JOIN USA show that enhances your love for Indian culture
Much to the delight of classical dance admirers, some of the most experienced and renowned classical dancers of India came together at Kamani Auditorium, at a show organised by the founder of Prasiddhi Foundation, the veteran Bharatanatyam dancer Pratibha Prahlad.
After the divine piece of ‘Shiva and Krishna’, brilliantly performed by Prahlad, the danseuse spoke of her experience as a dancer saying that, that evening when she received a text message from a well-wisher saying he appreciated a veteran like her, she took some time to believe that she could also be counted as “one from the league” by the people.
“It is an overwhelmingly enriching experience to be here,’’ said the doyen, adding, “the dream of starting Prasiddha Foundation was to promote and propagate national and international floor for community of dancers from all genres, also including quawwalis and other kinds of musical performances.’’
Apart from her known repute as a Bharatnatyam dancer, Prahlad is also a cultural visionary and has taken dancers and performers with her to every nook and corner of the country, besides premier cultural festivals and grand performance venues. The National Awardee has also done commendable work in conceptualising and presenting International Arts Festivals.
Sunil Kothari, a dance critic says, “people have performed on stage everywhere, but who would think of taking a troupe to jail? She has done that. Pratibha Prahlad has taken dance troupes to hospitals, melas, and also to international spaces across the world and without much help from anywhere else.’’
The 45 minute show also played well with lights and sound, keeping the audience in their seats. The show comprised two solo performances by Prahlad and two pieces by Prasiddha Foundation troupe headed by Satyanarayana Raju, who said that out his 30 years of career in dance he has given 25 years to this organisation, which, he believes “is the greatest cultural organisation in India today.”
The head choreographer also added that “it was heavenly to perform in front of some of the greatest legendary artistes in the field of dance. It is a great achievement for us.’’ The Prasiddhi troupe presented Shiva Nagendra Haraya and Sahamagana Lola, the dance appreciating Lord Shiva and Krishna respectively. The troupe of eight artistes also performed on Sargam, the joy dance, which is considered a technical piece, straight from the shastras where the focus is on the body and less on expression, as required in the other pieces that were performed
at the event. The ease and precision with which the dances were performed was superlative and drew loud applause and stan-ding ovation from the appreciative the audience.
Congratulating the performers, Kathak maestro Pt Birju Maharaj said “Pratibhaji is a great dancer and Prasiddhi Foundation is doing great work.”
Present on the occasion were some of the most known faces in the field of dance like Yamini Krishnamurthy, Uma Sharma, Singhjit Singh and Charu Mathur, Radha Reddy, Madhavi Mudgal, Shovana Narayan and Gitanjali Lal who were all felicitated.
The audience consisted not only of Indians, but people from other countries who enjoy Indian classical dance. Seeing such admiration and appreciation for classical dance in modern India one cannot but feel proud of our rich cultural heritage.