I’ve lost count of the number of times people have asked me when we’re performing in Pune. Finally, here we go!The senior students of the Academy of Indian Dances bring to you a traditional Bharatanatyam programme, featuring a range of pieces that explore nritta, nritya and natya. Beginning with an invocatory dance, we move on to a pure nritta composition, raagamaalikai jatiswaram.The longest and most elaborate piece compares the lives of Rama and Krishna, exploring the abhinaya aspect of Bharatanatyam to the fullest. The devotee wonders which of the two gods to worship. Krishna was born in a dark prison in the middle of the night; Rama was born in the grandeur of a palace, amidst great joy! As a child, Krishna gave moksha to two gandharvas. The pure-hearted Rama granted salvation to Ahalya. Krishna snatched Rukmini away from her brother and married her; Rama broke Shiva's … [Read more...]
Our Performance on Sunday
Performing for three minutes is often more trouble than it's worth ... not this time, though.People often assume that a three-minute performance is no big deal. Let's look at it this way, though. Leaving aside the time we take to choreograph, learn, coordinate and practise, we could just look at the day we perform. On Sunday, we performed at Empress Garden for Basant Utsav. The programme started at 9 in the morning.Wind back the clock. You need to factor in make-up, hair, costume and travel. We met at 6 to start. We got ready, made our way to Empress Garden, hung around until we performed ... And before we knew it, we were off stage again.But it was worth it simply because Empress Garden is such a lovely place to perform! Surrounded by trees, leaves crunching under our feet, a grey hornbill above us ...We were dressed and ready, well in time to take many, many … [Read more...]
Paying a Tribute – Sakal Times
Thank you, Sakal Times, for the article about our Kalakshetra performance! … [Read more...]
Kalakshetra Performance – The New Indian Express
Yes, we really performed. Even though the picture does not show it, I was really there too. … [Read more...]
Performing at Kalakshetra!
To say that we are honoured, privileged and humbled all at the same time is to say nothing at all. We are going to perform at Kalakshetra, the place where our beloved guru became the dancer and person she is ... What words of mine can begin to touch upon all our thoughts and feelings?Like a little girl, I will say I am excited. I have butterflies in my stomach, but I am almost giddy with excitement. I am happy, nervous and determined to do my best.What warms my heart is that we have friends from Pune who are coming all the way there just to watch us. It fills me with joy, love and gratitude. Being a dancer is this - being filled with emotion - fleeting, transient emotion, as well as deep, lasting emotion.If you are in or around Chennai, please come. It will make us very happy. Do pass the word too. … [Read more...]
Paid Artists
I have been learning dance for 22 years. Yes, that is a lot. Often, people ask us whether this means that we have our own dance classes. No. That is not the only reason to learn dance."How much would you charge for a performance?" is the next question. "It depends on what sort of performance it is," I reply. "If you want a full-fledged dance drama, obviously, our cost is higher, so we charge more."If it is not a dance drama, people ask, "Why is it so expensive?"I never know what to reply. I have so many ideas in my head, but I think, "Isn't it obvious?"1) We practise a lot. If we need to put up something that is professional, it is necessary, don't you think? 2) If you want us to be "professional", at some level, you accept that performance is our source of income. We perform three or four times a year, usually. Calculate how much a performance ought to cost if you think of it in … [Read more...]
Jatayu Moksham
The Kalakshetra troupe performed in Pune for the first time last evening. Finally.When I watch them dance, I understand. I understand why Kalakshetra is such a reputed name in the dance world. I am awed by the vision of Rukmini Devi, and her incredible imagination. I see dance as architecture, performance and storytelling. I am moved to laughter and tears, empathy and revulsion.I don't particularly like the Ramayana as a story. I find Sita a rather insipid character, whimsical and petulant. Rama, to me, is too good to be true. Too much of an unbelievable mixture of human and god. I am revolted time and again by the way Rama and Lakshmana taunt the rakshasi Surpanakha before shaming her. There is too much wrong with the story, for me. Yet, on stage, it is divine. The characters are living, breathing individuals. Sita, roused to anger, is formidable. In love, she wins my … [Read more...]
Arangetram – Chaitrali, Diaspina and Purvi
"How was the Arangetram? How did Chaitrali do?" my mother asked.I had one word in response, "Moving."And it was moving for more reasons than one.When Chaitrali, despite her hearing and speaking disability made her speech, many of us were in tears. "I thank the didis," she said, painstakingly. "Varsha didi ... Nisha didi ... Resham didi ..." I pursed my lips to hold back the tears. When she finished her solo, many of us were crying again. Those of us who have our five senses intact should be ashamed of erring on stage when she managed. Somehow, she managed. Sure, she looked at us for confirmation that she was doing it right. She wanted us to be there to support her. But what's so strange about that?But equally, I was moved by Diya and Purvi.How did Chaitrali do? What time is Chaitrali's Arangetram? Diya and Purvi did not have the right to make mistakes because they were doubly … [Read more...]
Arangetram
The Academy of Indian Dances welcomes you to the Arangetram of Chaitrali, Diya and Purvi.Chaitrali is a special girl with a hearing disability despite which she has persevered and come to this stage. Her Arangetram is a proud moment for her parents, her guru, and somehow by extension, all of us. Diya and Purvi - hats off to them for their cooperation and support. Things have been different for them because they have the overwhelming responsibility of being better than ever and making no mistakes at all.This Arangetram is certainly going to be memorable.Venue: Tilak Smarak Mandir Date: 10th August, 2014 Time: 5:30 pm … [Read more...]
Day One: Abhinaya
The day was full of surprises, with just two participants for our workshop. We had questions about whether we should cancel. We decided against it, and perhaps it was a good thing.The workshop was an experience. Things that we had planned could not take place simply because there were not enough people. Yet, it taught us much. I came away with no regrets about having done it, but lots of questions. Tomorrow will be an experience too. With a performance scheduled, it will be strange if there are just two people, and even stranger if there are fewer.Maybe more will show up; maybe not. If nothing else, twenty years of training in Bharatanatyam will stand us in good stead. It helps when dance is flowing through your veins! … [Read more...]