Dance to celebrate

On the occasion of World Dance Day tomorrow, Bangalore celebrates with a performance by Dream Girl Hema Malini and a three-day dance fest

Maternal Ties

She is gorgeous and seems to get better with every passing day. Hema Malini dons many hats - Bollywood diva, politician and danseuse. The city is all geared to see Malini perform live.

This time she depicts the nuances of the mother-child bond in Yashoda Krishna, a Bharatnatyam dance ballet.

The relationship between Yashoda and Krishna has been a topic of mythological and social discussion for ages.
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Though Krishna was not Yashoda's biological son, yet her affection towards Krishna symbolises the selfless love of a mother towards her offspring.

It was divine dispensation that prompted Yashoda to accept Krishna, the eighth child of Vasudev and Devki as her son.

Malini, who has pursued Bharatnatyam since the age of six, expresses on stage how the maternal emotion seeped into Yashoda's heart and her realisation that her foster son was no ordinary child.
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Through her original style blended with the spirit of the temple art, the danseuse successfully presents a sublime performance.

From little Krishna's tryst with Putana, the she-demon to his lifting the Goverdhan Mountain with his left little finger to give shelter to the Gopas and Gopis of Brinadaban, the dance drama brings alive the childhood moments of the very mischievous Lord Krishna.
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The ballet shows how Yashoda's love transcends human boundaries and is engulfed in a divine experience.
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Malini's usual grace and poise lends the character of Yashoda, a touch of reality making every mother's heart warm with maternal love.

At Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Malleshwaram
On April 28, 7 pm
Call 98800u00a0 36611
Ticket Price Rs 750 onwards

Happy feet

Dance can be described as an art form that has consistently evolved over the ages. With fluid movements, colourful outfits and animated choreography, dance is a form of self expression that has its own story to tell.
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To celebrate the spirit of dance, the Nupura School of Bharatnatyam, will host a three-day long national dance festival called Nitya Nritya in Bangalore.



The Director of the School, Lalitha Srinivasan explained the meaning of the term Nitya Nritya as an eternal dancer reminiscent of the Nataraja dance pose and said, "This is our 26th year of hosting this festival and this time we hope to encourage youngsters to learn the art of dance and experience dance in its original form."

u00a0This three-day dance extravaganza will feature thematic compositions on not just dance but also on literature and stage craft. Dancers will be accompanied by musicians on the flute, violin, veena and the mridangam.
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Several of the dance ensembles like the Sufiana Kathak focus on Islamic mysticism and a fusion of sub continental music.
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In the presentation called the Story and a Song, South Indian folk tales and Native American folktales will be articulated through the form of dance.

Yamini Reddy, a Kuchipudi artist, talked about her first-ever solo presentation at the festival and said, "My piece will be delivered traditionally accompanied by the Carnatic style of music."

The final day of the festival will see art mediums like mixed media, modern music, photographic art, multimedia design and martial arts come together in a contemporary twist called the Vajra.

At HN Kalakshetra, Jayanagar, Chowdaiah Memorial Hall,u00a0 alleshwaram, Ravindra Kalakshetra, JC Road and Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road
On from April 30 to May 2
Call 2334 8275