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Marianne Combs

Art Hounds: Black comedians, Indian dance and film

Aparna Ramaswamy
Aparna Ramaswamy performs her solo show "They Rose at Dawn" this Friday and Saturday at the Cowles Center for Dance in Minneapolis.
Courtesy of Ragamala Dance

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This week on Art Hounds: traditional Indian dance, black improv and the Frozen River Film Festival.

Dance writer Linda Shapiro recommends seeing "They Rose at Dawn," a solo performance by Aparna Ramaswamy, the co-artistic director of Ragamala Dance. Ramaswamy has garnered international accolades for her sublime performances of traditional Bharatanatyam dance. A Carnatic musical ensemble accompanies her performance at the Cowles Center for Dance in Minneapolis this Friday and Saturday.

Music professor Eric Heukeshoven is a big fan of the Frozen River Film Festival, now in its 10th year in Winona, Minn. This year the keynote speaker is Frederick Ndabaramiye, who is featured in the documentary film "I Am Able." As a 15-year-old boy he was brutally attacked by Rwandan rebel fighters and left for dead. Against all odds he survived, and went on to establish a community center to provide education and job training to people with disabilities. The festival, which presents dozens of films, focuses on inspiring community action and engagement. It runs Feb. 24-28.

Freelance musician Johanna Fierke is pumped for the Black And Funny Improv Festival this Saturday. Comedians can attend workshops and participate in a panel discussion during the day; then everyone is welcome to come see them strut their stuff that evening, along with a performance by Blackout, one of the few all-black improv comedy troupes. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Huge Improv Theater in Minneapolis.