L Murugasankari is a go-getter. Ever since she moved to Madurai after she got married, she has been itching to do something big for the city. Celebrating dance was on top of the list of this teacher, learner and performer of Bharatanatyam. For the last two years, she had been pushing herself to popularise the classical art form through a series of lec-dems in schools and colleges, giving public performances and teaching children.
With an aim to promote and preserve our classical art forms, Mururgasankari presents a dance festival on June 24 titled Appreciation of Indian Classical Arts (AICA). It is part of a series and a new initiative of the Kalai Koodam Academy of Performing Arts. “I will call it an achievement if the event creates an interest for our classical arts among the general public,” she says.
The city plays host to far and few dance festivals. But the AICA festival has already earned much of social media love. “I feel there is not much publicity when maestros come to town to perform. As a result, many people don’t even come to know of the event,” says Murugasankari who has promoted the event through videos being screened in cinema theatres, radio jingles, banners and posters.
She is bringing in artistes from other parts of the country who will showcase some unique dance forms. For instance, the classical dance from Assam called sattriya will be performed for the first time in Madurai. According to Murugasankari, the artistes have been hand-picked to perform based on their merit. “We did not send invitations but put an advertisement asking young talented dancers across the country if they would be interested in performing in Madurai,” she says and from the applications received, she short-listed kathak, kuchipudi, odissi and sattriya.
Each artiste has been asked to showcase their dance form in a short and interesting ways such that it is appealing to even those who don’t understand classical dance.
Murugasankari points out that there are not many exponents performing these classical styles professionally.
The four chosen to perform in Madurai have been trained by renowned gurus and have been performing for many years as soloists. “They are talented and vibrant and Madurai will surely enjoy the evening,” she assures.
Hatsun auditorium, TN Chamber of Commerce, Kamarajar Salai, 6.30 p.m.
