With Mallika Sarabhai

JEEVAN
TAAL: In 1998 Kanniks spent time in residence at
the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts - Ahmedabad and
composed the score for Jeevan Taal, the opening dance
concert for Mahotsav 1999, a grand international dance
festival at Ahmedabad.
The music score of Jeevan
Taal used framed folk themes in modern orchestration
using a combination of synthesized sounds, folk drums
and other instruments such as the dilruba, the shahnai
and more; the score explored folk traditions from Kerala,
Assam, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Jeevan Taal was choreographed by
one of India's icons of classical and modern dance - Mrinalini
Sarabhai and produced by the internationally renowned
Mallika Sarabhai.
"Jeevan Taal is the music
of life set to the rhythm of heart beats. It is a celebration
of life for when there is life there is hope"...
- Mallika Sarabhai
With Kalaimamani Saraswati
COSMIC
DANCE HALLS: The classical Indian ballet whose
script and score were conceptualized and created by Kanniks,
was choreographed by well known danseuse Kalaimaamani
Saraswati, of Chennai, India. Known as 'Aada vallaanin
aindu sabhaigal', this production premeired at the Naatyaanjali
dance festival at Perur in India and has been broadcast
several times on Indian national television.
"The music score of this
dance ballet is in very fine taste. The music conveys
the essence of the mythology very effectively..."
- Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna - Eminent Classical singer
and composer
"After six years, I still
remember your refrains to which I danced.."
- Narendra Kumar - Eminent dancer who played a lead role
in this performance
"Your music is fresh. It
is steeped in classicism; it is yet very easily hummable.
We remember refrains from this dance ballet, even after
seven years..."
- Kalaimaamani Saraswati, Choreographer
With
Lakshmi Shankar

It is a matter of great privilege
that Lakshmi Shankar - a doyenne of Indian Classical Music
sang the music of Shanti on stage in the debut performance
of Shanti in 2004. Lakshmiji is a very highly regarded
musician who has participated in several of Pandit Ravishankar's
musical projects; she was the lead vocalist in the Academy
award winning film Gandhi. Shanti - A Journey
of Peace was highly privileged to have Lakshmi
Shankar sing the lead.
"Your compositions are wonderful
and your command over both the Hindustani and the Karnatic
idiom is very commendable"
- Lakshmi Shankar's observations on Shanti
"You had used western harmony
in conjunction with raagas such as yaman in a manner that
framed the melody in a very beautiful context".
- Lakshmi Shankar's observations on The Blue Jewel, 1996
With Catherine Roma

Catherine Roma is a much loved
conductor in the Cincinnati music circles. It was through
a meeting in 1994 that the idea of The Blue Jewel germinated.
This collaboration led to a spectacular performance in
1996 with Cathy conducting the music of The Blue Jewel.
Shanti was a collaboration at yet another level where
a diverse community of people got built around the idea
of music and peace.
