Three-fold joy for dance lovers

Watch as the leelas of Krishna, the strength of Sita and nature's bounty come alive on stage in three separate, dramatic Indian classical dance performances to be staged, starting today. Surekha S leads you in to what's in store

Three-fold joy for dance lovers

Gayatri Sriram

Panchakanya: Bharatanatyam
Ahalya Draupadi Sita Tara Mandodari Tatha, panchakanya svaranityam mahapataka nashaka. This is a Sanskrit exhortation, which is said to redeem the sinner from transgressions however grievous. Bharatanatyam danseuse Gayatri Sriram couldn't help but wonder why a combination of these five women? The performance titled Panchakanya was choreographed keeping this question in mind. "None of the five women were Kanyas or virgins in the literal sense, but they were women whose inner psyche remained untrammeled by any slavish dependence on a particular man. They were woman who possessed the liberty of action involving the right to refuse intimacies as well as accept them. These were the most modern of women in the most ancient of times," says Sriram. The performance compares each of these women with the five elements of natureu00a0-- earth, fire, water, wind and space and tells stories of these five enchanting women, who fought many personal battles and demonstrated incomparable strength and courage.u00a0 "Panchakanya is a celebration of their strength and soul," Sriram signs off.u00a0
On: July 23, 7 pm
At: NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point.
Call: 66223737 / 66223830u00a0

An ode to nature: Odissi
The Odissi performance by Namrata Gupta is an invocation to the forces of nature. The performance, titled Srishti, brings to the fore the beauty of nature on stage, while trying to bring our attention to the fact that Mother Nature is being ignored. "The performance begins with a Surya Vandanau00a0-- a salutation to the sun god and is followed by the effect nature has on our emotions," shares 25 year-old Gupta. She depicts these effects through the nine rasas (emotions) of dance. For example, the blooming of a flower gives rise to the adbhuta (wonder) rasa, while a scavenging vulture gives rise to bhibhatsa (disgust) rasa. The performance moves from feelings to a world made by the five elements of nature and finally culminates in eternal joy and tranquility. "This is the dance of nature. And it will leave the audience with a sense of peace and joy. May tranquility be in everything and everyone is the message I want to leave the audience with," she explains.
On: Today, 7 pm
At: NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point.
Call: 66223737 / 66223830u00a0

krishna's divine play: Kathak
From Makhan Chori (butter stealer) to Kaliya Daman (killer of the serpant), from romancing Radha to the Bhagvad Gita, Krishna's life will be unravelled on stage through this self-titled dance drama. Krishna's miracles, his mischief, his purity and magnanimity will come alive on stage in this Kathak-based dance drama, choreographed by Sonia Parchure. Parchure has put life to the lyrics of poet-saint Surdas. Beginning with the birth of Lord Krishna, the performance goes on to explore the different facets of the lord. "The story will unfurl like a film. The attempt was to make it comprehensible to the common man. So, even people who do not understand dance can follow the narrative with ease," he adds. Krishna's advice to Arjun in the form of the Bhagavadgita, followed by the Vishwaroopa Darshan (revealing he is God to Arjun) brings the performance to an end. "It leaves people with a feeling of bliss and heightened spirituality. Often, our performances have moved the audience to tears," reveals Nakul.
On: July 16 AT Sathe College Auditorium, Vile Parle (E), 7 pm;
Call: 9773413694. Also at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi (July 17) and Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane (July 18)

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