Connoisseurs of dance will get to experience something unique on World Dance Day, which falls on April 29 (Friday). For the first time in Karnataka, eight star dance gurus belonging to various genres will come together on one platform and perform at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.
Experienced artistes such as Radha Sridhar, Choodamani Nandagopal, Padma Murali, Gayathri Keshavan (all Bharatanatyam dancers), Sreedevi Unni (Mohiniattam), Sunanda Devi (Kuchippudi), Nayana Moray (Kathak) and Kshama Rau (Odissi) are set to enthral the audience.
The idea was conceived by noted danseuse Vyjayanthi Kashi, head of Shambhavi School of Dance. “For the first time in Bengaluru, renowned gurus, all 60 years and above, will be seen performing on the same stage. It is an attempt to bring to the audience a historic event on the occasion,” said Ms. Kashi, former chairperson of the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrutya Academy.
According to Ms. Kashi, the gurus will offer an experience to be treasured as the audience will get to see the magic that age and experience can add to a performance.
So what motivated her to bring the gurus together? Ms. Kashi told The Hindu that the dance scene today is a positive and vibrant one with a lot of young talent. But what about the gurus who chisel these young talents? It takes years of passion, dedication and hard work to become a dancer, and a lot more of that to survive as one, she said. This is because after the so-called ‘shelf life’, the artiste is rarely invited to perform.
According to Ms. Kashi, this is an attempt to celebrate the spirit of these gurus, who prove that age is no barrier.
‘A model for others’
Ms. Kashi got this idea while interviewing a 77-year-old guru. “When I asked her to perform a dance piece to understand its details, there was a sparkle in her eyes. I could see an urge in her to perform. Tucking her saree pallu to her midriff, she started performing. I saw so much grace and passion in her performance. I felt that she would love to perform again,” she said.
Recalling Kalanidhi Narayanan, a Kalidas Samman award recipient who died in February, Ms. Kashi said, “When she performed at a programme to mark her 80th birthday, it was a real spectacle. She slipped into the character of a 16-year-old girl in that performance. It left an indelible impression on my mind.”
“I am organising the event to create a model for others to replicate, one that will offer the gurus an opportunity to exhibit their talent again,” she said.
Where and When
Venue: Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Entry Free
