Yesterday, we performed again.We were early. The audience was late. We started half an hour late, after our lovely organiser called out on the mike to the society and large, "Green Acres, come on, wake up! Get up and come to the clubhouse!"We took our own music system - a largish one that was actually audible. We also performed indoors, making the sound that much clearer.We were close, close, close to the audience, almost as if ready to break the fourth wall. I actually wondered whether to break the fourth wall and involve the audience. I wonder if classical dance would accept that.It was good fun, but so ordinary that it almost didn't happen. The pink alta stains on my feet really seem to be the only evidence that we did actually perform yesterday! … [Read more...]

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! … [Read more...]

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 scolded as soon as we reached.And then, there was no music system. Everybody apologised to everybody else. We were told to sing while everyone waited for a music system. "Sorry," we said, uncomfortably, "we don't sing."Finally, my mother brought a music system from home. But the plug points around the makeshift stage did not work.My father gave us his laptop. We could hear nothing.We set up the music system at some point far away. And then we imagined the music and danced.My father said that coordination was a little lacking this time. Perhaps we could blame that on the fact that … [Read more...]

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 cassettes, rewinding and fast-forwarding, working on our synchronisation.Now, we probably practise as much or more, but differently. Synchronisation must be taken that many notches higher. Quality cannot possibly be compromised. I look forward to it! … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]