It is a celebration of the woman’s artistry with joy unalloyed spreading the vibes of exuberance in a festive air. The jingling of ankle bells, clanking of kolalu , rhythmic yodelling of chorus, melodic strains of folk tunes rent the air at Andhra University Open Air Theatre, Visakhapatnam, where a string of women troupes presented an array of folk arts with a sprinkle of Kuchipudi for Rasagna Mahilotsav on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Women artistes from the north coastal districts of Andhra displayed their artistic talent unfolding diverse dimensions of their originality. Blurring the line of male female division in performing arts, the artistes presented folk arts like kolatam and Burrakatha that men usually perform.
Each troupe, in perfect harmony and firm command over what is being presented, evoked warm response.
A Kuchipudi beginning
The event opened with a Kuchipudi performance where artistes of Surekha Dance Academy presented an invocatory Maha Ganapathim and then a piece Neti Mahila -contemporary woman dealing of various aspects of modern woman’s living in contemporary society.
Pydimamba Kolatam Troupe Kothapenta performed kolatam in all its vibrancy. Grouped in pairs, with small sticks or kolalu providing the nucleus of the cadence, the artistes in inner and outer circles performed it well.
As the inner circle received the strikes of kolalu and the outer circle delineated it, while moving in enchanting choreographic circular movements, the troupe performed for the thematic delineation of mythological numbers Srirama Jayarama, Lakshmna Devara Navvu and the heroic battle of Abhimanyu in war of Kurukshetra.
From Rajasthan
The folk dances for the songs Koylao, Jalari and others were fascinating with vibrant movements in rhythmic patterns. Rajasthani folk dance holding the pots with lamps lit on it drew wide applause, Burrkatha narrating the mythological tale of Rukmini Kalyanam and Harikatha with the narrative of women of independent mind from mythology were well received. A team of tribal women performing Dhimsa dance moving in circular movements shuffling their feet in simple yet alluring patterns lent an additional sheen.
Rasagna Samskruthika Seva Samastha in association with Department of Language and Culture Government of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra University hosted the event.
