Spruce Ritual: In Sacred Motion @ Piedmont Center For The Arts
Sun, 5 Oct 2025
5:00 - 7:00 PM (PDT)
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Refund Policy: No refunds
Experience an immersive evening where music and motion converge- the unique sound of Spruce Ritual intertwine with the storytelling grace of kathak dance, weaving ancestral roots with contemporary ritual.
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Spruce Ritual is a dynamic musical exploration of two great traditions: eastern Hindustani music and western classical music. Through sublime melodies and intricate compositions, they take the listener on a heartfelt musical journey. Led by composer, violinist, and vocalist Lucian Kano Balmer, Spruce Ritual released their debut album to great acclaim in February of 2023. "Spruce Ritual: The Way The Evening Speaks is a wonderfully original, musically masterful and evocative album. Lucian Kano Balmer has united skillful playing with soulful longing, and the results speak volumes." - Rebecca Cullen, stereostickman.com. "I am listening to this album this morning. I am happy to know about your fine violin playing, singing and writing. If you had been alive in the Beatles era I am sure they would have put you on one of their albums." Legendary composer, Terry Riley.
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Spruce Ritual is a dynamic musical exploration of two great traditions: eastern Hindustani music and western classical music. Through sublime melodies and intricate compositions, they take the listener on a heartfelt musical journey. Led by composer, violinist, and vocalist Lucian Kano Balmer, Spruce Ritual released their debut album to great acclaim in February of 2023. "Spruce Ritual: The Way The Evening Speaks is a wonderfully original, musically masterful and evocative album. Lucian Kano Balmer has united skillful playing with soulful longing, and the results speak volumes." - Rebecca Cullen, stereostickman.com. "I am listening to this album this morning. I am happy to know about your fine violin playing, singing and writing. If you had been alive in the Beatles era I am sure they would have put you on one of their albums." Legendary composer, Terry Riley.
Accompanying Lucian will be:
Charith Premawardhana (viola; founder of the cutting edge Classical Revolution)
Robin Reynolds(cello)
Will Marsh (sitar; leader of The Integration Ensemble)
Souryadeep Bhattacharyya (sarod; All India Gold Medalist in Instrumental Music)
Srishti Biyani Oswal (bansuri/vocals; Grammy-Nominated for her work on Shuruaat)
Josh Mellinger (tabla; pupil of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and percussionist who plays across multiple genres)
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Karishma is a Bay Area-based performer, choreographer, and dance educator with over 20 years of experience. A former company member with Shiamak Davar’s Institute in Mumbai, she is the founder of Monsoon Dance Company, Palo Alto, established in 2017. Trained for 15+ years in the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak at Padmabhushan Kumudini Lakhia’s Kadamb Center and under leading disciples of Birju Maharaj, she also brings influences from modern dance forms including Graham, Limon, and Laban techniques.
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Karishma is a Bay Area-based performer, choreographer, and dance educator with over 20 years of experience. A former company member with Shiamak Davar’s Institute in Mumbai, she is the founder of Monsoon Dance Company, Palo Alto, established in 2017. Trained for 15+ years in the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak at Padmabhushan Kumudini Lakhia’s Kadamb Center and under leading disciples of Birju Maharaj, she also brings influences from modern dance forms including Graham, Limon, and Laban techniques.
Karishma earned her MFA in Dance: Creative Practice in 2025. Her original works Shifting Boundaries: Conversations with Kathak premiered in 2022. She performed at the 2023 New York Kathak Festival with Prashant Shah & Dancers.
At Monsoon Dance, she teaches Kathak and Contemporary technique, guiding students to develop a personal voice through storytelling and improvisation, while continuing to present traditional and evolving Kathak repertory.
Her second full-length work, Finding My ‘Dha’, premieres September 19–21 at ODC Theater in San Francisco. Blending traditional Kathak with contemporary sensibilities, the piece investigates rhythm (dha) as a metaphor for belonging and self-discovery.