Sound of the dance

Lasyakalpa Foundation presented Sattriya and Kuchipudi recitals to mark its third anniversary.

Nupura Ravam 2015 saw memorable performances.

As part of its third anniversary celebrations, the Lasyakalpa Foundation, born out of a dream of three artists, D.S.V. Sastry, Katyayani Thota and Sahiti Reddy Vedire, presented Sattriya and Kuchipudi dancers Anwesa Mahanta and Sreelakshmy Govardhan respectively in ‘Nupura Raavam’ at the Ravindra Bharathi on Sunday last.

Nupura Raavam, which literally means the sound of the dance-bell, was not present in Sattriya recital. Anwesa did not wear any bells on her feet. Anwesa took the stage with the invocation of Saint Mahadeva’s composition. The uncommon nationalistic Vandana by Madhavdeva, Dhanya Dhanya Bharata Barikhey , in raag Bhatiyali, Rakta taal, was followed by a crisp, peppy dance item known as Ramdani.

Her dance of devotion in

Sakhiye , where she pines for Krishna demonstrated her liveliness in portraying myriad of emotions through her mukhajabhinaya (face movements). Anwesa’s neat and intense enactment of several characters in the expressional number of Mathura Vijay based on Srimanta Sankaradeva’s Kirtana Ghosa left the audience in admiration.

Before the start of her recital, Anwesa said that Sattriya was an oral tradition from the 15th century and flourished since its creation by Saint Srimanta Sankardev, who founded Vaishnavism in Assam in the Sattras. The Sangeet Natak Akademi gave recognition to this dance form in the year 2000. Abhinaya, body, hand movements and elaborate footwork are an essential part of Sattriya dance.

In the evening’s second performance, Sreelakshmy Govardhanan, Kuchipudi artist based out of Kerala, was a last-minute replacement for dancers from Chennai. Widely acclaimed for her ability to bring alive the charm and beauty of Kuchipudi, Sreelakshmy disciple of Pasumarthy Rattaiah Sarma and Vyjayanthi Kashi displayed her style of outright devotion and connection.

At the recital, Sreelakshmy presented one of her acclaimed choreographies Poothana Moksham based on the story of Poothana. The dancer interpreted the character of Poothana as a woman who is mesmerised with the happiness in Vrindavan and forgets the purpose of being there. A motherly feeling in her awakens when she meets toddler Krishna and realises that she has to kill the baby. Lord Krishna takes her life and gives her Moksha. So histrionic was Sreelakshmy’s presentation of Poothana disguising as Lalitha and her encounter with Krishna was a treat to watch.

Her presentation included Annamacharya and Tyagraja keertanas. Sreelakshmy performed to a live orchestra. The dancer’s fast footwork had an energising impact on the beholders.

Due to the unfortunate calamity in Chennai, dancers Meera Sreenarayanan (Mohiniyattam) and Shijith Nambiar and Paarvathy Menon (Bharatantyam) could not make it to Hyderabad. Guru Vempati Ravi Shankar and Harikrishna Mamidi, Director of Culture, Government of Telangana, along with the co-founders inaugurated the lamp before the beginning of the programme. On this occasion, the foundation website was also unveiled.