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Varsha Seshan

Performing this evening!

September 9, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

On Being Krishna

July 22, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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. […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, IIM, Indore, performance, programme

Back from Indore

July 8, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Main Nahin Makhan Khayo

July 6, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Kasturitilakam

July 5, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Performing at Indore

July 4, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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, […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Performing in Renage

July 1, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance, Travel Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, France, French, India, performance, programme

Nritya Tarangini

June 2, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

‘Shiva’

April 21, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Our Special Chief Guest – Amjad Ali Khan

April 12, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

It was compulsory for teachers to attend the inauguration of MIT’s Vishwashanti Sangeet Academy. But my day was made when I saw Ustad Amjad Ali Khan ascend the stairs. With his characteristic humility, he acknowledged all those waiting on the sides, unlike many others who obliviously walked by. Unembarrassed by his outdated chivalry, he remained […]

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: art, culture, sarod, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Experiences on Stage – V

April 10, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, ceremony, culture, inauguration, India, performance, programme

Experiences on Stage IV

March 29, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Dance, Travel Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, culture, France, India, performance, programme

The Oberon Trio

February 25, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Wow… In class III, I learned a poem about five kittens in a basket. There was one line that said ‘Each one when I pet it seems surely the best’. As The Oberon Trio played, each piece as they played it seemed surely the best. At the end of their Haydn, I could not decide […]

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: art, classical, performance, programme

Gulaal – a festival of expression

February 24, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Day one of Indian Rhythm and Arts Association’s Gulaal was wonderful. We went essentially for Alarmel Valli’s performance, but were blown away by the second part of the evening – Nandita Das’s Between the Lines. Valli, in keeping with the season, performed two pieces on spring and concluded with a Nritta Lahiri. The upper part of her body was […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: art, Bharatanatyam, culture, performance, programme

Experiences on Stage III

February 22, 2013 by Varsha Seshan 3 Comments

Performing in Chidambaram is an experience that any dancer would cherish. Mythologically, it is the place where Lord Shiva came and danced the Ananda Tandava, at the request of the sages. The golden temple of Chidambaram finds its way into many traditional songs, thanks to its splendour and history. When we danced there, one of […]

Filed Under: Dance, Travel Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, Chidambaram, culture, history, India, performance, programme

Getting into the mood

February 18, 2013 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Before any performance, my dance teacher encourages us not to talk about anything unrelated to dance and the programme ahead of us. She asks us to be silent, thinking about what lies ahead of us, meditating in our own ways. In keeping with the idea, if ever we dance to recorded music, I try and […]

Filed Under: Dance Tagged With: academy, art, Bharatanatyam, performance, programme

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

December 16, 2012 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I listened to Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan and they were beautiful. In fact, I listened to many musicians over the last few days, and enjoyed most. Yet, when I watched and listened to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan – again – I realised what makes me fall in love with him every time, year after […]

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: art, gandharva, sawai

Raghurajpur

November 26, 2012 by Varsha Seshan 1 Comment

If you have a day in Puri, visit Raghurajpur. You can see the Konark temple in history textbooks; you can’t see the little craft village with all its passion and creativity. Raghurajpur is famous for painting on Tussar silk and for its palm-leaf engraving. Watching the process of engraving palm leaves was fascinating, as was noticing […]

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: art, craft, history, Raghurajpur, village

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