of Kolkata. Now an American resident, Chatterjee performs widely across the country and has played at such venues as the Indian Consulate in New York City, the Lincoln Center and Place des Arts in Montreal.

A performance by traditional Odissi dancer Pratibha Jena Singh will wrap up the evening concert. Daughter of the late Guru Surendra Nath Jena, Singh performs the classical Indian dance from Orissa, which incorporates hand gestures, rhythmic steps and facial expressions to enact stories from Hindu mythology. She has performed and taught classes throughout India, Russia and the United States.

Singh will also be leading Indian Dance Master Classes while in Asheville. For a complete schedule of these free courses, click here.

For more information, call UNC Asheville's Cultural & Special Events Office at 828/251-6991.