What makes a benchmark performance? Is it the content or the costumes, music or make up, script or students, aesthetics or artistry? Or all of above and more?
In the month that was, 5 interesting BN performances, by 4 rising stars of the form, in 4 different cities can be assessed as trends in the form. Geeta Chandran in Delhi; Zakir Hussain, A. Lakshman (from Malaysia settled in Madras, so as not to be mistaken for the great Adyar Lakshman) and Roja Kannan of Chennai; Jyotsna Jagannathan in Bangalore and much junior in age and experience, Vaidehi Rele of Mumbai.
Read the review in the site
Asish Mohan Khokar's article "New Benchmarks in Bharatanatyam and Odissi" straightens out many misconceptions on the BN scenario in the country in general and New Delhi in particular. The observations are valuable. He has valid bits and pieces of advice for dancers such as his suggestion to Geeta Chandran to adopt a boy from a village and groom him into BN with her expertise.
ReplyDeleteAlso his suggestion that only a dancer who has danced the margam format early in her career and has the requisite experience can she innovate and experiment. This and many other observations and opinions coming from a seasoned critic is a must read for aspiring critics of dance. Tapati Chowdhurie