Iowa Wesleyan College presents programs of Indian music, dance

MOUNT PLEASANT ? Mehr Peace will present two programs of Indian music and dance at Iowa Wesleyan College Thursday.

Programs will begin at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel Auditorium. Both are open to the public at no charge.

Mehr Peace is a trio of artists that performs classical and avant-garde music and dance inspired by the traditions of India. The trio has been described as ?a soulful brew of the romantic sound of sitar, the heartbeats of tabla and the charm and grace of interpretive dance.?

The leader of the group is Anwar Khurshid, director of the Sitar School of Toronto, Canada. He is a classically trained musician from Pakistan who received his training in sitar playing in India and Pakistan. He has lived in Canada since 1989. He has performed in the U.S., Europe, India and other countries of Asia.

Khurshid will be playing the Indian musical instrument called the sitar.His music has influences ranging from Indian Classical to Blues, Chinese and Arabic music. He will be accompanied by a drummer.

The dancer is Geneviève Beaulieu. She is French-Canadian and is from the Quebec Province. She learned the Indian classical dance in India. She received further training in Canada.

Beaulieu will perform the Odissi Dance.

These programs are supported in part by the Haselmayer Endowment for the Arts at Iowa Wesleyan College.