Capturing the glory of Indian dance forms

Celebrating World Dance Day, Spandan organised a group photography exhibition at India Habitat Centre recently.

As the festival’s name suggests, photographs in large formats displayed in the open area of IHC, portrayed the beauty of Indian as well as international dance forms.

Angelic expressions and intricate hand movements of exponents, as captured by photographers, focussed on the opulence of Indian dance forms.

The exhibition was divided into different sections as per different dance acts.

In the Manipuri category, large size pictures of Tanuja Devi and Jenia Chanu, disciples of Guru Singhajit Singh, who performed at the Young Music and Dancers festival in Delhi last year, Guru Thanil Singh and troupe doing Manipuri Ras and Dhol Cholum captured by Shankar Bhattacharya were on display.

In the Bharatanatyam category four of the best articulate dancers were featured.

Geeta Chandran and disciples performing at Natya Vrinda festival, outstanding danseuse Rama Vaidya-nathan at Surya Festival, eminent Bharatanatyam exponent Malavika Sarukkai, at Parmapara Festival  and Alarmel Valli’ choreogra-phic work showcasing the essence of Purandaradasa’s lyrical composition were the highlights.

Performance  by students of Kathak Kendra under Guru Rajendra Gangani, Guru Malti Shyam , Rani Khanam and Durga Arya at Kalashram’s Vasantotsav, Guru Birju Maharaj and Kumidhini Lakhiya at 75 years celebration of Maharajji and Monisa Nayak and Gauri Diwakar performing at Kathak Mahotsav adorned the Kathak section.

There was also photographs of Kathakali acts by Kalamandalam Soman and Margi Vijaykumar at Drisyavedi 2014 captured by Haressh Nampoothri,  Kalamandalam Amaljit performing at Natya Vriksha Young Dancers Festival 2012, Guru Kalamandalam Gopi executing his beautiful mudra and  Bhima and Dhusyasana portrayed by Pathanapuram Biju and Bijulal during the Dhusyasana Vadhama act. 

In the Mohniyattam section Pallavi Krishnan and Group, Dr Rekha Raju performance at  Ananya Nrityolasa captured by Giridhar Chandrashekhar and acts by Gopika Verma and Jayaprabha Menon were presented.

Likewise, Anwesha Mahanta’s dance at  Natya Vriksha’s Young Dancer’s Festival and Mallika Kandali’s act in Sattriya were featured.

Similarly, in the Kuchipudi section there were photographs of Deepika Reddy, Dr Raja Reddy and Radha Reddy, Vyjayanti Kasi and Amrita Lahiri whereas in Koodiyattam, exponent Margi Madhu as Bali in Bali  Vadham and Sita Krishnakumar as Sita in Jatayuvadham from Ramayana were featured.

Also, there were pictures of ballet from Paris and those performed in the City.

The event was inaugurated by well-known dance photographer Avinash Pasricha, Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran and Dr Kiran Seth, founder SPIC MACAY and RMS Liberhan, director India Habitat Centre.