Bangalore celebrates world dance day – 29th april
World Dance Day 2002 saw dance enthusiasts from all walks of life celebrate dance at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. An overwhelming response to the lecture demonstrations, a movie on dance and performances by renown artists was a welcome change in the event organized by Abhinava Arts Center and Aparajitha Entelpowers.
Prof. U. S. Krishna Rao and Leela Ramanathan inaugurated the event. Dance~ Trivia, an interactive session with Senior Gurus and Young dancers was on the theme of taking up dance as a profession, a Dance Workout by Padmini Ravi, Group Choreography by Bhanumathi, a hilarious stand up comedy and humor on dance by Mahesh followed. Then came the enthralling Poetry, Dance and Painting Confluence by renowned Painter B. K. S. Varma, Scholar and Poet Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh and Danseuse Indira Kadambi.
The Film “Dancer” by the renowned Ballet Dancer Mikhail Baryishnikov was screened later. The evening program was inaugurated by Sri. Chandrashekar, the Hon. Mayor and Sri Vishnuvardhan, the Kannada cine actor. Sri S. M. Krishna, the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka graced the occasion. The stage when unveiled, revealed the fraternity of artists and senior dancers who walked up amidst thunderous applause and appreciation from the audience.
The evening witnessed enthralling performances by Kiran & Sandhya Kiran (Bharatnatyam), Nirupama & Rajendra (Kathak), Uday Shetty & Sowmya Shetty (Odissi), Madhuri & Mayuri (Contemporary), Jugalbandhi (Bharatnatyam by Mdridula Rao & Preveen and Kathak by Nirupama & Rajendra). The evening ended with a captivating folk dance by Nalina’s group. In all, the perfect hope for an annual extravaganza.
World music day – fete de la musique – 21 june 2002
Alliance Francaise de Bangalore organises the World Music day in collaboration with Embassy of France in India and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication every year. This year too, the unique musical festival was celebrated.
The day was celebrated with a series of concerts at the Alliance Francaise auditorium, to name a few – French Songs by the Music Club of Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Karnatic violin recital by Modern Jazz style by Raman & Group, A blend of Indian classical and folk music with western instruments by Antaragni and many more marked the memorable day. This was the 21st traditional celebration since it first started in 1981.
The main purpose of this event, by Alliance Francaise in association with Wishbone Music is to promote and enjoy good music and to treat the music lovers of Bangalore. The popularity of celebrating World Music Day is constantly increasing across the globe.
Malavika sarukkai
“I believe that Bharata Natyam is a living, breathing art form. Bharata Natyam is a powerful and evocative language of dance. It provides me with a fundamental alphabet with which I choreograph my dance.” says Malavika Sarukkai.
Malavika was recently in Bangalore to perform her latest piece, Kasi Yatra, a story of a single woman, a courtesan and her journey through the different spaces of Varanasi. It was the story of the celebration of life at its many levels. The beautiful courtesan, a women of taste and refinement, adept in the games of love and accomplished in the arts of poetry, music and dance, comes to life from the pages of Kuttanimatham, Damodara Gupta set in the world of the courtesans of Varanasi.
Through the energy and dynamics of dance language, Malavika showed the life of the courtesan, who, after a particular incident of grief moves from the gendered and male-dominated spaces into the spaces of the pilgrim, gender free, neutral equalizing and join the flow of the river of the pilgrims.
Malavika’s choreography can be best described as ‘innovative within tradition.’ The eloquence of the being, the soulful grace, inimitable style and her trademark dynamism made the performance a delightful treat to watch at the J. N. Tata auditorium.
This event was organized by Sanskriti, an educational trust working to bring awareness of Indian heritage.
Kuch lamhe, kuch nagme…
For those who find enchantment in the depth and flavor that Hariharan’s voice is so resplendent with, it was an evening to cherish, an evening that soothed their souls for months to come. Hariharan performed a benefit show in Chowdiah Memorial Hall on 31st August 2002. The day was further celebrated as the auspicious Krisha-janmashtami and the wedding anniversary of the Hariharans.
Hariharan personifies the rare blend of a performing artist who holds complete mastery over many nuances of classical music and further injects the same in liberal doses to audiences holding a thirst for the same. His greatness lies in his ability to do so without letting down the rest of the audience who look up to him for the star that he is, thanks to the commercial success obtained by the popularity of his film songs.
Hariharan relived Kaash aisa koi manzar hota, Jhoomle…, Jaane kaise pasand rakhtaa hai, Awaara, Kab tak yuhi rulaayegi, Koi saaya jhilmilaaya. The highlight of his performance being the immensely popular ghazal Patta patta bhoota boota, which found a rendition in his own style.
He also enthralled ardent fans by singing a Mishr, Oo mere saiyaan… mora joban beeto jaaye re, and his immensely popular fusion version of the krithi, Krishna nee begane baaro… Among the film songs that he sang with improvisations galore were Yeh lamhe, yeh bandhan, Nahin saamne… Dheeme dheeme, Uyiree, tu hi re…
Unko sunkar kissiko kya sunte… Koi unka jaisa doosra na hua…
Bhool Jaane ka hoosla na hua… Door rehkar bhi woh juda na hua…
Natyastem – 15 years and more promise
The Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC) and Space Time Energy Movement (STEM) celebrated fifteen and seven glorious years of meaningful presence and contribution to the performing arts, on 1st August at Guru Nanak Bhavan.
A show by the collaborative effort of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography and the STEM Dance Theatre (headed by Smt. Maya Rao and her daughter Madhu Nataraj Heri) was put up.
Born out of a need to showcase both the traditional Indian classical & folk dance idiom and the evolving contemporary Indian dance form using indigenous physical disciplines, the NatyaSTEM Dance Ensemble is known to maintain a high standard of presentation.
(50 years) Sri ayyanar college of music – golden jubilee celebrations
Founded in 1952 by violin maestro Sangeetha Ratna Sri. T. Chowdaiah, Ayyanar College of Music completed fifty years of fruitful service in teaching music both vocal and instrumental.
To mark the Golden Jubilee Celebrations a five day music concert was held from July 24th to July 28th at Gayana Samaja. Music exponents like R. R. Keshava Murthy, R. K. Srikantan, R. K. Srikantan and Smt. Rani Satish, the Hon’ble Minister for Kannada & Culture, presided over the function.
Under the able guidance of Sri. Anoor S. Ramakrishna, Ayyanar College has trained innumerable students, many of whom are performing artists in their own right and have attained a high degree of proficiency in the performing arts.
Natyarani shantala award
The Natyarani Shantala Award was conferred on Guru Smt. Narmada recently for her lifetime achievement in dance. This award is given to mirror the highest legion of honor that the state government could ever confer on a dancer, placing on a fontal platter the new lease of life that the dancing community derives from the recipient of this award.
Smt. Narmada is a highly regarded senior teacher of the very traditional Pandanallur style of Bhartyanatyam and has served this art form for over four decades.
Having learn’t Bharathanatyam from the renowned Guru, Natyashiromani Shri Kittappa Pillai of Thanjavur, she excelled under his able guidance.
Apart from the Natyarani Shantala Award she has been the recipient of numerous awards and titles, The Natyavishaarade Title in 1998, The Best Teacher Award – Music Academy of Madras in 1992, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy Award in 1998 among others.
Through her devotion to the art and her unhindered giving, Guru Smt. Narmada has distinguished herself as an authoritative and perennial source, passing on the heritage and treasure of this ancient Indian art to future generations.