There are few passionate male dancers who have carved a niche for themselves in the classical dance field and the Nartaka Festival, started nine years ago by S. Prema as part of the Natyanjali Trust, encourages these artists.
The recipient of this year’s Nartaka Award is dancer-teacher, A. Lakshmanaswamy.
“It is a matter of joy to receive this honour; a great recognition that comes my way,”
The festival, with the spotlight on Margam, will showcase eight dancers from Chennai, Bengaluru, Canada, the U.S., Africa and Malaysia. Kalakshetra-trained Rakesh’s delineation of a swarajathi in Khambodi and the padam, ‘Ososi’, will be the highlights of his show. Shankar Kandaswamy, trained at the Temple of Fine Arts, Malaysia, reveals his love of India in his ode that focusses on the four ‘G’s — Gita, Gayatri Mantra, Guru and Ganga.
Sarveshan, a disciple of the Dhananjayans, has chosen the popular Atana varnam from their repertoire and Periyasami Thooran’s ‘Muruga Muruga.’ Two dancers from Canada, who have made Chennai their home now, are Bhavjan Kumar and Sujit Vaidya. Delighted to be dancing at a festival where his guru A. Lakshmanaswamy is being honoured, Sujit has chosen the classic Bhairavi varnam, ‘Mohamana’ as the centrepiece. Bhavjan’s choice is the Swati Tirunal masterpiece, ‘Sumasayaka’ and a Nindasthuthi.
Parshwanath Upadhye from Bengaluru, a student of Ravindra Sharma and Kiran Subramaniam will present a Margam beginning with Ganesha sthuti.
Wanting to be part of this festival, Arun Mathai, a disciple of Yashodha and Bragha Bessel, is travelling from LA. He has chosen the Nattakurinji varnam, ‘Swami Naan Undhan’ and ‘Shivoham.’ The festival promises an array of talent, performing in a spirit of healthy competition on a common platform.
