Article - My journey into abhinaya - Sushma Kotireddy

My obsession with abhinaya began long before I knew what the word meant. As a child learning Bharatanatyam, I believed dance was all about thattā adavu and nattā adavu, precise footwork, rigid postures, and counting beats. I practiced tirelessly, unaware that the real magic of Bharatanatyam lay not in the steps, but in the silent conversation that happens through eyes, hands, and subtle expressions.

The first crack in this belief came unexpectedly when I was around 8 years old, while watching a television serial Malgudi Days. In one episode, a small girl performed the padam "Krishna nee begane baro." I could not understand the words, but I was mesmerized. Her eyes searched for Krishna, her hands reached out in longing, and her face softened with devotion. She was not simply dancing; she was speaking directly to the divine. That fleeting moment planted the seed of abhinaya in my heart. After this, I started observing the world, the people differently. 

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Book Review - Kathakanugaman - Vijay Shanker

Kathakanugaman

Bilingual book - English and Marathi
By Maneesha Sathe
Bookmark Publications, Pune
Price: Rs 450

Pune based veteran Kathak exponent and mentor Maneesha Sathe has written a very interesting book in two languages, 'Kathakanugaman' in English and Marathi, in order to maintain regional flavour, ethnic quality and also to cater to the international audience with a holistic perspective. It traces the journey of the dancer, whose invaluable and outstanding contribution in the promotion and propagation of Kathak dance on the global platform, spans more than five decades.

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Exemplary in concept and execution, Natya Vriksha's 19th consecutive World Dance Day celebration - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

With its judicious mix of tradition and contemporaneity, Natya Vriksha's nineteenth consecutive celebration of World Dance Day, in conjunction with the India International Centre, deserved the highest accolades - in all aspects of conceptualization, execution and audience participation. The celebratory mood was set off with an informal evening before, at the brand new Natya Vriksha premises, with a small group of invitees watching three of Geeta Chandran's students presenting an item each, in the newly appointed, aesthetically designed studio - the performance space with wooden floor, equipped with sophisticated fittings in light and sound. 

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Article - The pulse of devotion: A visual dialogue from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Sea - Maria Barraco

There are moments when geography fades, and only the rhythm remains. In the heart of the Mediterranean and on the tropical shores of the Arabian Sea, two ancient traditions breathe with the same lungs. This Holy Week, we explore an unexpected mirror: the Misteri of Trapani and the Arattu and Pooram of Kerala. 

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Anita says...May 2026

April has always been a packed month for the performing arts community. As Spring blooms in full splendour in some parts of the globe, temperatures soar in South Asia and hundreds of dancers and musicians from India are taking to the skies towards further shores. To teach, tour, perform and continue their creative journeys. Even while visa restrictions increase and travel costs soar, performers, especially dancers, remain resilient and hopeful.

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Profile - Indian dance in France: Jean-Paul Montanari - Sonya Wynne Singh

Around this time last year, I was working on the 25th edition of attenDance, the only yearbook on dance published by Ashish Khokar. Specifically, I had just completed my text on Jean-Paul Montanari, the director of the Montpellier Danse Festival, who had done so much to introduce the world's dance traditions to a French and Western audience. Little did I know that this text would take the form of an obituary. On the 25th of April 2025, dance lost one of its greatest stalwarts - someone with a profound and instinctive understanding of the arts. I thought back on our meeting, just a few weeks prior organised by Elisabeth Petit, and realised it was perhaps the last recorded interview of him while in office. It was Jean-Paul Montanari's last day as director for Montpellier Danse, as he was retiring. What was supposed to be a brief interview went for over an hour, during which he spoke at length about his life, his deep love for dance and the small moments of pure pleasure when he listened to Vilayat Khan.

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When beauty meets Biomechanics: The hidden athletic demands of Bharatanatyam - Dr. Vallabhi Chellam - Not just anyBODY: a health and fitness column

Picture this: You're holding a perfect aramandi for the fifteenth time in an hour-long practice, your quadriceps screaming in protest while your face maintains serene devotional expression. Sounds familiar? As a physiotherapist who's spent equal time treating athletes and treating my own dance-induced aches, I can tell you that Bharatanatyam dancers are some of the most underestimated athletes I've ever encountered.

The deceptive elegance
That graceful aramandi! It's essentially a sustained squat that would make gym enthusiasts weep. Those lightning-fast tatta adavus create ground reaction forces comparable to high-impact sports. The mesmerizing spins and jumps in tillanas demand the explosive power of a sprinter combined with the balance of a gymnast. You cannot train in any sport without holistic protocols.

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