Impressive footwork in Kuchipudi

The South Central Zone Cultural Centre (Nagpur) organised a Kuchipudi programme recently at the Nayana Auditorium, in collaboration with Department of Kannada and Culture and the Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy.

The “Kuchipudi Prasang” was performed by the students of the Kuchipudi Kala Kendra, Vishakapatnam, under the direction of A B Bala Kondala Rao. Kuchipudi derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram (Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh). It was Siddendra Yogi, who gave a defnite format to this dance form and it is believed Saint Narahari Teetha's blessings is also significant in the development of this style. “It creates a world of ecstasy through its poetic expression of life's variegated moods and speaks of manifold rhythmic patterns, melodic gestures and subtle facial expressions. "

With its exclusive and attractive footwork and impactiful abhinaya, kuchipudi is always entertaining. The students of the Kala Kendra, started with the customary invocation — a piece from the Adi Shankaracharya.. The second one was a famous Keerthane of Saint Tyagaraja — “Sogasuga Mridanga Thalamu” in Sriranjini raga. In the “Tharanga” (Krishna Leela Taranga of Narayana Teertha), the Ksheera Sagara episode was also included. Both the dancers (Aditya and Maalayada) performed intricate jathies on the brass plate with ease and assurance, though the customary sparkle remained elusive, they seemed to revel in portraying the peacock and snake. "Satyabhama Samvada" - is a popular item of Kuchipudi (Ragamalika). With exclusive footwork and gestures of Kuchipudi, they also performed a Tillana of Uthakadu Venkata Subbaiah, in the raga suruti.

Music not complementary

The background (Sujatha and Saraswathi) music was persistently going out of Sruthi and the Swarastana going often astray and unfortunately not complementary to the dance recital.  Guru Bala Kondala Rao (Natuvanga), Anand Srihari (Mridanga), Satyanarayana (veena), Oakshina Murthy (Violin) and Kumar (flute) — supported from the wings.

Tributes to a Natyacharya

Natyacharya Mangalore U S Krishna Rao (1914–2007) was an able teacher and experienced choreographer. He worked hard to propogate Bharatha Natya in the South Canara district and trained hundreds of students thorugh his institution "Nritya Vidyanikethan", Mangalore. He was also a recipient of Rajyotsava Award and the Shantala award. His children and students paid rich tributes to him on last Sunday. Krishna Rao's students paid respect to their Guru in the opening "Guruvandane". His two daughters — Nirmala Manjunath and Sandhya Keshava Rao — Senior dancers, performed Bhagawad geethe with practiced ease. They presented in the conventional style, adding to their dancing personality. Most of the other students of Rao, incidentally chose Kannada Devaranamas. Yashodara Sridhar (Na Ninna Dyanadoliralu), Swarnalatha

Srinivasa Rao (Amma Nimma Manegallalli), Shanthi and Divya (Aadidano Ranga), Aneesh and Pawan (Shiva Panchakshari), Kavitha Prasad (Natanam), Chandrachuda (group), Mamatha Achar and Satya Hebbur (Koravanji) - though they fell short in flexions due to age, they sustained interest due to the dramatic overtones of the compositions and their good foundation.  In the "Mahishashura Mardhini" all the senior students of Rao performed to the background of good music of Shailaja and Natuvanga by Sandhya Keshava. Others who supported from the wings are : Janardhana Rao (Mridanga), Ashwathnarayan (flute), Madhusudhan (Violin) and Ganesha Prasad (Keyboard).