Learn the Lingo
|
We continue with the hand gestures listed in Abhinayadarpanam.
|
Photo: V.Sudershan
Katyayani, a disciple of Guru Jayalakshmi Eshwar, performs her arangetram on November 21.
The uses a hand gesture is put to in dance reflects the times and the cultural ethos in which it was created. The aesthetics of traditional India are not necessarily those of all modern Indians. With colour preferences and cuts of clothes, the idea of beauty also has changed. Since ancient India prized a woman's voluptuous figure, the classical dance forms reflect this aesthetic in the hastas used to describe beauty. This week's hasta, the 20th single-hand gesture listed by Nandikeswara, is useful in that context:
Alapadma
Alapadma Bharatanatyam dancer Katyayani Gupta demonstrates the hasta and its use to show a moon tower (below) and hair bun.
Hold the hand with all fingertips together and facing upwards. Then open them outwards like a flower, gradually separating each finger separately, starting with the index finger and thumb, then opening out the middle, ring and little fingers. Another way is to hold the joined fingertips so that they point forward, then rotate the wrist outwards while simultaneously separating the fingers into a flower shape.
Uses
Alapadma is used, as its name suggests, for a full blown lotus. It also represents the idea of beauty or the adjective beautiful, besides round or spherical objects, such as the hair tied into a large bun, a woman's breasts, a handheld mirror, the face, the full moon, etc. Apart from its use in abhinaya (storytelling or acting), alapadma is a part of the ornamental steps commonly performed in many dance forms.
If you have a response or query regarding Friday Review please write to us at delhifridayreview@gmail.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
