Experience an Evening of Great Storytelling and Beautiful Dance

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, July 8, 2022 – Tickets are on sale now for BAALA: Tale of Kanha 7 pm on Saturday, Aug. 20. Presented by Walton Arts Center, Dhirana Academy of Classical Dance and the Ra-ve Cultural Foundation, this is a story full of action, romance and thrills all brought to life on stage by local performers.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $10 for students and seniors to $40. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 10 am until 2 pm, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays between10 am and 5 pm or by visiting waltonartscenter.org.

The story starts at Devaki’s wedding, her brother the evil tyrant Kamsa receives a prophecy that one of Devaki’s sons would one day kill him. Over time, Kamsa kills all of his sister’s sons but the last, Krishna. Devaki’s husband, Vasudeva, sends Krishna away to be raised by the cowherd Nanda and his loving wife Yashoda. 

Yashoda adores the young god, raising him in an atmosphere of love and honor. As he grows to manhood, Krishna has many adventures, loves many women and makes many miracles. 

Krishna finally confronts his uncle Kamsa, and in an epic battle slays the one who brought so much torment to him, his family and the entire region. 

BAALA re-creates this timeless story with amazing music, song and dance, updated for a modern audience. The events of Krishna’s life — the fights, the romances, the miracles, the final battle — are depicted as a visual feast with spectacular staging and costumes. 

The performance is choreographed by Vidushi Megha P. Rao, who has been dancing for more than two decades and teaching for more than a decade. She shares her passion for Bharatanatyam through performances and teaching. Rao’s goal is to bridge the gap between the general public and the divine art corm by inspiring, educating and encouraging budding talent.

Ra-Ve Cultural foundation seeks to bring real-world experiences to Northwest Arkansas. Ra-Ve is a registered non-profit dedicated to promoting Indian performing arts in the region.

Support for Walton Arts Center is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ largest and busiest performing arts presenter. Each year more than 215,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend more than 300 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, weddings and more. Approximately 35,000 students and teachers participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 250 volunteers donate 28,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to enjoy world-class performances at a great price. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.

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