All over the world women are stepping up to the task and showing the way how things are done. Like the dancers of KSDA Shishya Sringala, comprising the past and present disciples of Kalamandalam C.N. Sathyabhama, a well-known, city-based dance guru. They are joining hands to showcase the nayika (the heroine) in all its glory, with their new “thematic” dance production, ‘Ashtanayika,’ which premières in the city on August 23 at VJT Hall, 6 p.m.
‘Ashtanayika’ explores the different ‘avasthas’ (states) of a nayika towards her nayaka (the hero). It’s told through the tale of the eight nayikas as set out in the Natyasastra , that seminal Indian text on stagecraft written by Bharatamuni, circa 200 BCE.
“In the Indian classical dance tradition, the dancer is a devotee seeking the association of the supreme and symbolises a female who is eternally related to her beloved, the Lord. None more so than Radha, to her beloved Krishna, making them the ideal heroine and hero. In the text, the nayika showcases eight bhavas of a woman in love, depending on the situation. Different types of nayikas are depicted for each of these situations. These eight heroines together are known as ashtanayika,” explains Lakshmy Sudarsan, an IT professional and one of the main dancers in the production.
The others are Chothy Nair, Asha Unnithan, Sheeja Raj, Jani Shankar and Gopika Sugandhi, with Rateesh Anilkumar appearing as the nayaka, Krishna. Their guru, who runs Sathyabhama Dance Academy in Kunnukuzhi, has conceptualised and choreographed the production. The production is part of the group’s fund-raising efforts for economically-disadvantaged girls’ schools in the city.
Although the production is influenced by the Natyasastra and set to the tune of Jayadeva’s Ashtapadi and Soordas’ poetry, the dancers are attempting to make it more contemporary, “to appeal to the laity as equally to dance connoisseurs,” according to Chothy, a classical dancer and choreographer, who first came up with the idea for the production.
The dancers stress time and time again that all their experiments are, however, within the strictures of tradition. “It’s a wholly classical dance production but we’ve chosen to mix and match the best of Indian classical dances forms such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi and Kathak,” says Lakshmy.
For example, they’ve planned the introductory dance, featuring Krishna and seven gopikas, as a judicious mix of Kathak and Bharatanatyam. “With the Ashtapadi as the base we’ve changed the ragas and talas to reflect the bhavas, as perceived by the performers. We’ve taken the liberty to tweak the costumes too, which have been re-designed by city-based dance teacher Kumaresan,” say Chothy and Lakshmy. The stage setting too has been given special attention, with specially commissioned art work to symbolise each of the nayikas.
The entire production has been divided into two. ‘Sambhoga,’ comprising three solos and the fourth, a group dance, will showcase expressions related to happiness, predominantly sringara bhava. ‘Viyoga,’ on the other hand, again three solos and a group dance, will explore viraham (separation) and related bhavas.
The Asthtanayikas
Vasakasajja
Svadhinabharthruka
Kalahantarita
Khandita
Vipralabdha
Virahotkanthitha
Proshitabharthruka
Abhisarika
