This spring, the New England Malayalee Association (NEMA) brings danseuse and actress Shobana's dance ballet "Krishna" to Boston. The much-anticipated production will premiere for local audiences at Natick High School on Friday, April 24 at 6.30 pm.

Krishna, which debuted in 2011 at Chennai, has enjoyed a long run at a number of venues internationally and in India. The dance drama centers on the life of Lord Krishna, the most mythically enduring icon from the puranas. The two-and-a-half hour dance ballet tells the story of Krishna in English, interspersed with songs in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi. A group of 16 artists, including Shobana's daughter Narayani, presents the stories using classical, Indian folk and cinematic dance styles. Elaborate costume designs and backdrops that depict the various places of Lord Krishna's life, including Vrindavan, Mathura, Dwaraka and Kurukshetra, contribute to the grandeur.

Although Lord Krishna remains a favored character to portray through the medium of Indian classical dance, Shobana adds a layer of accessibility to the narratives. With an ambitious audio-visual scale, Krishna is designed to appeal to mainstream and pan-Indian audiences. “Songs have been placed and composed according to the mood of the scene, I would see it as an attempt to draw the audiences into the life of Krishna. I want them to enjoy the story telling even as the visuals, the choreography and the script blend together to create art,” Shobana has said of the show in an interview with dna.

In addition to choreographing, directing and dancing in the title role, Shobana has brought on board some of the biggest names in the entertainment business to collaborate and lend their talents for this production. Krishna boasts sound mixing by Oscar winner Resul Pookkutty, music by A. R. Rahman and voice-overs by actors Shabana Azmi, Konkona Sen, and Surya, among others.

NEMA, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, serves to cultivate and support the exchange of ideas between Malayalees and people of other cultures. To this end, the organization has brought a number of award-winning artists and performers from India to the local audience. Shobana, a national award-winning actress, runs Kalarpana Institute of Bharatanatyam in Chennai. She received her training in Bharatanatyam from Chitra Visweswaran. Shobana received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 2006. She is also known for her earlier dance production titled "Maya Ravan."

To purchase tickets for the show, visit www.shobhanashowboston.com.

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