A splendid treat for eyes and ears

A series of mesmerising classical dance and music performances are being held as part of the Soorya Festival 2013 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The festival is on till September 7 and a host of artistes from all over the country are participating in it.

   The programme is being jointly organised by Soorya, a cultural organisation, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

While dancers like Lakshmy Gopalaswamy and Rama Vidyanathan presented bharatanatyam performances on the first two days of the festival, others like the Tandava Troupe and sufi kathak dancer Rani Khanam too
performed to an enthusiastic audience.

There was a lot in store for the music lovers too as ‘Bangalore Brothers’ and Manjari, a Hindustani classical vocalist, rendered classical recitals at the programme. The bharatanatyam dancers Sanjana Arjun and Deepti T and Carnatic vocalist Neyveli Santanagopalan will perform on the last day of the festival.

The Tandava Troupe, consisting mostly of young dancers, presented an energetic performance which had elements of bharatanatyam and the contemporary style. The remarkable choreography and coordination stole the show. The interesting steps and innovative formations that the dancers showcased truly stood out.

Bindu Bhaskaran, who had come with her daughter for the show, said she wanted to see a bit more of the young group’s performance.

   “The way they presented the dance was quite unique. Although they did not play with the technical aspects of the dance, they innovated on the steps. The end result was dynamic and as a member of the audience, I really enjoyed what I saw,” she says.
There were some in the audience who had been attending the festival since day one. They said that the standard of the performances was getting better. Raman Iyer, who also watched the show, said the festival showcased some
of the best artistes in the country.

   “There was a good mix of veterans and budding young artistes and I enjoyed the recitals and performances of all of them. I was glad to see several youngsters on stage. This proves that the current generation is taking an active interest in the performing arts,” he states.