Music & dance reviews

Colourful dance fest

The “World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific”, Karnataka Chapter, conducted a three days International Dance Festival, last week.

NRIs from USA, Malaysia and Singapore presented not only Bharathanatya but also Odissi and Kuchipudi dances and brought colour and variety to the festival.

Navia Natarajan, who gave the inaugural programme is not a new artiste to Bangaloreans. She is a student of Natyapriya, Bangalore school and has received advanced training from A Lakshman and Braghabessel. A research scholar in microbiology, she is running the “Navia Dance Academy” in California to train young aspirants in Bharathanatya . She has performed in many parts of the world, Including London, Los Angles, Philadelphia, New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.

In the current programme the pushpanjali gave Navia a bright start. The, Nritta’ in the varna (“Swamy”- raga Natakuranji) carried equal impact, some graceful aridis enriching its visual appeal. Though Jinjoti pada was pleasing, a Thillana as a finale could have brought better impact. Endowed with an ideal figure for a dancer, her performance was matured and dignified. She was well supported from the wings by Prasanna Kumar (Natuvanga), Nandakumar (Vocal), Janardhana Rao (Mridanga) and Mahesh (flute).

Dancer to watch

Soumee De Girotra, who gave a Odissi dance recital in the World Dance Alliance, is from Singapore. Young and enthusiastic Soumee De has practiced Bharathanatya, Ravindranrithya and Music, apart form Odissi. She opened her recital with Mangalacharan, customarily, followed by Thrikandi Pranam. She performed the pallavi gracefully with the lilting nritta. With all the physical graces needed for dance she presented the astapadi of Jayadeva neatly. Her ‘Dashawathara’ was also attractive. Soumee De is undoubtedly an Odissi dancer to watch.

Sankranthi fest

A number of young artistes are featured in the sankranthi Music festival being held (January 6 to January 13) under the aegis of the Sri Rama Lalithakala Mandira, in collaboration with Neelambari. Both male and female artistes are invited to present compositions of different composers, like Tyagaraja, Dikshithar, Shyama Sastry.

Pattanam subramanya Iyer, Papanasham Shivan and Muthaiah Bhagavathar. Kalawathy Awadhuth, who sang here on Wednesday, chose Dr L Muthaih Bhagawathar’s compositions, for her recital. She was accompanied on violin by Mathur R Srinidhi, on mridanga by C Cheluvaraj and on Ghata by Sukanya Ramgopal.

Starting with a Varna, followed by the invocatory piece “Gam ganapathe” which is one of the fine kruthy in the raga Hamsadwani. After the “Thapulaniyu” the vachaspathi raga anchored well to the lilting gait to leave a lingering effect. The “Sahasrakara mandithe” embellished with swara, enhanced its aural beauty. In between “Panchasyanane” and “Durga Devi” were also welcomed by the listeners.

She projected a compact picture of the solemn raga Thodi and the keerthane “Bhakala Devi” acquired a special delight. Both the Nirostaka and Jinjoti Krithies delighted with lilting melody.