Temple

“Gajamukha – Temple Dance Ballet of India,” which comes to The Met on Friday, combines music, dance and theater based on Indian classical and folk forms to create a two-act dance-drama.

This theatrical production is Dr. Jayanthi Raman’s labor of love. The researcher, choreographer and performer set aside her career in medicine and computer science in favor of researching ancient Indian texts and creating innovative dances rooted in the classical traditions of India.

The Portland-based teacher-director collaborated with numerous Indian scholars and artists to develop this production, which was cast in Chennai, India. The score features original works by some of India’s leading composers.

Choreographed by Raman from excerpts of folklore gleaned from ancient Indian texts, the story centers on the Hindu elephant-faced deity, Gajamukha, also known as Lord Ganesha. The faithful worship the god before undertaking any task because he removes obstacles to ensure the success of projects.

The ballet presents five episodes of the divine manifestations of Lord Ganesha. Raman is the featured dancer, accompanied by 11 other classically educated artists.

According to The Oregonian dance reviewer Catherine Thomas, “Raman has long distinguished herself as an eloquent soloist in her interpretations of the ancient Indian classical dance.”

She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the prestigious National Dance Project Award from the New England Foundation of the Arts.

Raman’s specialty is the Bharatha Natyam classical dance form, composed of hundreds of codified gestures for hands, feet and face.

Kassandra Sterling from the Portland DownTowner wrote of Raman’s performance: “Her face and form take the viewer through every possible emotion until the viewer and dancer are almost one.”

Six other dancers clad in exquisite silk costumes perform with Raman, accompanied by a vocalist and four musicians who play traditional Indian instruments.

While two drummers counterpoint the accented slaps of the dancers’ feet on the stage floor, the atmospheric effect of the stringed veena and bamboo flute is reflected in the dancers’ undulating arms, lyrical hands and darting eyes. The vocalist sings original lyrical compositions in India’s indigenous languages of Sanskrit, Telugu or Tamil to tell the story of each dance episode.

To enhance multicultural communication, a narrator will explain each story in English before it is performed. However, according to Martha Ullman West of Dance Magazine, who reviewed a recent performance, the dance speaks for itself.

“The mix of mime, narrative dancing, ritual dancing and musical interludes,” she wrote, “was so skillfully done that the audience was thoroughly engaged.”

Friday’s performance will begin with a no-host tea and Indian hors d’oeuvres catered by Taste of India restaurant from 7 to 7:45 p.m.