JOIN USDance has no borders and it was to celebrate exactly this spirit that three talented artistes recently presented Prema Prana Prahara, at ADA Rangamandira.
This presentation was a coming-together of three dance styles — bharatanatyam, kathak and mohiniyattam. It showcased the grace and poise of each of this traditions, and in the process, presented the tales of three powerful women of Indian mythology.
The artistes for the evening included Poornima Ashok, a bharatanatyam dancer; Smitha, a kathak artiste; and Gopika Verma, an expert at mohiniyattam.
The evening began with the three dancers entering the stage one by one, greeting the orchestra and seeking the blessings of a small idol places at the corner of the stage. While Poornima displayed a fine sense of balance and coordination, Gopika’s fluid movements were much appreciated by the audience. The gracefulness which is an integral part of kathak was also displayed to perfection by Smitha.
In their individual performances, each portrayed the story of a woman from Indian mythology — Poornima, who was first, depicted Sita Prema, which portrayed Sita’s love and devotion.
She displayed a lot of energy on stage; even at times when the music was fast-paced, she danced in time witha the rhythm with remarkable ease. Smitha then portrayed Radha Prana, which depicted Radha’s unconditional love for Krishna.
Gopika presented a mohiniyattam recital titled Draupadi Prahara, which told the tale of the Pandavas’ victory over the Kauravas’ from the queen’s point of view.
Sahana Venkatesh, a member of the audience, says that she had a great time at the programme. Although she isn’t a dancer herself, she had come along with her family to show support for Poornima.