Medley of arts to toast life

Celebratory mood

Drawing the curtains on the multimedia dance performance, Celebrating Life, the narrator’s voice led us into the experience as she aptly stated, “Music and dance celebrate life, so immerse in the diversity of dance forms that spread life affirming merriment.

 

” Giving us colourful glimpses of local and pan-Indian festivals, the magnificent dance forms enthralled the audience, taking them on a voyage that didn’t need a lyrical explanation.

 

Choreographed by Papiha Das, Indian Revival group presented this confluence of dance forms capturing the myriad Indian festivals.

But there were elaborate explanations as the narrator guided us from one festival to another, tying this series of celebrations through multiple dance forms in Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. 

 

Behind the veil of smoke, a projected screen emerged relating the legend of Lord Krishna and Radha in Brajbhumi. 

It was a prelude into the vibrant festival of Holi as the narrator succinctly put it, “Dancing for Krishna in this festival almost blurs the distance between festive and sacred.”

 

And with that, the sound of aaj biraj mei holi re rasiya was followed up with an enchanting raasleela on stage. 

 

The overwhelming love for Lord Krishna swept over the performances as Holi was followed by the pomp and show of Janamashtmi, Krishna’s birth. 

 

The lighting played with the shadows of performers turning whimsically in size around the background screen, adding to the effect of the performance. 

From that moment on, the sets changed swiftly from Janmashtmi to Ganesh Chaturthi invoking the dispeller of obstacles, through a power-packed performance lazium act. 

 

The energy on stage was contagious! The reflections in the background smoothly shifted paving the way for Kathakali in Onam, the religious, smoke emitting dhunuchi dance of Durga Puja, the festival of lights Diwali and many more.

 

While the mood was upbeat after watching a splendid rendition of the varied Indian dance forms, it felt a little incomplete, as what we saw largely was the dominant idea of festivities in India, celebrating Hindu festivals with great pomp and show. 

Is it too much to ask for a more comprehensive performance when the theme states, ‘celebrating the colours of festivals of India?’ Metrolife leaves you with that thought to dwell upon!