This weekend, we bring to you a dance workshop - Abhinaya ... … [Read more...]
Nayanabhinaya
What is Nayanabhinaya?Divide the word and we get "Nayana" (eyes) and "Abhinaya" (loosely translated as expression).The eyes are an essential part of Indian classical dance, and that is one of the reasons why they are highlighted with thick kohl. The eyes express emotion and create beauty.Learn the basics of Nayanabhinaya at our workshop on Abhinaya at The Cultural Centre. Dates: 26th and 27th July, 2014 Time: 5 pm - 7 pm Fee: Rs. 1,500 … [Read more...]
Ashadi Ekadashi at Prashanthi Nilayam
Standing there, behind the backdrop, we held our breath. We had been working with 43 Bal Vikas children with little or no knowledge of dance since May, and this was the outcome of all our efforts. Working towards the performance for Ashadi Ekadashi at Prashanthi Nilayam was often frustrating, but ultimately, deeply rewarding. The children had practised just once at the final venue - the day before the programme. We finished practice around 10:30 at night and then the children got up at 3 in the morning for their make-up because all of them had to be ready by 7.Contending against all odds, it happened.In a flurry of movement backstage, we changed their costumes, changed their hair-dos and helped with their jewellery and make-up. But they did it. People were moved to tears. People came up to us over and over again to thank us.Hats off to the children whose faith pushed … [Read more...]
Hastaabhinaya – expressing through your hands
Classical dance is a language that has the power to express your deepest emotions. When we learn a language from scratch, where do we begin? When you read, you begin with A-B-C; when you sing you begin with Do Re Mi ... The alphabet of dance consists of mudras or patterns formed with your hands. With four fingers and a thumb, the number of mudras we can form is extensive. Codified by the Natya Shastra, a treatise on dramaturgy, mudras form the base of Indian classical dance.What makes a mudra beautiful? What can we express with our hands? Who sets down these rules? How can I understand something I see? Expression through our hands - Hastaabhinaya. At "Abhinaya", our dance workshop at The Cultural Centre. … [Read more...]
Abhinaya: A Dance Workshop
What is abhinaya? Does it really just mean 'expression'?Etymologically, abhinaya comes from two words 'abhi' (towards) and 'niya' (leading). So, Abhinaya leads you, the audience towards something. And what is that something? Rasa - aesthetic pleasure. Considering that these ideas come from the Natya Shastra, the abhinaya aspect of dance is linked to theatre and drama. It involves the aspect of dance that deals with storytelling, expression and emotion.Come, experience the richness and depth of abhinaya with us at "Abhinaya: A Workshop on Indian Classical Dance" at The Cultural Centre later this month.Dates: 26th and 27th July, 2014 Time: 5 pm - 7 pm Fee: Rs. 1,500For more details, do contact me or call: 09764441478 … [Read more...]
Workshop Coming Soon …
We are conducting a dance workshop (followed by a performance) soon ...I will share the details in the next few days! … [Read more...]
International Dance Day
It's International Dance Day! The best day, perhaps, to pay tribute to my guru, Guru Mythili Raghavan.Nobody can quite understand why she means so much to us. Why is it that we spend odd hours at her place? Why do so many of the seniors' parents comment that we listen more to her than to our own parents? Why is there still (after 20 years) that fear mingled with respect when we have to tell Miss that we are not coming for class?Maybe it has something to do with the fact that her house has been open to us at odd hours for us to practise and outdo ourselves. In her absence, I have ransacked her cupboard for costumes. In her presence, I have climbed into the loft to pull equipment out.Miss has seen us laugh and cry. She has witnessed and been part of our greatest successes and failures. How can we not love her? She has been deeply involved with our lives, rejoicing in our victories, … [Read more...]
Thank you!
For all those who came and watched me and listened to me at Art Hop Pune, thank you!I began with almost no one in my audience. In five minutes, there were over twenty people - a large number in such a small place. And as I was doing my last piece, the place was full. I was honoured!Of course, the result of having no one to begin with was that I forgot to market myself. I forgot to tell people that I was a writer and a dancer. In the very end, I apologised and said, "By the way, I'm a writer too. And my collection, The Story-Catcher, is on sale here."Needless to say, no copies were sold.Despite that, what a charming experience it was! Art Hop Pune was a grand event! … [Read more...]
Lecture Demonstration at Art Hop Pune
Nritta is one of the two pillars of the magnificent structure called dance. Nritta is pure technique, with no hidden symbolism, no complex meaning and no detailed explanation involved. What is the purpose, then, of nritta?That's one of the modules of today's lecture demonstration at Oakwood Sen5es at 5pm. Be part of Art Hop Pune! … [Read more...]
Women of Pride
Women of Pride unravelled a lot of questions before proceeding to respond to them, at least in part .There was so much about the devadasis that I did not know. Often in books I read, the history of these temple dancers was cheerfully summed up in a couple of sentences. The devadasis were nityasumangali - perpetually married. They were honoured and revered, but as time went on, they began to lose their patronage. They became associated with loose women, with no morals. Consequently, the entire system of being wedded to a God was abolished. Voilà, you have a history that begins in legends and ends in the 20th century.Who were these women? If they were married to gods, how did the lineage continue? If they were 'pure' and suddenly became corrupted by changing values, what constitutes purity and what constitutes corruption? What does it mean to outlaw a caste? Is it the same as … [Read more...]