I am new to this group and saw that most reviews are only on music. But then i did see one on Ramya Ramnarayans dance and hence thought, that i shall post one too, of the only dance programme that i attended this season till now.
This is about a dance recital by Smt.Jayanti Subramaniam. What an exquisite abhinaya, poise and clarity she brings to the stage. Her nritta also is perfect, with tala intricaies and precision.
She danced at Narada Gana Sabha and i got to see the Varnam a ragamalika piece by the Tanjore Quartet, an Astapadhi (Yahi Madhava) in Sindubhairavi ( music composed by Legend dancer C V Chandrasekhar.) , Javali ( meematale mayanura) in Purvi Kalyani and lalgudis Tillana in Madhuvanti.
For one , all the compositions were by high standard composers. Jayanti brought so much life to these compositions through her measured adavus, anga shuddham and enchanting abhinaya. Though she does look bulky, she was was so agile and her dance was so chaste without any unnecessary movements.
To me who only listens to music, and watches dance very rarely, this was a welcome change.
Meematale, to see in the dance format was revealing. One has heard legends sing this javali, which in itself is a treat, but when Jayanti explained the meaning and danced to it, the javali could be understood and appreciated very well.
After this i concluded to myself, that ishall pick and choose classical dancers like this and watch them so a s to get a better understanding of the lyrics and poetry of the composition.