When we performed on Ganesh Chaturti for our society, despite all the hitches, we were asked to repeat our performance. We’re not quite repeating it; we’ve chosen different pieces this time. Our encore will be performed today; I hope it’s better than the last one!
Last Evening’s Performance
I have no pictures yet, but I can’t resist sharing yet another performance story. First of all, we were ‘late’. Apparently we were expected there by 7:30. Except that we were told we would begin at 8. Being the children of the society (well, we were children when we performed 13 years ago!), we were […]
Performing this evening!
It’s been ages since my sister and I performed together at a programme organised by our society. I remember the time, ages ago, when the two of us practised on the little round stage in the lawn. It was in 97 or 98. How far we’ve come since then! We played our music on audio […]
The Emotions after . . .
I’ve lost track of the number of Arangetrams I’ve watched from the wings. But the mood of one that is well done is always the same. When I can feel what the dancer feels, I think it’s perhaps even more intense than a wedding day, except that I have no notion of how that feels. […]
Arangetram on Friday
Tejashree Natu, disciple of Guru Smt Mythili Raghavan, will be performing her Arangetram on Friday, the 30th of August, at Tilak Smarak Mandir at 5:45 p.m. Credits Nattuvangam: Guru Smt Mythili Raghavan Vocal: Sri Sivaprasad Mridangam: Sri Sankar Narayanan Violin: Sri Anantharaman Make-up: Sri Mohan and Smt Lakshmi Compères: Nisha and Varsha Programme Alarippu (Panchajati) […]
Arangetram – Tejashree
The Academy of Indian Dances cordially invites you to Tejashree’s Arangetram.
On Being Krishna
Watching the Indore video last night reminded me – For the last piece that all of us performed together, my teacher was keen that Krishna use a real flute. So a friend bought a flute for me and I diligently decorated it. I put lovely peacock feather tassels and gold ribbon around Krishna’s melodious flute. […]
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. […]
Sunday Times, Indore
Press coverage – even if it’s just two lines – is press coverage!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Performing in Renage
A very dear friend of my sister’s organised a performance for us at a chapel in Renage. That was when we learned what effective publicity is. Michèle, who, I should mention, is in her seventies, did absolutely everything to make people come for our performance. She, helped by two friends, went (literally) from pillar to […]
Arangetram!
Anushka Iyer and Riya Dash will be performing their Arangetram today! The Arangetram is the maiden performance of a dancer, during which she attempts to convey her understanding of her art form to a discerning audience in the presence of her guru. Venue: Tilak Smarak Mandir Date and time: 28th June 2013; 17:45 Credits Nattuvangam: […]
Nritya Tarangini
Day 1: I wondered whether I would get anything out of the workshop conducted by the Dhananjayans. I wondered whether it was all worth it. We were learning a piece that was getting totally jumbled in my head. There were too many episodes and at the end of the day, I could not even remember […]
‘Shiva’
Last evening’s performance at Bal Shikshan was a visual treat. Of course there were things I did not like. I did not like the opening piece or the concluding peace. I found them most peculiar. Yet, there is something about the perfection of classical dance well performed that cannot be compared to anything else. Vaibhav […]
Experiences on Stage – V
I remember one time when a friend and I were asked to perform at an inauguration ceremony. I was so proud of myself for having asked for all the details – stage dimensions, availability of a sound system, green rooms, mirrors … There was a time when I took all of that for granted. Experience […]
Lost and Found
Children leave all kinds of things behind at dance class. My teacher could set up a shop and make a fortune if she ever decided to sell the stuff children leave behind. The most common things children forget, of course, is their theory material. I think a part of them wants to forget so that […]
Experiences on Stage IV
Every time my sister Nisha and I performed in France, we had far less time to practise than usual. The last two performances were easier – we practised long distance on Skype before meeting and practising. Before that, it was individual, separate efforts, followed by coordination once I reached France. I remember the time we […]