‘Ekadsha Rudram’ and the 11 facets of Shiva
3 weeks, 5 days ago

‘Ekadsha Rudram’ and the 11 facets of Shiva

The Hindu  

‘Ekadsha Rudram’, a dance drama detailing the 11 Rudras, the embodiment of Mahadeva, conceptualised, produced and directed by Poornima Gururaja was recently presented by dancers Gopika Varma and Leena Sreebadra. The programme, featuring 60 dancers from five different dance schools, was packed with varied dance and music styles, LED visuals and vibrant colours. The chakkars of Kathak style were used with dramatic impact to show Shiva dancing with a life-sized puppet of Dakshayani. The dancers were drawn from Kalasindhu Academy, Articulate Dance Studio, Dasyam, Shivapriya and Samudra Natam.

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Bharatanatyam dancer K.P. Rakesh unravels the beauty of Jayadeva’s ashtapadi
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Bharatanatyam dancer K.P. Rakesh unravels the beauty of Jayadeva’s ashtapadi

The Hindu  

The ashtapadis of Jayadeva are preferred compositions for dancers across styles. From the delicacy and grace that marked his entry as Krishna in the bower to the melodic strains of the flute by Sujith Naik, Rakesh immersed himself into the character. The gentle manner in which Krishna beseeches Radha to place her feet on his body, caressing it and her …

Vishal Krishna presented a slice of Benaras in his Kathak performance
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Vishal Krishna presented a slice of Benaras in his Kathak performance

The Hindu  

It was an enjoyable afternoon of subtle artistry with Vishal Krishna, Kathak dancer of the Benares Gharana, grandson of legendary Kathak dancer Sitara Devi and renowned choreographer Gopi Krishna. There was ghat bhav, where the dancer mimics people and animals with minimal gestures, but this was shown more elaborately in the subsequent drut lay paramparik Kathak, which presented different walks …

Laxminarayan Jena tells Kathak’s story through his dance
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Laxminarayan Jena tells Kathak’s story through his dance

The Hindu  

Kathak is often perceived as a combination of vibrant footwork and chakkars by the uninitiated viewer. A recent performance by Laxminarayan Jena for the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Naatya Vizha threw light on the evolution of Kathak from its Kathavacha tradition to its present-day avatar. ‘Damaru hara kara baaje’ an ode to Shiva, was a dynamic composition set in Dhrupad style …

Into the world of apsaras
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Into the world of apsaras

The Hindu  

It makes for a vibrant watch when a Bharatanatyam performance is based on the celestial dancers – Rambha, Menaka and Urvashi, and when the artistes’ on stage bring alive the characters. Srekala Bharath and her Thejas School of Performing Arts presented Deva Madhargal, a thematic group performance, at Bharat Kalachar, with music by Rukmini Ramani, daughter of the legendary composer …

Jaikishore Mosalikanti’s thematic presentation was marked by well-choreographed sequences
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Jaikishore Mosalikanti’s thematic presentation was marked by well-choreographed sequences

The Hindu  

The time and effort rasikas devote to watch a performance become worth it when the performance lives up to their expectation. One experienced that aesthetic delight while watching the group presentation ‘Triyambaam’ by Jaikishore Mosalikanti and his Shivamohanam school of Kuchipudi. ‘Ya kundendu tushara hara davala’, a traditional obeisance to the goddess of knowledge was followed by the popular Muthuswami …

Apsaras Dance Company’s ‘Anuradha’ captures Radha’s journey from a gopi to a goddess
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Apsaras Dance Company’s ‘Anuradha’ captures Radha’s journey from a gopi to a goddess

The Hindu  

Apsaras Dance Company Singapore recently premiered ‘Anuradha’ — From Gopi to Goddess’, a dance drama that celebrated the persona of Radha. Artistic director Aravinth Kumaraswamy says: “The journey of Radha, from an ordinary woman moving to the state of divinity was what fascinated us. The music features the sarod, sitar, sarangi and tabla.” The musical soundscape for the show is …

Kathak & Flamenco Dance Duo: A Symphony of Styles, Captivating the Internet
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Kathak & Flamenco Dance Duo: A Symphony of Styles, Captivating the Internet

Hindustan Times  

A captivating video blends the graceful moves of India’s Kathak with the fiery passion of Spain’s Flamenco in a stunning 'jugalbandi' performance. The video features two dancers performing in perfect synchrony, seamlessly combining these two distinct dance styles and showcasing an artistic harmony that transcends borders. The dancers’ flowing movements and rhythmic footwork form a unique cross-cultural rhythm, reflecting the …

A Canvas of Draupadi's Revenge: Kathakali Meets Modernity
5 months ago

A Canvas of Draupadi's Revenge: Kathakali Meets Modernity

New Indian Express  

A student-led art display showcased the creativity of CHIREC students in bringing mythology to life in a modern setting. The exhibition featured a red, round canvas depicting Draupadi's life, with each canvas representing a critical moment in her story. Janaki Varma's 'Unravel' series stood out for its portrayal of Draupadi's revenge, featuring Bhima's ferocious form and the dramatic act of …

Odisha tribals keep tradition alive with Dansaye
5 months, 1 week ago

Odisha tribals keep tradition alive with Dansaye

New Indian Express  

BARIPADA: Even as modernity has taken over almost every aspect of life, tribal communities of Mayurbhanj district, particularly Santhals, are keeping their tradition alive by performing ‘Dansaye’, a dance form meant to appease Goddess Durga. The erstwhile kings of the district when it was a princely state loved to watch ‘Dansaye’ during Durga Puja. Several dance troupes from Santhal community, …

Kuchipudi performance celebrates Jijabai's influence on Shivaji's legacy
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Kuchipudi performance celebrates Jijabai's influence on Shivaji's legacy

New Indian Express  

NIZAMABAD: While many of us are taught about the lives of great warriors and freedom fighters — often through stories, history lessons or the different forms of media we consume — the sacrifices of the women who offer support, nurture and encouragement are usually forgotten. To bridge this gap, Hyderabad-based Sri Nateshwari Foundation of Arts and Culture has been putting …

Madhu Nataraj’s ‘Kathas in Kathak’ showed how the dance form has evolved to tell new stories
6 months ago

Madhu Nataraj’s ‘Kathas in Kathak’ showed how the dance form has evolved to tell new stories

The Hindu  

‘Kathas in Kathak,’ presented by Natya STEM Dance Kampni at the Bangalore International Centre, was a dance between swirling and stillness, history and modernity, silence and the music of resurgence. Introducing Kathak as the form that has taken the maximum number of ‘onslaughts, invasions and bans,’ Madhu Nataraj, founder, STEM Dance Kampni, and Director, Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, …

Manipuri dancer appeals to the audience to pray for peace in the strife-torn State
7 months ago

Manipuri dancer appeals to the audience to pray for peace in the strife-torn State

The Hindu  

Moving away from the world of Bharatnatyam to watch a Manipuri dance performance felt like a breath of fresh air. Sinam Singh Basu, a Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee, and his wife Monica presented short compositions at Kathak Darpan’s Smriti Festival at Kalakshetra in Chennai recently. So I urge you all to pray for peace to return to the beautiful …

How Rohini Bhate put Kathak on the global stage
8 months, 2 weeks ago

How Rohini Bhate put Kathak on the global stage

The Hindu  

As we were heading towards the auditorium, we passed through Rohini Bhate Chowk, a city square named after Kathak exponent Rohini Bhate on Pune’s famed Pravat Road, which is home to several major cultural and educational institutions such as the Film and Television Institute of India. The thoughtfully curated festival featured 23 rare choreographies of Rohini Bhate, who nurtured Kathak …

I completely gave myself to dance: Bharatanatyam dancer Roja Kannan
10 months ago

I completely gave myself to dance: Bharatanatyam dancer Roja Kannan

New Indian Express  

HYDERABAD: As the music plays, the rostrum metamorphoses into an elysium, unfolding abstract art where each movement channels a tale of grace, meaning, and emotion, like rhythmic poetry. Kalaimamani Roja Kannan, a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer and Guru hailing from Chennai, performed at Shilparamam with seven of her disciples—Revathy Ananthakrishnan, Sahana Selvaganesh, Swetha Sankaran, L Bhuvaneshwari, Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Nivedha Harish, and …

The famed Kathak Mahotsav is back after a hiatus
1 year, 1 month ago

The famed Kathak Mahotsav is back after a hiatus

The Hindu  

Kathak Kendra holds a significant position in the world of dance. Prerana Shrimali, Urmila Nagar and Geetanjali Lal discussed compositions of Jaipur gharana on the second day while ‘Kathak mein navinikaran’ had PowerPoint presentation by Madhu Natraj from Bengaluru. She chose the famous Bhairavi thumri by Wajid Ali Shah, ‘Babul mora naihar chhuto ri jaye’, which he composed while leaving …

Geeta Chandran’s ‘Samagati’ introduced the philosophical idea of purushartha
1 year, 1 month ago

Geeta Chandran’s ‘Samagati’ introduced the philosophical idea of purushartha

The Hindu  

Dancers are constantly looking at new concepts and themes that could appeal to a larger audience base for their solo and group presentations. Geeta Chandran and her Natya Vriksha dance company’s ‘Samagati’, at the Music Academy, introduced the philosophical idea of purushartha. Geeta had conceived the concept of Dharma, an intensely personal state of belief, as a salutation to her …

How dancers bring alive their art on stage
1 year, 2 months ago

How dancers bring alive their art on stage

The Hindu  

Does dance, more than any other performing art, offer us the alaukika experience that Abhinavagupta wrote about? Welcoming the audience at Kalavaahini’s Dance for Dance festival, Malavika Sarukkai spoke about the mismatch between the “staggering beauty” that dance brings to us and the rewards of those who take to the path of dance. Kalavaahini, she said, seeks to foster an …

Late Kathak maestro honoured by music, dance and 103 ‘chakkars’
1 year, 3 months ago

Late Kathak maestro honoured by music, dance and 103 ‘chakkars’

Hindustan Times  

LUCKNOW Late Kathak maestro Pandit Arjun Mishra’s memory was honoured through music, dance, and 103 ‘chakkars’ at the Sangeet Natak Akademi in Lucknow. On Monday, the Anuj Arjun Mishra Dance Company presented a grand Kathak concert to commemorate the death anniversary of Pandit Mishra. The program, titled ‘Ayodhya-Mathura-Kashi: The Trivat of Vishwaguru Bharat,’ was led by Anuj Mishra, a Kathak …

Kathakali | From backstage to centre stage
1 year, 9 months ago

Kathakali | From backstage to centre stage

The Hindu  

Once a banker, KK Gopalakrishnan chose to focus on art instead of the ledger. Now, a governing body member of the South Zone Cultural Centre of the Ministry of Culture, he has come up with a new book, Kathakali Dance Theatre: A Visual Narrative of Sacred Indian Mime. Kathakali is a complex art form, the appreciation of which is enhanced …

Anubhav: Two dance forms create a unique experience
1 year, 11 months ago

Anubhav: Two dance forms create a unique experience

The Hindu  

‘Anubhav’ was an experience — of cultural exploration, of beauty in movement, and of the joy of dancing. Presented by Aalaap at Medai, Chennai, the taglines for the show read: ‘Deeper with the senses…the deep, silent exchange of energies… this leela with dance goes on’. While the theory of the central Marga style belonging to South-East Asia and the regional …

Kalakshetra revisits its classic productions
2 years, 2 months ago

Kalakshetra revisits its classic productions

The Hindu  

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, finding an oasis of serenity brings great joy. This is the feeling one experienced while watching the dance drama ‘Krishnamari Kuravanji’ at Kalakshetra as a part of its annual dance festival. Story of Jayadeva The same set of musicians gave musical support to the revival of yet another dance drama …

Kerala School Kalolsavam 2023: Yakshagana’s heady blend of dance and drama has audience in a thrall
2 years, 2 months ago

Kerala School Kalolsavam 2023: Yakshagana’s heady blend of dance and drama has audience in a thrall

The Hindu  

There are enormous headgears, vibrant colours and soaring music on stage at the 61st Kerala School Kalolsavam in Kozhikode. Gods on stage Yakshagana Lord Krishna in conversation with Sathyabhama, Arjuna in Kurukshetra, Sita during vanavas and war-hungry asuras kept the audience entertained through a heady blend of dance and drama. Challenges As a fierce war-cry from the stage floats to …

Music-dance synchrony stood out at Kalakshetra’s Kathakali festival
2 years, 3 months ago

Music-dance synchrony stood out at Kalakshetra’s Kathakali festival

The Hindu  

Kalakshetra’s 13th Kathakali festival ‘Bhava Bhavanam- Rasa Sara’ presented five dance dramas, each a treat. As Kalamandalam Thulasi Kumar pointed out, ‘Kathakali artists use eye and various facial muscles to express different emotions. Isolating facial muscles is key- cheek muscles under the eye, for anger, muscles near the mouth for sadness, movement of the eyebrows for happiness, etc Once the …

A Beautiful Rendition of Lord Krishna's Life by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra
2 years, 7 months ago

A Beautiful Rendition of Lord Krishna's Life by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra

News 18  

The 46th edition of KRISHNA under the aegis of Shobha Deepak Singh, Director and Vice Chairperson, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra was a stupendous show. The four-day show saw artists bring alive the legend of Lord Krishna from eons ago. Shobha Deepak Singh opines, “Krishna’ emotes the intrinsic truths of life, appealing in their fundamental simplicity, as enumerated by Lord Krishna. …

Know Your Classical Dances: Kathakali’s rich repertoire and elaborate costuming make the dance-drama a spectacle to behold
2 years, 11 months ago

Know Your Classical Dances: Kathakali’s rich repertoire and elaborate costuming make the dance-drama a spectacle to behold

Firstpost  

Kathakali demands arduous physical and emotional feats from its artists and the costumes only add to the remarkable portrayals of the mythological characters that come alive on stage. Historical narratives present a rather blurry narrative of the practice of this art form in the 16th and 17th centuries but anecdotal evidence hints at Kathakali’s origins in several variations of the …

How gharanas shaped modern Kathak
2 years, 11 months ago

How gharanas shaped modern Kathak

The Hindu  

A connoisseur of Kathak may recognise the charming subtlety of Lucknow gharana, or the enthralling virtuosity of the Jaipur tradition. In the early part of the last century, it indicated that gurus mostly taught within their own families; but that started changing by the 1950s, and the gharana lineage started opening up to students outside the home.” In the early …

Know Your Classical Dances: How Bharatnatyam, rooted in temple dances of Devdasis, contributes to nation's sociopolitical climate
2 years, 11 months ago

Know Your Classical Dances: How Bharatnatyam, rooted in temple dances of Devdasis, contributes to nation's sociopolitical climate

Firstpost  

Indian classical dances – celebrated across the globe for their enriching and mesmerising virtuosity – can be traced back to centuries-old ways of storytelling, performed as much for entertainment as for the spread of cultures and knowledge. From a dance of the devdasis traditionally performed in temple precincts in Tamil Nadu to becoming a solo recital formalised by stalwarts like …

Kathak dancer Rujuta Soman on artistic legacies, her guru Rohini Bhate, and the doha dedicated to her
5 years, 8 months ago

Kathak dancer Rujuta Soman on artistic legacies, her guru Rohini Bhate, and the doha dedicated to her

Firstpost  

The Kathak dancer, who has been running the Rujuta Soman Cultural Academy for the last 18 years, says matter-of-factly that opting to pursue a career as a classical artiste was never on her radar, yet, it is hard to pinpoint a time when Kathak was not a part of her life. The Kathak kalakaar, who has been running the Rujuta …

Role reversal in Yakshagana
6 years, 1 month ago

Role reversal in Yakshagana

Deccan Chronicle  

Born out of experience, this experimental Kannada play has the roles of its characters reversed. Production manager Sridhar Prasad says, “She started the journey by just wanting to learn the dance drama form. She understood how it is looked at in terms of female representation.” The theme of the play, Sridhar says questions various aspects of the way the art …

Five dances in India that capture the magic of the country
6 years, 4 months ago

Five dances in India that capture the magic of the country

CNN  

CNN — Whether it’s lyrical movements, classical Indian style or a hip-hop take on the wildly popular Bollywood genre, dance is, without a doubt, one of the great visual icons of India. Bharatanatyam Video Ad Feedback Bharatanatyam: India's ancient solo dance 02:08 - Source: CNN An ancient classical dance, Bharatanatyam traces it roots to the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, …

A kathak performance on Shiva’s Ardhangini avatar will promote gender equality
8 years, 1 month ago

A kathak performance on Shiva’s Ardhangini avatar will promote gender equality

Hindustan Times  

Traditionally, in Indian mythology, Shiva is associated with destruction. “But there is another legend about Shiva that doesn’t pertain to either of his popular depictions — the inventor of dance, Nataraj,” says kathak dancer Anuj Mishra. A student of kathak exponent Pt Birju Maharaj, and a Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner, Mishra is set to showcase the creative side of …

Text book perfection
8 years, 6 months ago

Text book perfection

The Hindu  

That there can be no substitute for fine dancing was evident when three Bharatanatyam dancers from Dhaka in Bangladesh- Amit Chowdhury, Zuairiyah Mouli and Shammi Akhtar- came together for Shantala Nritya Vaibhava, the monthly concert organised by Shantala Arts Trust, recently. Right from the moment they set foot on stage, the three dancers held the audience’s attention first with their …

Actress and up-and-coming dancer Mahalakshmi S. is a mulitasker
8 years, 7 months ago

Actress and up-and-coming dancer Mahalakshmi S. is a mulitasker

The Hindu  

Mahalakshmi S. handles multiple roles with élan, that of a dancer, an actress and a television anchor. She proved her mettle as a dancer at the school youth festivals when she was a student of Carmel Girls’ Higher Secondary School and had come first in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam at the state level. “But then there were a lot of irregularities …

Bharatanatyam recital in Delhi: Tanya Saxena’s dance dedicated to Gods
8 years, 8 months ago

Bharatanatyam recital in Delhi: Tanya Saxena’s dance dedicated to Gods

Hindustan Times  

Deities and their tales have for long inspired artists. Bharatanatyam dancer Tanya Saxena’s performance will comprise intense abhinaya and complex dance moves. Read: Meet the IAS officer who doubles up as a noted Bharatanatyam dancer Saxena shares that there will be intense abhinaya and complex dance moves involved. Read: Swara Bhaskar is practising Bharatnatyam again Passionate about the dance form, …

Visakha Art and Dance Association celebrated World Dance Day
8 years, 10 months ago

Visakha Art and Dance Association celebrated World Dance Day

The Hindu  

Visakha Art and Dance Association which has been in the forefront in the promotion of classical dance, particularly Kuchipudi, conducted a grand dance fest on the eve of World Dance Day at Kalabharati, Visakhapatnam. Of all, themes related to Lord Krishna and Lord Siva take pride of the place in the dance repertoires and most of the pieces presented in …

Costume drama: An exhibition tracing the costume tradition of Kathakali
10 years, 6 months ago

Costume drama: An exhibition tracing the costume tradition of Kathakali

Hindustan Times  

After celebrating multiple classical forms from across the country, the Nakshatra Dance Festival is now an anticipated annual event on the city’s culture calendar. Curated by dancers Mandakini Trivedi and Kalamandalam Piyal Bhattacharya, the exhibition titled Nepathya, will trace the costume tradition of 17th century performing arts — Kathakali and Mohiniattam. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, head of programming of dance, NCPA, says, …

Kuchipudi ballad ‘Nrutyakshari’ unveils new talent
10 years, 11 months ago

Kuchipudi ballad ‘Nrutyakshari’ unveils new talent

The Hindu  

‘Nrutyakshari’, a Kuchipudi dance ballad penned by Dr. Rallabandi Kavita Prasad, has unveiled new talent in its performer K.V. Satyanarayana, an exponent in dance, both classical and folk as well, during the three-day Indian dance festival organised here jointly by the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, and the city branch of the Young Man Hindu Association. The letter was believed …

Colourful slice of culture
15 years, 7 months ago

Colourful slice of culture

The Hindu  

Music, dance and folk arts? S. Balaji, a student of the Government Music College, and Tilak and Saravanan, former students, say, “Lectures by practising vidwans are extremely useful.” Petra and Lida, both from the Czech Republic, like the air of informality that characterises Svanubhava. Hopefully such programmes will bring about a change in the attitude of future audiences.” Unnikrishnan’s full …

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