World Premier of Divine Equations / CTU, Chicago 2010

[Babu]

Chicago area music and dance lovers were treated to a well choreographed and well executed dance program, thanks to CTU. The program was brought to the stage by Natya Dance Theater. Two great artists were responsible in dreaming, detailing and presenting this magnificent show and they are Smt. Hema Rajagopal and Sri. Ravi Kiran, the maestro. The dance program is based on special selections from Ootukkadu Venkata Kavi's compositions. Sri. Ravi Kiran elaborated Venakata Kavi's works and he had lot more to say. He had to cut short his speech due to time constraints and it was educational to listen to him. Forty one dancers participated and the principal dancer was Krithika Rajagopal.

Selections were:
Pushpanjali-Mummada Vezha Muhattu Vinayakan (Nattai)
Madhava Hridi Khelini (Kalyani) - Radha's only desire
Sundara Natarajam - The cosmic dance (Karaharapriya)
Aadinaan Vilayaadinaan- (Sama)
Ippadium Ore Pillai (Ragamalika)
AAdum Varai Adattum - The cheated Nayika- (Huseni)
Vishamakara Kannan - Naughty Kannan- (Senchurutti)
Kalyana Rama - Speaking of Rama (Hamsanandam)
Enna Punyam Saideno - Nature My Teacher- (Riti Gaulai)
Kalinga Natangam (Gambhira Nattai)
Mangalam- Hanuman the Great Baktha (Madhyamavathi)

Orchestra:

Anahita Ravindran and Apoorva Ravindran - Vocal
G.Vijayaraghavan-Mrdangam
Mysore Sangeetha- Violin
Bangalore Chaitanya Kumar - Flute
Sivaramakrishnan - Ghatam

A very well enjoyed program. Kudos to everyone involved with this masterpiece. Hope this program goes on road to other cities in US.

Congratulations, Smt. Hema Rajagopal and Sri. Ravi Kiran

Corrections and comments are most welcome

[rshankar]

Must have been beautiful. Hopefully, the Natya team recorded it.

[mahakavi]

anAhitA and apUrvA: sisters whose names ring a bell.
Aren't they from Chennai (disciples of Ravikiran) or are they local singers?

[ShrutiLaya]

Sounds like an interesting program, I too would love to see this if it goes on the road .. although with 41 dancers + 5 orchestra members, it will be an expensive proposition to travel in the US .. (even a $200 round trip airfare is $9000).

- Sreenadh

[suma]

I could not go for this as my kid has finals this week. However I heard about the program.

I heard that it was a house full show.
Unlike the regular dances where there is one or two persons that the audience follows, the dance was choreographed to display simultaneous things happening. A center stage area with one theme and surrounded by different sets of themes relating to the program.

I heard that it was very good.

I am not suprised. Natya Dance Theater is known for the Quality Stamp and I am sure they did an excellent job.
Ravikiran is the expert in Oothukadu Venkata Kavi songs and his help in understanding the meaning of those songs and song selection would have been great.

[Abhishek]

Anahita and Apoorva, didn't they recently have a concert in Chennai? Are they touring North America now?

[Babu]

Abhishek:

In all probability the music was pre-recorded in India on a CD.

Babu

[semmu86]

I recall, that there is one Kum.Anahita Ravindran whom i have seen in Chennai, providing vocal support to Sri.Ravikiran's Chitraveena concerts. So in all probability she should be touring the US this time.

[suma]

They played a CD for the dance. Just found out from the participants.

[mahakavi]

Abhishek:

In all probability the music was pre-recorded in India on a CD.

Babu

Why probablility? The mention of names of the orchestra group in post #1 suggested that it was a live orchestra. If it was pre-recorded CD then it is not "probability" but "certainty"---right?

[VK RAMAN]

This reminds me of Milli Vanilli - lip syc duo. Atleast the voice is not dubbed.

[MV]

From memory, Anahita was an Idol contestant (finalist?) whose singing I really enjoyed. She could very well be Ravi Kiran's student because she sang the same Pallavi "Gopala Gokulabala" that Ravi Kiran played at the Music Academy

[ksrimech]

The husEni piece often sung as a tukkada in concert but is definitely a masterpiece in that rAgam. Two thumbs way up for this kriti.

[harimau]

Selections were:

Vishamakara Kannan - Naughty Kannan- (Senchurutti)

Kalinga Natangam (Gambhira Nattai)

"Vishamakkara Kannan and the Snake-Dance Song in the same CD!

How do I get my copy of it? Will the folks at Chicago sell copies of this CD? :envy:

How come, if almost every song has an explanation as to its theme in English, why is the Kalinga Narthana song not identified as the "Snake-Dance Song"? ]

[Sundara Rajan]

kALinga narthana is more correctly "snake kill" dance !

[Ponbhairavi]

the date when the programme was held seems to be missing.
Hamsanadam has one dubious N extra which can be deleted
Is it kalinga Natan(g)am ?

[Babu]

The dance program was on May 29, 2010 at Chicago Rama Temple Auditorium. I did spell the ragam wrong and it should read Hamsanadam. I copied all the titles from the brochure and it does say Kalinga Natangam. May be a typo.