'Mastering classical dance is penance'

There are very less gurus like Rukmini Devi Arundel and Jayalaskhmi Alva who have raised the standards of Bharathanatyam to a great level by considering it as a penance of life, opined senior Bharathanatyam Guru and ‘Kalakshithi’ (Bangalore) Director M R Krishnamurthy.

He was speaking after receiving the ‘Natyakala Tapaswi’ award conferred on him by Sridevi Nritya Kendra (Mangalore) at a function held in Mangalore on the occasion of the valedictctory programme of ‘Nrithyothsava -2013’ and birthday celebrations of Nrithya Guru Jayalakshmi Alva held in Town Hall on Friday.

Sridevi Nrithya Kendra trustee and Dakshina  Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishat President S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that Gurus like Jayalakshmi Alva are preserving the purity of the art through the traditional qualities of the art, imbibed by her guru Dandayudhapani Pillai.

Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankara Murthy released a book ‘Teaching Bharathanatyam- A comprehensive approach’ authored by  Dr Araty H Shetty. Meanwhile, a DVD featuring Margam presentation, composed by Jayalakshmi Alva was released by Prof N S Jayalakshmi of Kalakshetra, Chennai.
Students of Sridevi Nrithya Kendra performed Bharathanatyam featuring Pushpanjali, Jathiswara, Varnam and Thillana.

Kateelu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple administrator Lakshminarayana Asranna graced the occasion and blessed the occasion. Sridevi Nrithya Kendra Trustee Harikrishna Punaroor and others were present.