JOIN USDemonstrating an innovative style
Chitra Nrutya, an ancient temple dance form where the performer paints beautiful patterns with feet while performing, mesmerised the audience present at the VVS College
auditorium as they had not witnessed such an intricate and skillful dance form before.
The concert began with a Poorvarangavidhi called Brahmanjali invoking the blessings of various gods and goddesses and welcoming the audience to the concert. This was performed by Suhasini K Shetty, one of the disciples of Veena Murthy Vijay.
Another student of hers, Devaraj presented tandava, a dance of destruction and recreation attributed to Lord Shiva. His energetic performance comprised artistic hand gestures and brisk foot movements. The dance piece was called Mahadeva Shivashambo and was composed by Tanjore Shankaraiah.
Tarangam, a dance form in Kuchipudi, which depicts the romantic stories of Krishna was performed by the young dancer Sangeetha Phanish. The dance was executed on a brass plate, moving the plate with the feet to the tune of an accompanying music piece, Krishnam Sundaram. Sangeetha enthralled the audience with her splendid performance balancing on the edge of the brass plate with a pot full of water placed on her head.
Chitra Nrutya, a rare dance form, was demonstrated by Veena Murthy Vijay. She picturised a lion on a black carpet with her feet while dancing to a Devi Stuthi — Katyayani Sharvani Sumangali. Her students Sangeetha Phanish and Suhasini K Shetty performed Mayura Nandini and Bo Shambo painting a peacock and a shivalingam respectively in Chitra Nrutya.
“Chitra Nrutya was a part of temple dance and originated in Andra Pradesh during the 12th century. But it lost its popularity over a period of time. A few decades back, C R Acharyalu, an eminent scholar in Kuchipudi, revived this art form and had done a lot of work to popularise the genre. Chitra Nrutya is also called as Brindavani Natya and Padmavali Natya,” informs Veena Murthy Vijay.