Beautiful temple dance

Dance reviews

Smt Narmada (1942-2008) was a great dance teacher, choreographer and also a great human being. In her memory, Kala Sindhu organises a dance programme called 'Nirantara Narmada Festival' every year.

This time, Usha Datar gave a dance recital on Friday at the JSS auditorium. Datar, a senior dancer, is a practitioner of several styles of dance and has trained a number of students in the Bangalore University.

She has performed on many prestigious platforms and is the recipient of several awards also.

Datar chose a special item as a tribute to Smt Narmada. She opened the programme with temple dance, which she has learnt from none other than Nataraja Ramakrishna. The very entry was interesting and attractive. Entering with ‘Mahadwara’ she performed ‘Pooja Vidhi’ and ‘Kelike’ and Asta Dikpalaka Pooja, customarily. A particular raga and tala for every side and presented colourfully with abandon.

In the second half, Datar chose “Bhama Kalapam”, which is distinct to Kuchipuudi.

The chaste idiom, impactful abhinaya, a variety of footwork-movements; “Jade” and Mangala Sutra, “Patra Lekhana” – the salient features of “Bhama Kalapam” – were beautifully presented. But it was over-theatrical at times which requires greater restraint. It is amazing to see Usha Datar, just 69 years young performing with ease, perfect foot work and graceful Abhinaya.

From the wings, a band of professional artistes gave her good support: Karteek Datar – Natuvanga, Bharati Venugopal – vocal, Janardhan – mridanga and Vivek Krishna – flute.

Yuva Nrityotsava
The Ponnaiah Lalithakala Academy conducts a “Yuva Nrityothsava” every year in memory of Kittappa Pillai, doyen and a descendant of the legendary Tanjore Quartet. He has trained a good band of dancers including few celebrities like Dr Vyjayanthimala Bali, Hemamalini, Sudha Rani and our own Narmada, Asha and Revathi and Padmini Rao. It is just approporiate to conduct a dance festival in his memory and encourage young dancers.

Sparsha Shenoy, who gave the inaugural dance recital, is a postgraduate in Bharathanatya and a disciple of Dr Vasundhara Doreswamy. She is a CCRT scholarship holder and has won a few prizes like “Kishora Pratibhe”.

Shenoy opened her programme with Mela Prapthi, customarily. The “Mohamana” – a varna of Ponnaiah Pillai in the raga Bhairavi was the piece de resistance of her programme. It was evident that she is firm in her laya and has grasped the basics well.

With her graceful abhinaya and dramatising elements, the devaranama (Aadahodalle Makkalu) was also well received.

Dr Vasundara Doreswamy on Natuvanga, Vasudha Balakrishna on vocal, Hanumantha Raju on mridanga and K S Ganesh on flute – supported the young dancer.

Right step forward

The other dancer who performed in ‘Yuva Nrityothsava’ is Supraja, a disciple of Prof M R Krishnamurthy of Kalakshithi. She has passed Vidwath examination and is a BE student.

Supraja chose a alaripu in Thisra Jathi followed by a keerthana “Sri Valli Devasenapathe”. Of course, the main item was the swarajathi varna of Ponnaiah Pillai in the raga Anandabhairavi. The Nayika bhava came alive and registered well with the expectant viewers.

The concluding pharaz thillana of Pattanam Subramanya Iyer was crisp and evocative. Natuvanga by Sumana Nagesh, vocal by Bharathi Venugopal, mridanga by R Ramesh and flute by Mahesh Swamy – were supportive throughout the recital.