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Rajasthani Caravan
Rajasthani Caravan

Rajasthani Caravan carries a tradition that is centuries old and very much alive. Rooted in the Manganiyar heritage of the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan, India, this ensemble of master musicians and cultural educators brings devotional folk music to concert stages across America, inviting audiences into a world of stirring voices, resonant strings, and elemental rhythm.

The Manganiyar are a hereditary community of Muslim musicians long celebrated for music that moves between the sacred and the celebratory. Their songs have accompanied births, marriages, harvests, and holy days for generations, carrying stories and spiritual depth in every phrase. Rajasthani Caravan honors that lineage with care and artistry.

Vocalist Dare Khan delivers the soaring, emotive core of Manganiyar song. Kode Khan plays the kamayacha, a bowed lute whose warm, haunting voice is one of Rajasthan's most distinctive sounds. Jasu Khan drives the ensemble forward with dholak and percussion, and Artistic Director Katrina Ji brings movement and cultural context to the stage, making the music not just heard but understood and felt.

Tonight, audiences can expect an evening that is at once deeply rooted and immediately captivating - music that needs no translation to move you.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Rajasthani Caravan
Sep 24, 2026
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JC Social Club
Jeff Center Dance Party
Sep 25, 2026
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Reggie Watts
Oct 2, 2026
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EDUCATION

Summer Sessions
2026
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Nestled in Roanoke’s historic former Jefferson High School, Jefferson Center emerged in 1989 after a broad community-driven initiative chose renovation over demolition of the 1924 building

Its mission has remained steadfast: to offer broad access to inspirational performing arts, transformative education, and public gathering spaces. Today, Jefferson Center enriches lives by hosting a wide range of live performances—music, theater, dance—and delivering educational outreach through programs like Music Lab, alongside serving as a vibrant hub for nonprofits, community meetings, and cultural events

Steeped in history yet forward-looking, Jefferson Center is more than a venue—it is a cultural cornerstone where artistry intersects with community connection, learning, and creative expression.

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