The eight wonders of dance

Andhra Music Academy’s 8-day dance fest at Kalabharati, Visakhapatnam was truly a reflection of rich spectrum of Indian classical forms.

July 31, 2014 08:39 pm | Updated 08:55 pm IST - Hyderabad

A COLLAGE OF DANCE The dance fest represented the rich culture of our country. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

A COLLAGE OF DANCE The dance fest represented the rich culture of our country. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Nritya Vysakhi, an eight-day dance festival of Andhra Music Academy has let the spectrum of Indian classical dances unveil its rich and varied shades in a humungous measure at Kalabharati Visakhapatnam. Of numerous strands that form the undercurrent of Indian thought, mythology takes a prominent shade. It, in a way, forms the underlying concept of all Indian classical dances that seek to elevate the viewer from mundane plane to a nobler one. Towards this end, each of those dance forms that sparkled in the fest explored and interpreted chosen mythological themes in their distinct kinetic idiom. There are many characters in a wide range of emotional contours that populated the canvas of themes of these dances in the fest. All, invariably, sought to convey the significance of righteous ways of leading life here.

Importance of reverence to primordial elements that ensure a harmonious existence in nature, focus one’s duties unmindful of returns and celebration of divinity are a few among many of its thematic highlights. Every performance in the fest was high in its technical perfection and aesthetic appeal in articulation of its point. Each of the artistes displayed wonderful clarity of the character being portrayed sans any slackening phase in an energetic presentation.

Co-ordination of artistes in group numbers was remarkable. Besides scintillating performances in the evening session, the organisers also conducted lecture-demonstration of respective dance form in the morning session at Kalabharati that provided good exposure and interaction for dance students and enthusiasts.

The event opened with Kuchipudi dance ballet ‘Prabuddah Manimekhala’ by Anuradha Tadakamalla and her team. It depicted life and works of Manimekhala an immortal character from Tamil classic Manimekhalai .

Bharatanatyam performance by Hyderabad-based renowned danseuse Ananda Shankar Jayant and her team that capped the fest was a class apart. Titled ‘Nrityopahara’ it was, in a way, a montage of salient parts of her various Shankarananda productions. It bore an eloquent testimony to her exceptional talent both as an ace artiste and instructor besides perceptive choreographer. Suryanamaskar, Narasimha, Markatamanimayichela, Meera bhajan and excerpts from Bhagavad Gita were their choice for the day.

Another exponent of Bharatnatyam Rajeswari Sainath and her team presented the ballet ‘Krishna Darshan’ with verve. It dealt with miraculous episodes from Lord Sri Krishna’s leelas.

Bhuvaneswar-based Aruna Mohanty and her troupe performed Odissi with panache. Gatha Odissi, evolution of Odissi, Panchabhutho and excerpts from Ramayana formed the themes for their performance.

Mohiniyattam by Trivandrum-based Gopika Varma and her team, Geetha Govindam in Manipuri style by Imphal-based RK Sanahanbi and her group, Sattriya dance by Guwahati-based Sharodi Saikai and Krishna Leela in Kathak style by Mangala and Raghava Raj Bhatt and their team held the dance aficionados in thrall.

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