reviews of dance programmes
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srinandini
- Posts: 60
- Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 05:05
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vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
This is primarily a music forum Srinandini. There is a dance section as well but I don't think we have too many members who are interested in/knowledgeable about dance. We must wait for Ravi to come out with his reviews when he manages to attend some programs! Umesh is another member who is seriously into dance but posts very occasionally.
I attended 4 dance programs this season but lack the knowledge to provide anything other than a layman's perspective.
Personally I wish we had more activity in the dance section. Like music it would be very useful in helping my appreciation along. Why don't you make a good start by starting some threads
I attended 4 dance programs this season but lack the knowledge to provide anything other than a layman's perspective.
Personally I wish we had more activity in the dance section. Like music it would be very useful in helping my appreciation along. Why don't you make a good start by starting some threads
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arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Vijay,
My dance attendance is very poor--the two I attended were family oriented ones. I liked them both. They were both from different schools. I am not one bit qualified to write dance reviews, let alone the music ones. Wish Ravi had not left India before those performances.
By the way, I heard from someone who went to several performances that she was surprised that most of the dancers presented more 'SringAra pieces than bhakti or vAtsalya bhAva ones. Any comments on that?
My dance attendance is very poor--the two I attended were family oriented ones. I liked them both. They were both from different schools. I am not one bit qualified to write dance reviews, let alone the music ones. Wish Ravi had not left India before those performances.
By the way, I heard from someone who went to several performances that she was surprised that most of the dancers presented more 'SringAra pieces than bhakti or vAtsalya bhAva ones. Any comments on that?
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vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Yes I was hoping to drag Ravi along to some dance performances to get the benefit of his knowledge but it was not to be!
As for Sringara versus BHakti, you my weakness in the lyrics dept! Also aren't they kind of intertwined in the BHaratanatyam context (as in the case of Padams). For example the varnam, Mohaman en Meedil in Bhairavi (performed by Valli at the Academy) depicts a maiden's longing for Lord Thyagesha which is a mixture of both these rasas. Perhaps it is the interpretation (Sancharis?) that is key - I am afraid I don't know enough to say which way it went!
Malavika on the other hand put up a more spiritually oriented thematic performance on the Ganges and the lives intertwined with it. There was a piece on lovers by its banks but also another, of a woman who loses her son. In the Academy I believe she presented "Darshanam" which should be even more rooted in spirituality.
Priyadarshini Govind included the Vishamakara Paiyyan as I mentioned somewhere else which I suppose would quality as Vatsalyam as well.
Therefore I am not too sure whether the claim of Shringara dominating the dance scene is well founded. However, my view is based on exactly 4 dance performances much of which went right over my head so my opinion need not be taken very seriously. Perhaps more informed rasikas can talk about their impressions on the subject.
As for Sringara versus BHakti, you my weakness in the lyrics dept! Also aren't they kind of intertwined in the BHaratanatyam context (as in the case of Padams). For example the varnam, Mohaman en Meedil in Bhairavi (performed by Valli at the Academy) depicts a maiden's longing for Lord Thyagesha which is a mixture of both these rasas. Perhaps it is the interpretation (Sancharis?) that is key - I am afraid I don't know enough to say which way it went!
Malavika on the other hand put up a more spiritually oriented thematic performance on the Ganges and the lives intertwined with it. There was a piece on lovers by its banks but also another, of a woman who loses her son. In the Academy I believe she presented "Darshanam" which should be even more rooted in spirituality.
Priyadarshini Govind included the Vishamakara Paiyyan as I mentioned somewhere else which I suppose would quality as Vatsalyam as well.
Therefore I am not too sure whether the claim of Shringara dominating the dance scene is well founded. However, my view is based on exactly 4 dance performances much of which went right over my head so my opinion need not be taken very seriously. Perhaps more informed rasikas can talk about their impressions on the subject.