Originally, before we left for Chambéry, we were told that we would be taught a bit. We were told we would actually have a real circus lesson. Of course we were excited! Story-books and circus smells ran through my imagination as I thought about it! It was only when we got there that we realised that a lesson was not on the circus school's agenda. The artistes were practising for an upcoming event, so they could not waste time teaching over-excited novices.We were disappointed, naturally. For many of us, I think the whole joy of the circus school was lost. But not for me.Circus acts are like dance. Nothing at the circus school reminded me even remotely of dear Mr Galliano or any of the others in Enid Blyton's circus stories. The artists were sweaty - something that Blyton never thought wise to mention, as far as I can remember. And everything at the school was much cleaner than I had … [Read more...]
What is literature?
I asked my AS Level class, "What is literature?"One by one, students came and wrote on the board what they thought. 'The study of a language.' 'The study of poetry and drama.' 'The study of a language, poetry, prose and drama.'"What about a diary or travelogue?" I hinted. 'Anything that is written.'"What about a story passed down from my grandmother? Is that literature?" 'Anything that has grammar/ words.'Eventually, we came to the next question, "What is poetry?" "Something with lines that rhyme," suggested one student. "Does it have to rhyme?" I asked. "No... Okay, so something that has a set rhythm," said another. "What about blank verse?" I asked."Something that has a deep meaning about nature." "Or emotion." "What about a nursery rhyme or a song?" I asked. "Something that has a deep meaning," insisted one student. "Something that means something," corrected another … [Read more...]
Hyperbole and a Half
LOOK AT MY BOOK. LOOK AT IT. IT IS VERY NICE. I AM VERY IMPORTANT.15 July 2013 at 07:30 I have been told that I need to promote my book so that people will know it exists and maybe some of them will pre-order it. My first inclination was to accomplish this by sitting in my house and wishing really hard, but I'm almost positive that wishing isn't an effective promotional technique. Unfortunately, neither is "pretending I didn't write a book so that I don't have to promote it," "hoping for the best," and "waiting for everyone to accidentally discover my book on their own." So here we are.With a beginning like this, how could I not read further?http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/ … [Read more...]
I can’t quite believe this . . .
The Story-Catcher has been long listed for the Crossword Book Awards!So what if the long list is loooong?If it needs votes, I'm banking on lots of people! … [Read more...]
Krishna and Radha
We had practised, of course we had practised. With our guru, how could we not?Radha and Krishna were to sit together exploring their love during Jayadeva's Ashtapadi Kisalaya. Krishna was to take Radha's hand and press it against his chest. He was to put his arm around Radha's shoulders and draw her close to him.Unfortunately, that was not what happened on stage. Krishna and Radha were not seated comfortably on the floor or on a wooden stool. Krishna tried to move close enough to Radha to put his arm around her, and the plastic stool on which he was seated shook dangerously. He held her hand instead. Radha and Krishna sat far away from each other, each balanced precariously on a shaky stool, too afraid to move one toe out of line.Somehow, the piece got over without the stools breaking or moving further apart. … [Read more...]
Sunday Times, Indore
Press coverage - even if it's just two lines - is press coverage! … [Read more...]
Back from Indore
A magnificent wooden stage - 50 feet long, 30 feet wide ...Infrastructure that allowed us to use lights in a way that we have never done before ... Guru Mythili Raghavan, determined to give her best to Kasturitilakam ... Eleven dancers - all excited, all nervous, all thrilled at the opportunity ... Of course things went wrong, but things went wonderfully right too. We performed at IIM, Indore, and delighted our audience.Photos and stories will come soon!But meanwhile, a view of the campus ... The lapwing is not a chance visitor. We saw it (and its friends/ enemies) everyday and everywhere. The campus is truly inspiring! … [Read more...]
Main Nahin Makhan Khayo
One of the highlights of this evening's performance:The gopis carried tales to Yashoda, complaining time and again about how Krishna stole butter from them. But naughty little Krishna convinced his mother not to believe any of the complaints the other gopis made about him.When Krishna stole butter in his own house, however, things changed – because Yashoda herself saw him.Yashoda wanted to catch her little boy out and asked him, out of the blue, “Kanhaiya, did you eat butter?”Taken aback, the words escaped from Krishna’s mouth, “Main nahin maakhan khayo – I did not eat butter! Ma, how did you think I had eaten the butter? I don’t even have the time to eat it! All day, I herd the cows. From dawn to dusk, I’m out grazing the cattle. When could I possibly eat butter?”The argument did not work. So, Krishna thought of another justification. “Maiya mori, mother mine, I’m such a … [Read more...]
Kasturitilakam
Timeless, beautiful, expressive. Dance is all three, and much more. Classical dance in India is a language. With its ancient origins, it is a medium of communicating knowledge, expressing emotions and creating aesthetic pleasure. Kasturitilakam – conceived and choreographed by Guru Mythili Raghavan – explores each of these dimensions.Lord Krishna, playing his divine, melodious flute, has touched the hearts of millions. Stories of this beloved god find their way into languages, music and culture all over India. His naughty pranks as a child, his strength and bravery as a young man, his divine love for Radha and the other gopis, his accompaniment of the Pandavas during their exile, and ultimately, the Bhagvad Gita, the immortal treatise delivered to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra – these stories strike a chord in hearts everywhere.Guru Mythili Raghavan’s Kasturitilakam will … [Read more...]
Performing at Indore
The Academy of Indian Dances will be presenting Kasturitilakam - episodes from the life of Lord Krishna - everyone is welcome! Venue: IIM, Indore Date: 6th July, 2013 Time: 18:30 Credits: Choreography: Guru Mythili Raghavan Make-up: Shri Mohan and Smt Lakshmi Music compilation: Friends Studio, Pune Dancers: Ashwini Sashital, Charulatha Ramesha, Dhwani Lalai, Nisha Seshan, Pooja Shetty, Rashmi Shetty, Resham Abdagiri, Riddhi Joshi, Tejashree Natu, Suguna Nair and Varsha Seshan … [Read more...]