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As Baby Kamala in films and Kumari Kamala on stage, she wove magic with her dance, which was marked by perfection and finesse. She was the ideal narthaki and a true ambassador of India’s art and culture, having performed worldwide. She lived a full life, pursuing her passion for the art. When she passed away…
Karnataka, my home state, has given birth to distinctive banis (styles) of Bharatanatyam such as the Mysuru and Kolar banis, each with its own lineage and aesthetic grammar. I come from Tulunadu, a region in coastal Karnataka that is equally steeped in cultural pride. As a Bharatanatyam practitioner from this region, I have long witnessed…
Uttiya Barua, Radhika Vairavelavan and P.Sundaresan’s refreshing interpretations of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam The stage was bare, save for the three dancers seated in silence. Before a note of music was played, Uttiya Barua and Radhika Vairavelavan bowed as Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi, while P. Sundaresan…
Sri Gururaju | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In the world of classical dance, men are mostly preferred in the role of a teacher. For instance, the great Vempati Chinna Satyam, Kelucharan Mohapatra or Pandit Birju Maharaj, despite being great dancers themselves, gained fame as great teachers. But, what if male dancers also want to be…
Rithu Bharatam — the 26th edition of Natyangam’s annual dance festival — uniquely drew a parallel between the characteristic colours of different seasons and the aesthetic appeal and subtle variations of different banis. As art is immeasurably deep and expansive, it must have been challenging for the artistes to explore within given boundaries — Kalidasa’s…
A dance performance from the show in Kolkata | Photo Credit: Adrija Samal Last month, the late Pakistani poet and author Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem titled ‘A lullaby for a Palestinian Child’ birthed a poignant Bharatanatyam performance in Delhi. Titled Lori, the movement piece was Bengaluru-based Aranyani Bhargav’s attempt at making sense of a brutal conflict,…
From ‘Cartes Blanches’ staged at Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: Arun Nag Cartes Blanches means ‘complete freedom’ or ‘a blank card.” While blankness gives reign to choice, factors like the card’s size and texture, inevitably shape it. This play of freedom with restriction seemed to define ‘Cartes Blanches’,…
Shabana and Shafeekudeen at the two-day Aikyam festival. | Photo Credit: RAGU R Shafeekudeen and Shabana, sishyas of Natyacharyas V.P. and and Shanta Dhananjayan, performed on day two of the Aikyam festival, held recently. The dancers, coordinated in muted shades of green and mustard, were as pleasing as the Kalakshetra bani that they showcased. In…
Shilpa Nanjappa, a Kodava, brought out the rich culture and ways of worship of her people and the greatness of River Cauvery (whose origin is in Coorg) through her ‘Tales in Kodava’. She gave a clear, comprehensive introduction, as the songs were in Kodava. This was presented as part of the 10th edition of Manthana,…
Bharatanatyam dancer Nilava Sen presenting ‘Entheos’ | Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R The outdoor space of the heritage property Kingsley provided a nice ambience for two creative presentations as part of Kanakavalli’s ‘Rasa Margazhi Edit’ festival. The event is being held across four Fridays, in collaboration with Aalaap. An introspective personal journey to find the meaning…
