State of the Arts has been taking you on location with the most creative people in New Jersey and beyond since 1981. The New York and Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award-winning series features documentary shorts about an extraordinary range of artists and visits New Jersey’s best performance spaces. State of the Arts is on the frontlines of the creative and cultural worlds of New Jersey.
State of the Arts is a cornerstone program of NJ PBS, with episodes co-produced by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Stockton University, in cooperation with PCK Media. The series also airs on WNET and ALL ARTS.
On this week's episode... New Jersey Heritage Fellowships are an honor given to artists who are keeping their cultural traditions alive and thriving. On this special episode of State of the Arts, we meet three winners, each using music and dance from around the world to bring their heritage to New Jersey: Deborah Mitchell, founder of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble; Pepe Santana, an Andean musician and instrument maker; and Rachna Sarang, a master and choreographer of Kathak, a classical Indian dance form.
Seeking the wisdom (Gnana) that Murugan represents.
The lyrics are a poetic appeal to Lord Murugan, the god of beauty and youth. They describe a state of "melting"—a liquid devotion where the ego dissolves in the thought of the deity. The song traverses the various facets of Murugan: Asking for refuge at his lotus feet.
"Ullam Uruguthaiyaa," famously rendered by T.M. Soundararajan (TMS), is more than a devotional song; it is a cultural cornerstone of Tamil Shaivite tradition. Composed by Andavan Pichi and set to the soulful Ragamalika (predominantly Kapi), it serves as a masterclass in how music can bridge the gap between the mortal and the divine. The Power of TMS’s Rendition
Seeking the wisdom (Gnana) that Murugan represents.
The lyrics are a poetic appeal to Lord Murugan, the god of beauty and youth. They describe a state of "melting"—a liquid devotion where the ego dissolves in the thought of the deity. The song traverses the various facets of Murugan: Asking for refuge at his lotus feet.
"Ullam Uruguthaiyaa," famously rendered by T.M. Soundararajan (TMS), is more than a devotional song; it is a cultural cornerstone of Tamil Shaivite tradition. Composed by Andavan Pichi and set to the soulful Ragamalika (predominantly Kapi), it serves as a masterclass in how music can bridge the gap between the mortal and the divine. The Power of TMS’s Rendition
