Madhur Gupta
Kathak Then And Now
Posted on: 22 Sep 2018
This past week at Alliance Françoise Dr. Navina Jafa presented ‘Safarnama: A Journey In Kathak’ which comprised of a talk titled: New Perspectives – History of Kathak and ended with a short Kathak recital by her. A noted arts scholar, Dr. Jafa’s talk was the highlight of the evening, drawing some very interesting conjectures as […]
Dance Of The Bliss: Vilasini Natyam
Posted on: 09 Sep 2018
Dance has been a part of her upbringing right from the childhood. Her mother and her first Bharatanatyam Guru Smt. Kamalini Dutt has learnt several dance forms and performed Bharatanatyam till her late 30s. Due to a fire accident, her performing career stopped in the 80s and she went on to specialize in producing programmes […]
Sakhi- A Friend And Beyond
Posted on: 31 Aug 2018
Recently Sangeet Shyamala in association with Dr. Usha Rk had presented a unique and interesting dance feature “Sakhi – in praise of the friend”. सखे !त्वम् मम मित्रम् – o Sakhi you are my friend!; was the refrain echoing throughout the evening with two Bharatanatyam and one Kathak recital. Sakhi or friend is an intrinsic […]
Kutiyattam: Ancient Yet Alive
Posted on: 18 Aug 2018
It is debatable amongst scholars but it’s said, even Kathakali find its roots in all the ‘attams’ predominating its existence. Kutiyattam is one such form which is incidentally one of the oldest Sanskrit theatres of the subcontinent. This art form survived through temple patronage over centuries but in the contemporary scene is often performed in […]
Home And The World
Posted on: 12 Aug 2018
A male trans-national dancer from Australia pursuing Bharatnatyam as a profession in an increasingly rigid political, social, and cultural India; Christopher Gurusamy an alumni of the famed Kalakshetra talks about his yearning to dance and the challenges he often meets on the way: Tell us about your exposure as a child to dance especially Bharatanatyam […]
I am ‘This’, I am ‘That’
Posted on: 29 Jul 2018
Part 2 continues…. Placing contemporaneity in classical dance, Justin explains, “Something to remember is that throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Bharatanatyam has, apart from the music already existing and having predominantly ‘female-voiced’ lyrics, used many narrative and descriptive texts in Sanskrit and South Indian languages, been set to music, and has seen the creation […]
I am ‘This’, I am ‘That’
Posted on: 22 Jul 2018
|| Shivah Shaktya yukto yadi bhavati Shaktah prabhavitum Na chedevam devo na khalu kushalah spanditumapi|| “Joined with Shakti (thyself), Lord Shiva is capable of creating the Universe. Otherwise, the Lord is not even able to stir.” Since time immemorial concepts and mythical instances like that of Yin and Yang, Ardhanareshwara, Purusha-Prakriti; and similar other concepts […]
Carrying On The Kathak
Posted on: 14 Jul 2018
Ragini Maharaj, born into the illustrious family of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana, she has received her training from a very young age from her grandfather the Kathak maestro Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj. She has also learned Kathak from her aunt Mamta Maharaj (daughter of Pt. Birju Maharaj) , from her father Deepak Maharaj (younger son […]
Susanskriti: Tracing Heritage Through Dance
Posted on: 09 Jul 2018
There is a certain charm in the old. There is a reason why all that is classic or traditional stands the test of time. What one finds even further interesting is when classical boundaries are extended within the tradition. Susanskriti an effort by Sangeet Natak Akademi and Helen Acharya, to bring the finest of talents […]
Like A Breath Of Fresh Air
Posted on: 30 Jun 2018
One walks into an auditorium, and hears the dancer singing with the orchestra and dancing too! What a treat to watch! Just like a breath of fresh air Aniruddha Knight swayed on stage and did the pièce de résistance Krishna Ni Begane Baaro. Representing an unbroken lineage, ninth in a generation full of artists, grandson […]
